Jalopnik
The other day we showed you some cute little Japanese Kei cars converted to look like vintage American vans. Turns out they were the creation of a company called Dream Factory Blow. They're sort of an American-style surfing-obsessed customizing shop, but since they're in Japan, they work their magic on JDM rides. While stumbling around their non-English website, we found this thing. Apparently, they call it the Papa Rider, but it may not be what you initially think it is.
Now, this may look much like a vintage Dodge van that some stoner accidentally had shipped to the other side of the Pacific. But give it more than a passing glance, and you'll notice that there appears to be a Toyota Hiace van somewhere in there. Our Japanese skills are limited to what gets translated into English by BableFish, so we're not too sure and what the rationale was behind this, but we do know for certain that this thing is totally awesome.
[Dream Factory Blow]
Comments
Dream Factory Blow Papa Rider?
I, too, have access to a random noun generator.
Mob Unit Tape Phone Audio.
[watchout4snakes.com]
Ain't no drag.
Ah, the yellowness!
I would have thought Dream Factory Blow was located in Colombia.
BTW, it's a Hiace van.
P***y magnet yellowness...Nick Hogan's new whip?
i wonder if they'll make a pickup version, stick a HEMI in the bed, paint it red and take it out for some wheel-stander action :o)
Two consecutive words in that name should never be seen together.
I tried some Dream Factory Blow at a party once. Great stuff.
I agree, this thing is amazing.
The Dream Factory Blow people are alternately insane and brilliant, and I love them for it.
Now, if they make a miniburban kit for the bB/xB, and I come up with the eleventy thousand dollars it would cost to ship here, I'd be a happier man.
The Dodge A100 was a great looking van, so this works well. Actually, the otherwise modern shape of the Toyota van complements the body kit well, I think.
My first 'car' was a '67, dark blue, A-100 LWB window van which had been in the family since it was ordered from Chrysler.
Still miss that truck, though it did sacrifice itself to keep me from being killed by a drunk moron in a '69 Javelin...
This abortion makes me retch.
@Paul Y. is Going Dumb at the Sideshow: Now, if they make a miniburban kit for the bB/xB...
you reminded me of something that did cross my mind the other day, if any of the kei conversions we've seen were actually done on the xB/bB? cause that would be the sole reason for me to ever own one!
"Dream Factory Blow Papa Rider?"
Charles Barret, have we got a car for you.
The one day I leave my Japanese translation book at home, Crap
That would be a Toyota Hiace van. The Hilux is their pickup in Japan
I love these little guys.
The yellow one showed something that looked like the tail of longboard. Wonder if it was merely a skateboard?
regarding the suburban conversion...found this on an old Jalop post:
[jalopnik.com]
might look into it for my xB! (although these look like a Cube?)
@mehugtree: The green one is, as was pointed out by Polar, some manner of Suzuki, and the blue one looks like a Cube.
On the other hand, an ambitious fabricator could probably make these things without a kit.
I want the pseudo-Fuchs, too.
@Ben Simons: it appears Toyota no longer produces a Hiace pickup, so a truly little Little Red Wagon would take a bit of custom work.
i remembered that The Road That Is Winding did a report on the guys at Blow a few months ago... it's a good read, but it sounds like these conversions are a tad pricier than i thought.
[magazine.windingroad.com]
@mehugtree: The Hiace is actually pretty big. I drove one for about 6 months that would seat 14, though two of those were in funny little jumpseats that hung off the ends of the benches and folded out of the way to access the rear seats. I'm pretty sure they weren't 5* crash rated.
@Bo Darville: Last time i was in a Hiace was in Belize and not 5 star is an understatement, on the other hand I think the one I was in was held together with coat hangers.
This makes me miss the Nissan Vanette my father had when we lived in Okinawa. Hmm, you can still get older Vanettes in Europe. How bout that bodykit on a diesel Nissan Vanette? Screw the Scions, give us kei cars! All this van talk and I saw this at the grocery store:
Hooray, I are learning html!
@FlakeyChrome: @Bo Darville: I knew that. I was testing you guys to see if you'd catch that. Good job, you both win.
The placement of the letters between the headlights sure looks like "Dodge" to complete the effect but I can't read it.
Is it worth any Jalopnik points to note that these things are Cab-over front-midship engined RWD with optional AWD?
@Novaload:
I played around with Picasa and the saturation, it looks like it says Dodge.
I used to work in the Honda factory in Alliston, Ontario, and once got a...never mind...
The van at least looks almost convincing, even cute. The Suburban Scions should be cubed. Compacted. Ever see a fiberglass Rolls-Royce or '39 Ford front end on a VW back in the '70's? Looked stupid as hell. Same thing happening here.
Just nobody mention their 'Cal Pepper Goo' model and we'll be OK. [www.blow-net.co.jp]
You know what would be great? If those pictures were so goddamn small you can't even really look at them.
@CptSevere: I just saw one of those drive by the other day. Gold rolls grille on a beat black beetle. Probably had a fur interior.
@snarktastic: Did he maybe upload/link to the wrong images? The full-size shots are identical to the thumbnails. I.E. they're really small.
Anyway, I've got a serious jones for one of these. I'm starting to wonder if I could buy a doghouse from a 68-72 GM pickup, and somehow slice it up to make if fit an XB.
Why can't the manufacturers understand? All we want is a simple grille and round headlights. Nothing retro about it. (I'm also a big fan of such antiquities as flat windows, manual door locks, large steering wheels and upright windshields. Forgive me.)
Start a discussion:
Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?