Camper vans have become a lot more popular recently, thanks to the lockdowns and flexible work situations. Also, many camper van makers are already jumping onto the electric bandwagon to get the earliest slice of this prospering market. While the race for futuristic and sophisticated all-electric campers is underway, we divert your attention to this time capsule from the 90s. OttoEx managed to get hold of a pristine 1992 Mercedes-Benz T1-based camper that was sold in Japan.
So, this camper packs both European and Japanese quirks. It gets a Reimo tall-roof conversion from the factory and has an interior that is compact, comfy, and spacious enough to let you stand. Almost all elements are stock and the van has very less mileage. As rare as it is, this camper is already a goner as someone lucky already got their hands on it.
This practical old-school Mercedes-Benz T1-based camper has been imported by OttoEx from the Land Of The Rising Sun.
Based On The Mercedes-Benz TN/T1
This camper van is based on a very successful commercial van from Mercedes-Benz called the TN (or T1 internally). This van is known for being a workhorse, thanks to the immortal OM602 2.9-Liter diesel motor. Mercs equipped with this motor are said to have completed well over a million miles in various European countries.
This particular T1-based camper van was imported new to Japan with a slew of body modifications from the factory. This particular iteration churns out 93.7 hp and 141.6 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. And the best part, this 1992 camper van has done only 29,000 miles over 30 years!
A Tall Van With Loads Of External Access And Storage
This camper comes with a factory-fitted Reimo high-top conversion that gives it a tall stance. The second half of this camper packs all sorts of external storage and access points. These include the exhaust vents for the heater and a pocket for the cassette toilet that is tucked nicely in the wet bathroom. It also comes with an external shower head.
As for the rear doors, they open up to black walls but, this camper has clever stoppers for the rear doors to keep them open in place for any sort of outdoor activities. The Reimo roof section houses a camera and exhaust fans for the cabin, the wet bathroom, and the kitchen extractor. Despite all these "tall" changes, the T1 camper looks real compact. It still flaunts the factory paint job in impassive condition.
Slide Into A Modular And Comfy Cabin Where You Can Stand
The driver and passenger compartment are nothing different from the usual and are a time capsule with a simple analog instrument cluster that has no tachometer but just a speedometer, temperature gauge, fuel level indication, and a clock. The first Japanese owner dd install an aftermarket radio and that was about it in the front row. Also, the upholstery is in stock and good condition.
Entry to the rear section is through a slidable side door on the left. It opens up directly to a modular dinette with seatbelts for five. After folding away the dining table, this setup can be converted into two forward-facing bench seats or a big bed. The internal of its Reimo-roof converts into a storage compartment that slides on rails, which can also double up as another sleeping space with windows. This can be pushed all the way, when not in use, to the front to make enough headroom for you to walk around on the inside. Also, the additional components to convert the dinette into a bed are stored up top.
Coming to the rear section, this camper houses a kitchenette with a sink, a wet bathroom, and loads of storage compartments. The kitchenette has a sink, a two-burner stove with an extractor, and a refrigerator, all fed propane via a three-way connection. The wet bathroom packs a foldable sink to make more room for showers and access to the cassette toilet. All the interior components are in an impressive state despite being 30 years old.
It Is Already Sold
These Mercedes-Benz T1-based vans are very rare in the States, and it's no shocker to see this 1992 specimen already listed as "Pre-Sold" on Ottoex.com. And also, seeing one from Japan is even rarer. A very lucky person got hold of this rare time capsule.
Sources: OttoEx.com, Youtube.com/OttoEx