Yamahauler

Holigan
Posts
1444
Joined
6/18/2008
Location
Dallas, TX US
8/27/2018 8:14am Edited Date/Time 2/10/2021 8:37am
As some of you might have read, I have bought land and started plans on a moto themed restaurant in Garland TX. I have been spending time looking at ways to mount the bikes on the walls, and other ways to display them, when it hit me that I really need a Yamahauler. I started researching Yamahaulers and found one that Steve Miles at North American Muscle Cars in Portland Oregon had built for his personal use.







I contacted Steve and learned that he restores and races vintage YZs, and his wife Colleen did all the graphics for the van. Since he really gets it, I ask that he find a ’79 Toyota long bed and build me a Yamahauler. I am planning to park it in the middle of the restaurant with one of Glover’s OWs in the back. Below are some photos of the Toyota before any restoration or build out has begun. I will update as Steve and his team make progress (most of which will happen over the winter).







If you want to see more about Steve's Yamahauler, check out:

Transworld MX Magazine

Car and Driver Magazine: Best Vintage Vans (Yamahauler included pg 12)

Dennis Gage: My Classic Car episode (10:16 into the episode is Yamahauler)

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OldPro277
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1612
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11/9/2009
Location
Avonmore, PA US
8/27/2018 9:51am
That van is completely off the charts cooool !!! Love to do one up like that. I remember seeing a few in the pits back in the day. They were bad-ass back then, but now the bad-assery is next level,lol.

And Michael, that restaurant idea is so cool that I promise I'll drive the 1500 miles just to check it out . Please keep posting updates on your progress.
2
Holigan
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1444
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Location
Dallas, TX US
8/27/2018 10:06am
OldPro277 wrote:
That van is completely off the charts cooool !!! Love to do one up like that. I remember seeing a few in the pits back in...
That van is completely off the charts cooool !!! Love to do one up like that. I remember seeing a few in the pits back in the day. They were bad-ass back then, but now the bad-assery is next level,lol.

And Michael, that restaurant idea is so cool that I promise I'll drive the 1500 miles just to check it out . Please keep posting updates on your progress.
If you drive 1500 miles, the food and beer is on me.

Will definitely keep you updated on the progress of the Yamahauler, and the restaurant starting when we break ground.
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newmann
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US
8/27/2018 1:45pm Edited Date/Time 8/27/2018 1:46pm
Love the van, but what kind of chairs will this lounge have?Wink

Gotta find the time to put the color back on mine. Had the cushions remade with new foam and leather in a little bit of an updated look.







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OldPro277
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1612
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11/9/2009
Location
Avonmore, PA US
8/27/2018 2:52pm
Holigan wrote:
If you drive 1500 miles, the food and beer is on me. Will definitely keep you updated on the progress of the Yamahauler, and the restaurant...
If you drive 1500 miles, the food and beer is on me.

Will definitely keep you updated on the progress of the Yamahauler, and the restaurant starting when we break ground.
I'll hold you to that !! Thanks
2

The Shop

Holigan
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1444
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6/18/2008
Location
Dallas, TX US
8/27/2018 4:19pm
Holigan wrote:
If you drive 1500 miles, the food and beer is on me. Will definitely keep you updated on the progress of the Yamahauler, and the restaurant...
If you drive 1500 miles, the food and beer is on me.

Will definitely keep you updated on the progress of the Yamahauler, and the restaurant starting when we break ground.
OldPro277 wrote:
I'll hold you to that !! Thanks
You got it
1
Holigan
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1444
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Location
Dallas, TX US
8/27/2018 4:20pm
newmann wrote:
Love the van, but what kind of chairs will this lounge have?;) Gotta find the time to put the color back on mine. Had the cushions...
Love the van, but what kind of chairs will this lounge have?Wink

Gotta find the time to put the color back on mine. Had the cushions remade with new foam and leather in a little bit of an updated look.







Those are cool!
captmoto
Posts
5122
Joined
4/22/2009
Location
Rancho Cucamonga, CA US
8/27/2018 10:38pm
I met Steve at Day in The Dirt last year. A really cool guy. I hauled my 78 RM250C2 in an Orange 78 Toyota SR5 Longbed. I even put Cragar Roadstar wheels on it like in the sales brochure. That truck was bullet proof. 1 alternator and 1 clutch in the 12 years I owned it. Drove that truck to Indian Dunes, Saddleback, Carlsbad, Escape Country and Edwards AFB doing battle in the dog-eat-dog CRC 250 novice class.
1
barnett468
Posts
1250
Joined
7/19/2018
Location
Wildomar, CA US
8/28/2018 10:45am
captmoto wrote:
I met Steve at Day in The Dirt last year. A really cool guy. I hauled my 78 RM250C2 in an Orange 78 Toyota SR5 Longbed...
I met Steve at Day in The Dirt last year. A really cool guy. I hauled my 78 RM250C2 in an Orange 78 Toyota SR5 Longbed. I even put Cragar Roadstar wheels on it like in the sales brochure. That truck was bullet proof. 1 alternator and 1 clutch in the 12 years I owned it. Drove that truck to Indian Dunes, Saddleback, Carlsbad, Escape Country and Edwards AFB doing battle in the dog-eat-dog CRC 250 novice class.
Wow, escape country. That is going back a zillion years. I raced my first race there in the first day beginner class on a heavily modified cr125. I eventually moved to the old part of trabuco canyon after escape country closed down and sold off most of the land and a guy named joe bonello was renting out the old house that was on the property.

