Those vans were extremely underrated. I had a '86 or so HiAce (just named Van in the US) as my first car and that thing was a tank. Took it offroad constantly, massive smoky burnouts at every stoplight, sheared a wooden telephone pole in three pieces my first time driving in the rain--all I had to show for it was a tiny pucker in the bumper and a cracked windshield. Super roomy in the back--a full size air mattress fit perfectly. A bit cramped up front due to the torquey 4-banger under the seats. Rear wheel drive. Crap electrical system though.
Still, aren't they quite a bit wider than a Type 2?