The Toyota Hiace is a pretty common sight in Asian markets, so it is not surprising that many different tuners are offering accessories and bodykits for the van. A really special Hiace-based conversion comes from Japanese tuner FlexDream and transforms the Hiace into a very cool looking reverse restomod camper.
Rather than using the sixth-gen Toyota Hiace (H300) as a base, FlexDream opted for the previous fifth-gen Hiace (H200) which remains on sale in Japan. Besides the popularity of this version, the obvious reason is its cab-over layout which is the most fitting for a retro appearance.
The tuner offers plenty of personalization options, as proven by the large variety of color combinations, ride height, and interior trim / layouts you will see in the massive gallery below. Most importantly, all of the vans share the retro-flavored front end treatment. The new face makes quite a difference in the design, having us wonder why Toyota didn’t come up with this solution in the first place.
Read: Toyota Hilux Gets A Retro Nose Job With The Brody Front Clip
The highlight of the build is the round headlights (halogen or LED bulbs) with separate turn signals in black plastic housing. Those are combined with a new grille featuring Toyota lettering instead of the regular emblem and a new honeycomb pattern. A closer look reveals that the Hiace retains the stock unpainted plastic bumper as well as the rest of the body panels. However, options for exterior modifications do not end there. The FD-Classic can be fitted with foglights, additional LED bars, different grilles, fender extensions (either sporty or rugged), bull bars, roof racks, aftermarket wheels, and lowered or lifted suspension.
For example, the gray-painted van above is a lowrider sitting 50 mm (2 inches) lower than the stock Hiace. It rides on 17-inch alloy wheels shod in Falken tires and features bolt-on fenders covering a part of the wheel arches. Inside, it can accommodate up to five people with a Pendleton pattern on the front seat covers, vintage leather on the rear bench, and a large cargo area for transporting motorbikes at the back.
The yellow-painted van is a camper conversion with faux wood stickers on the sides and plenty of kit making it look ready for adventure. It rides on 16-inch Brut alloy wheels shod in Toyo Tires Open Country R/T rubber that will provide more grip off the beaten truck. The fender add-ons by Jaos and the bumpers have a military-style matt-black Line X treatment for protection against scratches. It also has a Jaos bull bar at the front, LED bar and foglights by ARB, plus IPF headlights. Finally, the large roof rack by ARB can hold pretty much anything you need including a side awning and a roof tent.
The interior of the camper is even more interesting, with wood inserts on the dashboard and three rows of seats upholstered in vintage brown leather. The second and third-row benches can fold flat creating a comfortable sleeping area, in combination with blinds in all windows for privacy. Under the bed there is a large storage area and two small boxes – one converts into a sink and the other into a stove.
Both of the aforementioned examples were exhibited at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2023, which is where we took notice. Checking out the tuned Hiace inventory on FlexDream’s official website, we found that the retro-themed vans are priced between ¥3,998,000 ($31,168) and ¥6,902,000 ($53,812) depending on the spec of the donor car, the condition (new/used) and the extra equipment.
In Japan, the Toyota Hiace is available with petrol and diesel powertrains, in either RWD or AWD guise with a manual or an automatic transmission. If we were in the market for such a vehicle, we would probably go for an AWD van with a suspension lift kit and a camper interior (retractable tables, bed, storage compartments, and a fabric upholstery), although it is very hard to choose among many tasteful color combinations for the exterior.
To avoid any confusion, we must note that FlexDream doesn’t appear to be related to Flex / Renoca despite the similarity in the name and the fact that both companies create similar reverse restomod kits for the Hiace and the Land Cruiser.