barnett468
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1250
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Location
Wildomar, CA US
8/28/2018 10:47am
killer van and nice bike . i just bought a 1980 yz250 to ride in the vintage class in so cal.
Holigan
Posts
1444
Joined
6/18/2008
Location
Dallas, TX US
8/28/2018 10:52am
captmoto wrote:
I met Steve at Day in The Dirt last year. A really cool guy. I hauled my 78 RM250C2 in an Orange 78 Toyota SR5 Longbed...
I met Steve at Day in The Dirt last year. A really cool guy. I hauled my 78 RM250C2 in an Orange 78 Toyota SR5 Longbed. I even put Cragar Roadstar wheels on it like in the sales brochure. That truck was bullet proof. 1 alternator and 1 clutch in the 12 years I owned it. Drove that truck to Indian Dunes, Saddleback, Carlsbad, Escape Country and Edwards AFB doing battle in the dog-eat-dog CRC 250 novice class.
They found some mags for it on Craigslist, but the photos are gone now. They sent me a video of Steve driving it around the parking lot. Still runs, go Toyota!
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Holigan
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Dallas, TX US
8/28/2018 10:56am
barnett468 wrote:
killer van and nice bike . i just bought a 1980 yz250 to ride in the vintage class in so cal.
I picked up a 1980 Yamaha, but it is just going to sit in the back of the Yamahauler





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barnett468
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Wildomar, CA US
8/28/2018 11:09am Edited Date/Time 8/28/2018 11:11am
barnett468 wrote:
killer van and nice bike . i just bought a 1980 yz250 to ride in the vintage class in so cal.
Holigan wrote:
I picked up a 1980 Yamaha, but it is just going to sit in the back of the Yamahauler [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2018/08/28/283585/s1200_Glover.jpg[/img]
I picked up a 1980 Yamaha, but it is just going to sit in the back of the Yamahauler





nice bike . i have been thinking about getting some white opague number plates like yours.

do you happen to know anything about the tank decal style between 80 and 81? . from what i can determine, the 80's had the same stripe as the earlier ones and the 81's had the stripe like your does but i read some posts where others think the 80s' or maybe just the 80 yz465 had the decal like yours.
Holigan
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1444
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Location
Dallas, TX US
8/28/2018 11:45am
barnett468 wrote:
nice bike . i have been thinking about getting some white opague number plates like yours. do you happen to know anything about the tank decal...
nice bike . i have been thinking about getting some white opague number plates like yours.

do you happen to know anything about the tank decal style between 80 and 81? . from what i can determine, the 80's had the same stripe as the earlier ones and the 81's had the stripe like your does but i read some posts where others think the 80s' or maybe just the 80 yz465 had the decal like yours.
Steve Miles at North American Muscle Cars can tell you. He has rebuilt a ton of YZs from those years, and his wife can probably print you the correct decals.

Click here for contact info
newmann
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24444
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4/1/2008
Location
US
8/28/2018 3:29pm
I've been keeping my eyes open for one of the old Toyota's. There recently was a 81 4x4 on a government auction site that only had 7,000 miles on it. Belonged to a fire dept in Ohio that only took it out to grass fires...damn thing ended at nearly 20K.Blink
indy_maico
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4985
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Location
Indianapolis, IN US
8/29/2018 5:31am
I remember entering this contest. Didn't win......Sad


4
Miles #805
Posts
36
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9/5/2018
Location
Portland, OR US
9/5/2018 9:26am
UPDATE on your Yamahauler Truck! We've dismantled the truck bed and moved it over to the sand blasters... This maneuver got some thumbs up on the way! Double-stacker beds, cushioned with tires and card board, sponsored by MOPAR Dodge Truck... HA HA! Epic!



