Two Lane Desktop

There are more Nissan vans out there than just the Prairie from Matchbox, including the Tomica Dandy first-generation Prairie.   Here are two versions that have different missions, a 1990’s Mazda-based van designed for camping and a recent Nissan van that also serves duties as a taxi. Tomica Mazda Bongo Friendee The Nissan Bongo is based on the Mazda of the same name and was introduced in 1995 as a practical minivan that uses inspiration from the VW Eurovan, especially with the optional tent that pops up from the roof and stowes away with ease.   The Bongo has a more upright look like the Eurovan with a few familiar Mazda styling cues front and rear shared with the MPV, and yes it was also sold as a Nissan but only as the smaller Bongo line, not the Friendee, and was replaced by the NV200.   The interior has seating for seven with rear seats that can fold into a mattress and an available sink as well, while the large liftgate opens ...

Matchbox cars from Japan automakers have seen limited success over the years, sometimes coming in groups of waves with the first in the 1970’s and 1980’s.   In the 1990’s even during the Tyco-era there was a few unique castings from Japan that are still unique to Matchbox today, and here’s a few in matching dark green with tan interiors: the Nissan Prairie and the Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder. 1990 Nissan Prairie The Prairie was also known as the Axxess in the U.S. and was introduced in 1982 as a small MPV based on a car platform that was the first to use sliding rear doors and flexible seating arrangement, even the front and rear doors latched to each other since there was no B-pillar.   In 1988 the Prairie was redesigned and lost some of the unique touches like the reclining back seats due to the rear axle going from torsion beam to coil springs and the B-pillar for better rigidity and crash protection.   The Axxess was sold in ...