BajaNomad - STRANGE VEHICLE SEEN IN BAJA LAST WEEK

STRANGE VEHICLE SEEN IN BAJA LAST WEEK

Udo - 7-11-2013 at 06:06 PM

I was heading down to BA for a couple of weeks of R&R and move some things into our new house (it was better than we could have imagined).
I am sure some of you have felt the FEELING also, but the sense of ownership and pride is the best I can describe it. It was a vevy moving experience!

But, on the way South, I saw three of these vehicles in different camping areas (one in the camp just south on Maneadero, the second in Jardines' campground, and the third I saw just a couple of miles south of Cataviña.
I opened the passenger window on the FJ and motioned to the driver to pull over at the next safe turn-out. He followed me and we introduced ourselves. I immediately spoke to him in German, and you should have seen the priceless amazement look onhis face. I saw the "ALEMANIA" written on his windshield, and recognized his German license plates.
I wanted to find out about his 4X4 van.

It turns out that it is a 4 cyl diesel MITSUBISHI van. Another perfect Baja vehicle!
BUT...
The car was a 1993 model and sold only in Europe and Africa.

I guess we all can drool a little

BTW. I originally thought that all three vehicles were the same, but neither owner, of the three, knew the other was also in Baja.

Jana, my wife, commented that he REALLY LOOKED German.

[Edited on 7-12-2013 by Udo]

monoloco - 7-11-2013 at 06:20 PM

A friend of mine in Todos Santos has one that he picked up in Canada, it was imported from Japan so it's righthand drive.

Correcamino - 7-11-2013 at 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo

I guess we all can drool a little

[Edited on 7-12-2013 by Udo]

Spectacular Baja cruiser! Can't help thinking that, with the addition of caterpillar tracks, you would have the most perfect Baja vehicle of all time - the Lost in Space "Chariot":

Udo - 7-11-2013 at 07:38 PM

Looks like a Martian module, and it appears that Monument Valley, Arizona, is in the background.

Bob H - 7-11-2013 at 08:39 PM

Great photos Udo... My wife, Audrey, who is German/American told me that German's love touring all throughout Baja. We have run into them almost every trip down in the past 20-plus years.

akbear - 7-11-2013 at 09:06 PM

Looks like that Martian is wearing a parka !

Islandbuilder - 7-11-2013 at 10:37 PM

A Mitsubishi Delica, they are also in Canada. I think that it's one more year before we can legally import the earliest model into the US. From what I hear, it's worth waiting another couple of years to get one of the later years, after they worked out some bugs.

4x4, turbo diesel, 25+ mpg, and room to do a camper conversion.

There is a Delica owners club in British Columbia, and those folks are really in love with their rigs!

SFandH - 7-12-2013 at 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob H
Great photos Udo... My wife, Audrey, who is German/American told me that German's love touring all throughout Baja. We have run into them almost every trip down in the past 20-plus years.

I've seen Europeans, mostly from northern Europe, where the money is I guess, drive some monster Baja cruisers. Last winter there was a couple from Switzerland driving a huge, old, 6 wheeled, maybe 10 I forget, Swiss army knife of a truck. Looked like, and was, something out of the 1950s. A real mechanical beast with power nothing. They were heading for South America. Way overkill and good luck finding parts. Shipping it across the Atlantic, I think they said to Baltimore, must have cost a fortune.

On the other hand, most of the southern Europeans I've met in Baja, usually Italian, fly to and around Mexico and rent little cars.

[Edited on 7-12-2013 by SFandH]

Mitsubishi four-wheel-drive van in Europe.

Whale-ista - 7-12-2013 at 07:15 AM

Agree- Looks like a very functional and well-designed vehicle. I saw one of these recently while traveling in Italy and was also intrigued.

Not only was it four-wheel-drive, but it had a higher roof. I was very curious about this small functional vehicle and took this photo in Florence.

I've seen many cars in Europe, Asia and South America that I've never seen in the US. I wonder why we don't have the same choices here.

On the other hand I often meet people who are very jealous of our small trucks and motorhomes. You'd never see anything like a gigantic Winnebago overseas. They would be a nightmare to drive on many of the smaller streets.

[img]https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200677089703759&l=2ab0a97287[/img]Mitsubishi

[Edited on 7-12-2013 by Whale-ista]

Islandbuilder - 7-12-2013 at 08:33 AM

To import a non-conforming vehicle into the US it needs to be considered an antique, for a car the official definition of "antique" is 25 years old.

Prices on the older model Delicas are pretty reasonable in Canada, but as they get closer to the age where they can be imported to the US I imagine their prices will rise. I would also assume that a 4x4 rig that old will be more of a re-buildable core than a ready for Baja rig.

Mitsubishi sorted out a lot of new model issues after the first couple of years of production. Waiting a couple of years to get one of the sorted out ones seems worth the wait.

I may try and trade in my old diesel Land Rover and get one of these when the time comes.

vgabndo - 7-12-2013 at 09:08 AM

Does anyone have a suggestion why, of all the foreign visitors to Baja, the Germans always seem to have the name of their country in big letters on the front and rear of their vehicles?

Why can't we have such vehicles here? The fuel economy is in conflict with the bottom line of the oil companies that run our country?

