1994 Toyota Previa LE with 376,407 Miles

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1994 Toyota Previa in Colorado junkyard, LH front view - ©2021 Murilee Martin -The Truth About CarsEver since the 1998 model year, Toyota has sold a big, American-style minivan with the engine in the front and cupholders throughout the interior. Prior to that, though, American Toyota shoppers looking for a new van had to take an innovative mid-engined machine designed entirely with the Japanese home market in mind: First the TownAce (known as the Van here) and then the Estima (known as the Previa here). The Previa was too small and too underpowered to compete head-to-head with Detroit minivans, but those who bought them found that they lasted for decade after decade. Here’s one in a Denver-area yard that got pretty close to the magical 400,000-mile mark.

1994 Toyota Previa in Colorado junkyard, speedometer - ©2021 Murilee Martin -The Truth About CarsI see plenty of Previas during my junkyard travels, though I concentrate on the rare All-Trac versions for this series. 376k miles is impressive, though, and so I deemed this van worthy of documenting. Sure, it’s no 413k-mile Tercel 4WD, but then what is?

1994 Toyota Previa in Colorado junkyard, interior - ©2021 Murilee Martin -The Truth About CarsIt appears that this Previa was working as an electrician’s van during its final days on the road, and so it’s full of wire nuts, screws, conduit hardware, and so on.

1994 Toyota Previa in Colorado junkyard, LH rear view - ©2021 Murilee Martin -The Truth About CarsIt’s a plain old front-wheel-drive van with automatic transmission, but at least it still has a supercharger and mid-mounted engine (a 158-horse, 2.4-liter straight-four laying down sideways under the front seats, with the blower and other accessories located far forward and powered by a long shaft from the engine).

1994 Toyota Previa in Colorado junkyard, interior - ©2021 Murilee Martin -The Truth About CarsI added this knitted cross to my collection of religious mirror-hangers on display in my garage.

1994 Toyota Previa in Colorado junkyard, interior - ©2021 Murilee Martin -The Truth About CarsYou’ll find one in every car. You’ll see.

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