The Mazda Camper Van with a Funny Name

In the 1980s and ’90s, outdoor recreation became a popular pastime in Japan. In response, carmakers developed camper vans to capitalize on the trend. Many of these models, like the Mitsubishi Delica and Toyota Hiace, are now quite popular in the US. Less well-known is the Mazda Bongo Friendee, like the one recently for sale on eBay Motors in Hollywood, Fla.

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Processed By eBay with ImageMagick, z1.1.0. ||B2

Friendly Friendee

The Mazda Bongo dates back to 1966 when it was introduced as a cargo van, three-row passenger van, and cab-over-engine pickup truck. It became an instant bestseller due to its practicality and value. The van remained popular through several decades, and when enthusiasm for camping and outdoorsmanship spiked, Mazda launched the Bongo Friendee camper van.

Despite its name, the Mazda Bongo Friendee camper van shares no body panels with the Bongo. In its regular configuration, it was a seven-seat, three-row van. It was offered in rear- or all-wheel-drive and can navigate light trails, though it doesn’t have the ground clearance of a 4WD Delica. Engine options included a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit, a more powerful 2.5-liter V-6, and a torquey 2.5-liter diesel four.

The Bongo Friendee was designed specifically as a camper van, though it also has excellent maneuverability for dense urban areas. Its two rear seating rows can fold completely flat with no gaps to form a bed. Its pièce de résistance was an optional, built-in motorized rooftop tent that could be raised to create an additional sleeping space for two people. Thus, it offered a family of four the ability to camp together and access either level without leaving the car via a sunroof-like opening in the cabin ceiling.

Excellent Example

While the Mazda Bongo Friendee camper van offered for sale does not have the rooftop tent, it’s still an excellent example of the breed and serves as a good camper for two. It’s categorized on eBay Motors as a Mazda MPV van because the Bongo Friendee was never officially sold in the US. With only 67,000 miles on the diesel engine, it still has many miles of life left in it.

The van appears to be in excellent condition, befitting a car with its mileage. Its two-tone paint and OEM decal package look to be well preserved. It also boasts features such as ceiling vents for second-row passengers, factory privacy screens and curtains, and a sunroof. It even comes with a few aftermarket accessories, like a rare PIAA brush guard, window visors, and a rear-mounted ladder for rooftop access.

Opens on Street Side

As a Japanese import, the Mazda Bongo Friendee is a right-hand-drive vehicle. One aspect to consider when buying any Japanese van of this era is that the sliding door opens on the street side, which would be the curb side in the van’s home country. This particular example has an automatic transmission, so left-handed shifting won’t be an issue.

The Mazda Bongo Friendee camper van has a popular following in the UK. Thankfully, advice about operation and repair has been translated into English and can be found online. Don’t let the funny name dissuade you from an otherwise superb recreational vehicle.