TMW - 7-12-2013 at 09:56 AM

It's my understanding that many of the vehicles don't meet the smog standards and maybe safety standards. That was why the VW bug went away. Made outside the US but couldn't be imported. Lots of good vehicles outside can't come in.

paranewbi - 7-12-2013 at 10:57 AM

2 thoughts come to mind...
While traveling Baja and followed by a friend in a peugot, he experienced a flat tire and bent the rim severely. While traveling on his spare, we made our usual stop in la paz on the way back where we tried to locate a rim to put a new tire on for the ride home. The lantera couldn't locate a rim the frenchy size required for the lug nut pattern so he cut the bolt pattern center out of the damaged rim and cut another good rim the same and then welded the peugot one into the good one! No need to travel spare-less.
On another occasion while camping in Chiapas we met a couple from Germany with one of those vehicles described by others above. The transmission was shot and they had been there waiting 2 months already for a new one to be shipped by a relative from Germany and it was stuck in some importation status in northern Mexico.
Just saying...something not of the regular ilk might cause problems when looking for a part to fix it with.

Correcamino - 7-12-2013 at 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo

Why can't we have such vehicles here? The fuel economy is in conflict with the bottom line of the oil companies that run our country?

I'm disappointed that U.S. consumers have never warmed up to diesel engines. VW and Mercedes have had some success but for the most part people consider diesel to be for trucks. I had a 1978 Diesel Rabbit that got 44 MPG at 80 mph (almost top speed!) Great car! My current vehicle is almost perfect for Baja (2011 Xterra 4WD) - almost because it has a 6-cyl gasoline engine. A diesel 4 would make it perfect.

TMW - 7-12-2013 at 03:01 PM

The early diesel cars had poor acceleration habits and diesels were noisy to say the least. A lot of progress on both issues but maybe the publics impressions haven't changed.

mtgoat666 - 7-12-2013 at 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Islandbuilder
A Mitsubishi Delica, they are also in Canada. I think that it's one more year before we can legally import the earliest model into the US. From what I hear, it's worth waiting another couple of years to get one of the later years, after they worked out some bugs.

4x4, turbo diesel, 25+ mpg, and room to do a camper conversion.

There is a Delica owners club in British Columbia, and those folks are really in love with their rigs!

VW used to sell a westfalia van 4x4 here in states, i think it was a flop that failed to sell well,... they quit selling it here, then quit selling vans altogether,...

gringos dont buy enough small camper vans, so you only find them overseas in markets where they sell...

here is a vw 4wd crafter van, cool, eh?

mojo_norte - 7-12-2013 at 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo

Looks pretty similar to the Toyota 4X4 Vans sold here in the US from 86-early 90's - used the pickup truck chassis and had the bombproof 22R (gas) engine.

Udo - 7-12-2013 at 05:52 PM

Quote:

In the mid seventies, I had a VW Rabbit diesel. I added an extra fuel tank, and made regular trips to TJ to fill up.
Diesel, back then was about a quarter a gallon in Baja.

quote]Originally posted by TW
The early diesel cars had poor acceleration habits and diesels were noisy to say the least. A lot of progress on both issues but maybe the publics impressions haven't changed.

David K - 7-12-2013 at 07:11 PM

It is really amazing how more versatile a vehicle is when powered through all four tires... 4WD for off pavement or AWD for on or off pavement. :yes:

Udo - 7-13-2013 at 06:24 PM

If you think the WESTFALIA was a flop, even the SYNCHRO (4X4), then you need to pay a visit to www.gowesty.com
and see what those cars are selling for now days. A stock synchro can sell upwards of $60,000.00 U.S.
Many of my earlier visits to Baja were in a Westy and wished I had synchro. When my house burned down, my 89 WESTY went with it. At that time, the Westy (nicely restored with 16" PORSCHE rims and tires, and other items, was worth almost $30K. I had many notes left on my door on offers with buy the car.
I politely called back and said the vehicle was not for sale.

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

805gregg - 7-13-2013 at 06:41 PM

Ive got a 2006 Jeep Liberty diesel, been all through Baja, when I pulled up to the diesel pumps at the Pemex, they always motioned me to move to the gas pumps. This is a great little vehicle for Baja, about 22 mpg and enough room to camp compfortable. We carried a 42 QT Engle refer, AND 4X4, with parts in Baja, the Mitsuchity no parts anywhere

mojo_norte - 7-13-2013 at 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg
Ive got a 2006 Jeep Liberty diesel, been all through Baja, when I pulled up to the diesel pumps at the Pemex, they always motioned me to move to the gas pumps. This is a great little vehicle for Baja, about 22 mpg and enough room to camp compfortable. We carried a 42 QT Engle refer, AND 4X4, with parts in Baja, the Mitsuchity no parts anywhere

Probably has the same diesel motor found in the Sprinter vans?

shari - 7-14-2013 at 09:38 AM

I heard a roaring coming from the road and saw this cute little thang looking like they were lost...anybody know these guys?

Westphalias in Baja

Whale-ista - 7-14-2013 at 10:04 PM

Many of my early Baja trips were in VW Westphalia campers. Underpowered and slow, but able to get through some surprisingly rough terrain with good clearance, Almost all the comforts of home in a well-designed box on wheels.

We joked they were the "peoples car" because it took so many peoples to keep them running. I learned to drop the engine, adjust the valves, and do almost all my own maintenance in the field. I had a great metric toolkit that I carried everywhere.

Once some German tourists who had bought an old Chevy to drive to Panama tried to follow us out to a sandbar in Guerrero Negro to see the whales. It was an El Niño year, And strong storm surge came in behind us, turning the sandbar into an island.

The Germans tried to drive out to us and their engine died in the middle of a watery section. We backed the van up to their vehicle and successfully jumpstarted them with long jumper cables. I'll never forget how they cursed the blankety-blank American car, And as they drove away yelled "we need a good German vehicle!"

Ahh, good times...

Iflyfish - 7-17-2013 at 10:58 PM

I believe it was in the 70's that Congress passes a protectionist law that banned all vehicles that did not fit the standard US wheel base. DUMB!
Wonderful vehicle and wish they were available here in the US.

Iflyfish