1986 Toyota Hi-Ace LWB Dormobile Camper |

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1986 Toyota Hi-Ace LWB Dormobile Camper

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£11,256

Mileage~36,568 on clock
Transmission5-Speed Manual
Engine2.0-litre
LocationSalisbury

SOLD

1986 Toyota Hi-Ace LWB Dormobile Camper

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Jacob Boodrie

Professional Consigner

A very rare Toyota Lift Top, complete with two fully padded double beds, a rear kitchen, a double cooker with grill, and a fridge — all in one compact and neatly designed package.

The Toyota Hi-Ace was first introduced in 1967 and has since gone through six generations worldwide, with variants including a van, camper van, pickup, ambulance, and minibus, to name a few. The Hi-Ace was a cabover design packed with innovation, capable of carrying up to fifteen people.

This example is a third-generation Hi-Ace, introduced in the early 1980s with all the retro styling of the era. Ordered by Dormobile directly from Toyota, it left the factory finished in medium blue with a biscuit interior.

The current custodian has enjoyed using this camper for sunny days out to the beach and trips across the UK for the past three and a half years, but due to a recent lack of use has reluctantly decided to bring it to auction with us and it comes with a fresh MOT valid until 14.08.2026. The Hi-Ace will be MOT and tax exempt when it turns 40 next year.

This listing was written from information supplied by Jacob after meeting Dave the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I’ve loved owning ‘Dory’ over the past three and a half years; it’s been such fun taking her to the beach and on various trips.

Dave has thoroughly enjoyed ownership of this Hi-Ace over the previous ~3.5 years, he's had the camper van in his dry lock-up, reserved for sunny weekends.

Dave was hoping to keep this example to enjoy for many years over his retirement; however, due to lack of use recently has decided to part with it.

Dave will be on hand to answer any questions about the car in the comments below.

Dave

Vehicle Owner

Dave saved £1,980* when they
sold their Toyota with us.

SELLING MADE EASY

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Fitted with the famous Dormatic roof, this navy Hi-Ace with its yellow-striped Hi-Top turns heads from every angle.

Wheels and Tyres

The 14" wheels, finished in silver, look great on this example and give the car a classic '80s appeal. During our visit, the wheels appear well cared for, with no sign of any major damage to any of the hubs, but there are slight signs of wear around the 'Toyota' centre caps.

The wheels are fitted with Sumitom SL 727's dated 2021 with a spec of 185/80 R14, these also appear to be in good condition, with a good amount of tread remaining and no visible cracking or signs of age on the sidewalls.

Bodywork

The bodywork of this Hi-Ace Dormobile looks in great condition, with all the panel gaps around the van appearing to align very well. During our visit, we didn't spot any obvious dings or dents around the bodywork.

We've provided more detailed observations through our high-resolution images and videos. Please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in 'Medium Blue', the paint is applied with even coverage and colour across each panel. We did notice a little bit of wear and light cracking to the black bumpers which could be touched up by a future owner.

Once again, we've captured high-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves.

Glass and Trim

The glass on this Hi-Ace example looks great and is in line with the low mileage. During our visit, we didn't notice any chips, cracks, or discolouration. The windows are etched with the number plate and original Toyota badging. The window seals also look good and align with the overall condition of the car.

The door handles, and window surrounds are all in good condition as well.

You can see in the exterior photos that the Dormobile top is in great condition with no tears or rips.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

It’s amazing what has been fitted into the cabin and rear of this camper - once the roof is lifted, it offers an impressive amount of space inside.

Seats and Carpets

The 'Biscuit' coloured seats have held their shape very well over the years, as you would expect with cherished and careful ownership.

A similar story is told with the brown door cards and carpets.

For a detailed view of the cabin, please take a look at the extensive media.

Dashboard

The dashboard is covered in a brown/black plastic finish and presents three dials in front of the driver.

The dashboard in this Hi-Ace shows no signs of any major damage or scuffs, and with no warning lights displayed.

The odometer showed a reading of ~36,568 miles during our visit.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A brown Toyota steering wheel is fitted and is in great condition and the black column changer gearstick looks good too.

For a closer look, check out the image gallery to see the detail.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Powered by a reliable and solid 2.0L engine positioned under the passenger seat, the Hi-Ace makes manoeuvring and motoring a pleasure.

Engine and Gearbox

The 2.0L petrol engine from Toyota is regarded as a reliable unit. On the day of our visit, we started the car from cold, and it performed well on the road, the engine pulled nicely, idled smoothly, and ran without fault.

Dave reports that the car starts from cold with no issues and drives well with its smooth manual five-speed gearbox transferring power to the wheels.

Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, driving around, and for a closer look underneath the Hi-Ace and the smart engine bay tucked neatly under the passenger seats.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension appears to be in good condition, providing a smooth journey on the sweeping Wiltshire roads.

During our short drive in the car, it felt just as you'd expect for a Campervan from this era, coming to a stop without a fuss too.

The Drive

An extremely fun and high up drive is offered in this Toyota Hi-Ace Dormobile. Dave has loved using the car for road trips around his hometown and further afield on sunny weekends over the previous years.

The Hi-Ace fired up the first time with no issues to report. On the road with Dave the car felt tight, exhibiting plenty of power to navigate the road. We didn’t notice any unusual noises coming from the engine or suspension either.

Electrics and Other

We didn’t test all the electrics during our visit, but Roger reports that, to his knowledge, all of the electrics are functional and operational, aligning with the overall condition of the camper.

Around four years ago, the campervan was fitted with a new 12V fridge, capable of running off-grid for at least three days on the leisure battery. The van also features a 240V hook-up with lead and internal 3-pin sockets, along with a 12V USB port. A gas locker with cylinder is included to power the cooker, and a period Kawasaki GA 1400 silent generator is also fitted.

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History and Paperwork

With only around ~36k miles on the clock, it’s a delight to see such a healthy stack of supporting paperwork - don’t miss this rare opportunity to own one of the remaining Hi-Ace Dormobiles.

The camper is coming out of approximately three and a half years of ownership with Dave. Bursting with originality, it’s powered by a 2.0L petrol engine paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox, offering a little more power and reliability than many other campervans from this era. An outdoor waterproof cover is also included. Take a look at the history and paperwork provided to see the previous MOT reports, servicing, and parts this Toyota Hi-Ace Dormobile has received throughout its life. The Hi-Ace comes with a fresh MOT valid until 14.08.2026. The Hi-Ace will be MOT and tax exempt when it turns 40, next year.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
18.07.2025	MOT	36,529
15.08.2024	MOT	36,499
17.07.2023	MOT	36,104
25.07.2022	MOT	36,023
26.07.2021	MOT	35,819
19.10.2018	MOT	35,597
21.06.2017	MOT	35,505
16.04.2016	MOT	34,923
16.05.2015	MOT	34,067
21.05.2009	MOT	33,796
22.05.2008	MOT	33,232
22.05.2007	MOT	32,753
23.05.2006	MOT	32,139