Hi all. I had heard about petrol turbo Townies but had never seen one until today. A friend has an Arab family visiting her for a month and they have brought their Townie with them from Saudi for their stay here in England. I was invited round to her house today because I also have a Townie, a Royal Lounge 2.0 EFI. I was very surprised to see that the Saudie Townie was a Masterace Surf 2.0 EFI Turbo, yes I did say Turbo. I was taken out in it and it was very quick of the mark and it surprised a few boy racers however the only fault was that it apparantly drinks petrol. 18 miles to a gallon on a good run. I was told by the Arab gentleman that it is factory built. Does anyone know of any Turbo EFIs in the UK?

- (#10634) Liz, 4 Sep 03 14:44

Yeh, The Japs do some strange things over there!

I remember reading about a Subaru Sherpa (Smallest Sub, little two door, only just four seater, two box design - don't know what they were called elsewhere?), or at least a variant of it.
In Japan they had a model called the T-Rex (I think) which was constant 4WD with a supercharged two cylinder of about 600cc.

They seem to like to overpower pretty normal sorts of vehicles, so a Turbo petrol Ace is not beyond possibility.

Most of these things can be brought in under the same rules as the Aces - just ask an importer - but some may not be legal no matter what!

Dave.

- (#10635) DaveW, 7 Sep 03 23:54

...but it's not listed on the parts cd, so I'm calling BS to that story...

Maybe an aftermarket kit? Or is it a late (92-95) model?

- (#10636) david miller, 8 Sep 03 1:32

Dave,
I've never seen one, nor heard of one before, but that doesn't mean they were never made.
My old Tarago book doesn't mention a diesel variant, and I know that Toyota sold a non-turbo diesel here (Aus) brand new.
So there may be such a beast!?

Having said all that, I am actually coming down on your side, because IF one did exist you would think it would be owned by a pretty Keen bloke, and he would have found this site and been bragging loud and clear of his obvious answer to the claim of 'Road-slug' that seems to come on these. (I'm actually quite happy with mine from the lights)

I am aware of the Previa body style, in wide body at least, with a supercharged 2.4 petrol engine, but I think also only available with 4X4. The bloke swears that it is factory - but again I've not heard of any others.

Dave.

- (#10637) Dave W, 12 Sep 03 0:21

I remmember seeing a report about a 2.0 EFI Master Ace Turbo on a vehicle reliability web sight, can't remmember the name of the sight but I know it was a Turbo petrol because the chap that had posted the report was complaining about the fuel consumption and insurance costs. Is it posible that only the Master Ace was produced in Turbo petrol form?

- (#10800) William Dickinson, 19 Sep 03 15:31

Having read your replies I gather that you may be unsure as to whether or not I am telling the truth. I swear that it was a Master Ace Surf 2.0 EFI Turbo. Year, Possibly 89/90 (it was on Saudi plates). I know it was a Turbo because I saw the engine and before you chaps say I was looking at a Turbo diesel, don't, I know it was a petrol because I have a petrol Royal Lounge. The Turbo unit was tucked away to the side of the exhaust and looked like a factory fit like the owner said but it could have been an after market Turbo. Another point was that the vehicle was fitted out with leather seats and deep pile carpet with a wood trim dash.

- (#10801) Liz Charles, 20 Sep 03 10:24

I have been doing a lot of research on the subject of a petrol engined Townie Turbo mainly because I have heard that they do in fact exist. I have found that a specialist company in Hong Kong takes a Townie and fits it out in leather trim, fits black out glass and fits a turbo unit. I have learnt this from a very close friend that lives in Hong Kong and happened to own a Townie EFI Turbo a few years ago. I recently spoke to her on the phone and the conversation got around to cars and I mentioned to her that I had Jap import Town Ace, a Royal Lounge 4x4 EFI. She said that she had owned a Townie that had been fitted with heated leather seats, blackout glass, video/tv with 5 monitors, luxury deep pile carpet, door flood lights that light the ground when the door is opened, and a turbo unit. She said that her Townie was very thirsty averaging about 15 miles to a gallon but was very quick.
During my reserch I have also learnt that a South African company that was in business in the 1980s made a full body kit for the Townie. The kit included side skirts, tailgate spoiler, windscreen spoiler, front air dam, and bug deflector.
As to my own Townie, it will be setting sail for New Jersey shortly to start a new life Stateside with myself and my family. I understand that my Townie will be the first in the U.S.A. however parts should not be much of a problem to get hold of because a Space Cruiser type vehicle does exist in the states that is fitted with 4 wheel drive.

- (#11255) Bill Dickinson, 17 Oct 03 18:07

That sounds like the solution to the problem.

I certainly didn't mean to sound like I was calling you a liar Liz, Apologies if you took it that way.

You really never can tell with the Japanese - they realy do some wierd things with their cars - but this sounds like a professional job, easily mistaken for a factory unit, but of course it wouldn't be in any listing or manual from Japan - so there we have it, a catalogue non-existent, factory looking, turbo efi petrol Ace!

And Bill, the Ace was simply called the 'Van' in the US and came with an EFI 4Y motor, and was available with 4X4 - so some of your parts will be available, although they were never a big seller in the US so don't expect it to be easy - at least it isn't diesel - they never heard of them there!

There is a US website www.toyotavans.org and they would be more than happy to see a TownAce live, when you get there.

Have fun over there.
Dave.

- (#11256) DaveW, 19 Oct 03 21:28