Toyota HiAce. A memorable handover between old and new.

Suddenly, there was a moment of recognition. It had been a while since I had been in contact with Ron, my comrade whom I got to know through this medium thanks to his passion for Toyota. We spoke, and he told me that he had planned a visit to the province of Friesland together with Jan Hendriks (his cousin), whom I also know. “This coming weekend I’ll be in Sneek, and then I’m picking up the HiAce. You put me on the track of the bus a while ago, do you remember?”

Yes, it is starting to dawn on me, although I can no longer quite recall the moment or the time. You probably recognize this: one of those moments you know happened, but just can't put your finger on. Was it in 2022 during the Corona RA40 report? Or was it later? I couldn't pinpoint it anymore. But it did become clear to me that I was looking forward to meeting the cousins ​​from Utrecht, and the arrangement to travel to Sneek on a beautiful Saturday was quickly made.

In this case, the link was the 1984 Toyota HiAce, a functional van from the long history of the Japanese powerhouse. It was the kind of delivery vehicle that remained etched in the memory of enthusiasts and automotive historians. A delivery vehicle, moreover, that was owned by Sybe Smid from Sneek for no less than 42 years. The link between the car and its owner was firmly anchored. Smid bought the Japanese van new in 1984, with the intention of using the Toyota as a means of transport for his business activities. The resident of Sneek ran a furniture workshop for years and was happy to use the HiAce for various entrepreneurial purposes. Exactly what Toyota built the car for.

In Sneek, it becomes clear once again how contact between Ron and Sybe came about. The latter tells me that he approached us with the story that he was closing his business and wanted to get rid of the Toyota. The former furniture maker had read a number of articles in which an unconcealed sympathy for the Japanese brand emerged. A few years ago, Sybe closed his business; he ceased his business activities. The Toyota remained for a while longer, until the moment a prospective buyer was allowed to take over the car. “An enthusiast, and preferably the car stays in the Netherlands. Over the past few years, I have spoken to so many dealers who wanted to take over the HiAce.”

Three years later, the time has come. Ron and Sybe have agreed that the HiAce is moving, and when I park the Omega at Martiniplein in Sneek, I see the Landcruiser with the attached car trailer. A moment later, the meeting with the buyer, cousin, and seller takes place there. We head for the transfer office, a local UNIVE branch. The paperwork is settled, and a little later, over coffee and orange cake, we catch up on the ups and downs of the classic car world and our own memories within it.

A little later, we see the Toyota with our own eyes. It is not in new condition; it has normal signs of wear and tear, yet at the same time, you can see that the car is still in acceptable condition considering its use and age. Nice touch: you fold up the seat, including a panel, to access the engine; access to the air filter is located behind the driver's seat. Furthermore, the tool kit is still original, although it is no longer entirely complete. That, too, is part of a long period of use, one way or another.

The HiAce is now truly on the verge of becoming a permanent memory for Sybe. A remembrance of the time when the Toyota tirelessly served for over 150,000 kilometers in the service of deliveries, transport, practical usability, and... putting bread on the table. And when such a seemingly functional object does that for someone for nearly four decades, you inevitably develop a bond with it. With 42 years of ownership, it becomes part of the furniture; it has long been a part of life, of its daily rhythm. And when a car repays you with loyalty, carefree attitude, and service, something emerges that goes beyond habituation. Then it belongs to you, as a permanent part of your (working) life.

The battery is charged, and Sybe then starts the HiAce's 3Y two-liter engine. He drives the Toyota cautiously and practicedly out of the garage. For the last time. The farewell drive is short, a kilometer at most. The reliable sound of the square-bore x-stroke petrol engine is clearly audible; this power source was by no means a hindrance during the many business trips Sybe made with the Toyota. Just a little longer… the final meters are approaching. And Ron's LandCruiser, including the attached trailer, waits to be reunited with the now classic HiAce. Ron drives the commercial vehicle onto the trailer. Sybe quietly takes in, lost in thought, how the 42-year-old commercial vehicle is strapped down. "Ultimately, it is just a tool," says Sybe. That is true. And at the same time, we all know better.

The farewell is inevitable. And the fact that the Toyota is now in the hands of a great devotee and enthusiast is meager consolation. A car can be much more than a dingAnd that is often the case. Especially when you have owned a car for 42 years as the first owner. And that period not only created a bond between Sybe and the HiAce. She also explains why this commercial vehicle rightfully deserves to bear the Toyota brand name.