Newbie and his 1988 CR30 Master Ace Surf

[Fergus]

Hello all. Newbie alert!
Anthony directed me here to say hi and share a pic of my recently acquired 1988 CR30 Master Ace Surf Grand Saloon



I have a 1987 Nissan 300C Estate (currently on eBay here) but we wanted a camper van. Campers are expensive and I saw this locally on eBay with a blown head gasket and warped head so I popped along for a look. With only 75000kms on the clock it was clean and straight. I ended up paying a couple hundred squid for him and being a mechanic I got it back on the road for another few hundred and I must say it's terrific fun

They're an absolute hoot to drive. It's 2 litre turbo diseasel with a manual box and 2 / 4WD. AC front and rear and a hot / cool box in the front which can make ice! I haven't seen another like it as these were quickly facelifted to the later type headlamps. This one was imported in 2002

The interior is very luxurious but doesn't have curtains unlike the Royal Lounge so we're making some from some blue velour type material for that factory look! We're going to fit an Eberspacer heater to run off the diesel and keep us toasty warm at night and fit a leisure battery too, all subtly mind... Anyone here got an 'Ace?

Regards, Ferg

[johnbluerio]

hi ferg ( goosegog )
welcome to the forum
that makes 2 of us out of 33 with an 'ace'
looks like you found yourself a real bargain
the odds are getting better
we have a 78 hi ace 1600 Rio camper
just done 13,000miles and now only goes to shows, auto jumbles and odd trips when we need a 6 seater in the summer.
still on original exhaust system, but have had to replace rubber seals on brake and clutch systems otherwise its just as it came out of the box (see 2005 JAPs show page) for photo.

[Fergus]

Hi John. What a nice clean van you have and amazing it's still on its original exhaust!
All the best

Ferg

[johnbluerio]

how desperate are you for any more 'aces' this one is on e bay

cgi.ebay.co.uk/1972-TOYOTA-HI-ACE-CAMPERVAN_W0QQitemZ4607056912QQcategoryZ14256QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1972 not many of these left even Tony might be tempted

[Uncle Bob]

Hi Ferg ,and welcome to the "On line " TEC club .

[Debs]

Hello and welcome ;D
I also own a camper but she's not doing to well at the moment she's a Hi-ace Newlander convesion.
she has a wee bit of a leak but I'm sure Harvey will get round to sorting her out. ;D

[tony]

howdy Ferg, glad to see you've shared a pic of your wacky 'ace with the group. Quite fancy one just like yours misell, when the Crown estate dies.

"Toyota Master Ace Surf Grand Saloon" - contender for longest model name award? Makes 'Mitsubishi GTO GS/R Coupe' seem tame.

Ferg used to own multiple datties, but he's getting better now !!!!

"1972 not many of these left even Tony might be tempted "

Hi John, that old tax free one on ebay is pretty wacky too I must admit. All pale in compariosn to yours.....

Have you seen the even-more wacky German fire engine on the bay?

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4606307981&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

(It was a better buy when it was a quid mind)