1
Miles #805
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Portland, OR US
9/5/2018 9:48am
barnett468 wrote:
killer van and nice bike . i just bought a 1980 yz250 to ride in the vintage class in so cal.
Holigan wrote:
I picked up a 1980 Yamaha, but it is just going to sit in the back of the Yamahauler [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2018/08/28/283585/s1200_Glover.jpg[/img]
I picked up a 1980 Yamaha, but it is just going to sit in the back of the Yamahauler





barnett468 wrote:
nice bike . i have been thinking about getting some white opague number plates like yours. do you happen to know anything about the tank decal...
nice bike . i have been thinking about getting some white opague number plates like yours.

do you happen to know anything about the tank decal style between 80 and 81? . from what i can determine, the 80's had the same stripe as the earlier ones and the 81's had the stripe like your does but i read some posts where others think the 80s' or maybe just the 80 yz465 had the decal like yours.


Barnette468: We have a pressure sensitive decal cutting machine here at NAMC that Colleen, my wife use for race graphics on hot rods, custom car builds, motorcycle decals and race numbers.... here are a couple links for you to look through various years... We are NAMCmopar on eBay, the Web and Facebook... See you there!

1981 Yamaha YZ:

1980 Canadian / Euro Yamaha YZ:

1979 Yamaha YZ:

barnett468
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Wildomar, CA US
9/5/2018 6:18pm
Thanks Steve, I will contact you thru your website or facebook so as not to clutter up the thread.

I have also had several mopars so i look forwrd to see what you do. I'm guessing that you probably also know mark with the big mopar resto shop in washington.

mattyhamz2
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10850
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7/6/2015
Location
So Cal, CA US
Fantasy
760th
9/13/2018 12:36pm
I now have a reason to go to Texas once your place is up and running! How long until it's open for business?
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neverwas
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2572
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8/17/2006
Location
Tucson, AZ US
Fantasy
868th
9/13/2018 2:47pm
mattyhamz2 wrote:
I now have a reason to go to Texas once your place is up and running! How long until it's open for business?
That will be definitely a destination for me and my buddies,should be a great place to have a beer and bench race.
Holigan
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1444
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Location
Dallas, TX US
9/13/2018 6:07pm
mattyhamz2 wrote:
I now have a reason to go to Texas once your place is up and running! How long until it's open for business?
Good meeting with the city engineers this morning. If everything goes OK moving forward, should open next summer.
1
Miles #805
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36
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9/5/2018
Location
Portland, OR US
10/16/2018 9:48am
Toyota Yamahauler update! our guys have started in on metal replacements for the corners of the bed where water and weather ate at the seams. Our extra bed had just enough good metal to cut out for our patches.




Miles #805
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36
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Location
Portland, OR US
10/16/2018 10:30am
Thinking about seat upholstery... We have a new dash, new rear slider window, and we need to take this sacked out seat to the upholstery house... What do you guys think? option 1, option 2, option 3, option 4?

Did you see the awesome bucket seats redone in yellow and black for our Yamahauler VAN in Portland Oregon? Soo many comment on them and we are wondering if it's a good upgrade for Michael Holigan's Toyota Yamahauler... RSVP



JWACK
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2479
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8/7/2009
Location
NM US
10/16/2018 10:41am
Awesomeness!
Since73
Posts
71
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4/16/2017
Location
Pearland, TX US
10/16/2018 2:03pm Edited Date/Time 10/16/2018 2:15pm
Miles #805 wrote:
Thinking about seat upholstery... We have a new dash, new rear slider window, and we need to take this sacked out seat to the upholstery house...
Thinking about seat upholstery... We have a new dash, new rear slider window, and we need to take this sacked out seat to the upholstery house... What do you guys think? option 1, option 2, option 3, option 4?

Did you see the awesome bucket seats redone in yellow and black for our Yamahauler VAN in Portland Oregon? Soo many comment on them and we are wondering if it's a good upgrade for Michael Holigan's Toyota Yamahauler... RSVP



How about a variation on #3. Leave the lower seat (under your legs) all black, but done in non-slip motorcycle seat material. Switch the colors seen for the back of #3 to have smooth black on top and yellow in the middle. On that black top part, be sure to put white "YAMAHA" (middle or one on each side) as seen stenciled on the bike seat covers.

If the dash has any aluminum to speak of, and it should, have "MONO-X" displayed on it for a nice touch.

Matt Fisher
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3947
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4/1/2008
Location
Visalia, CA US
Fantasy
1084th
10/17/2018 5:27pm
Since73 wrote:
How about a variation on #3. Leave the lower seat (under your legs) all black, but done in non-slip motorcycle seat material. Switch the colors seen...
How about a variation on #3. Leave the lower seat (under your legs) all black, but done in non-slip motorcycle seat material. Switch the colors seen for the back of #3 to have smooth black on top and yellow in the middle. On that black top part, be sure to put white "YAMAHA" (middle or one on each side) as seen stenciled on the bike seat covers.

If the dash has any aluminum to speak of, and it should, have "MONO-X" displayed on it for a nice touch.

X2 outstanding ideas.
Miles #805
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36
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9/5/2018
Location
Portland, OR US
11/21/2018 1:01pm
UPDATE! The seat upholstery for Mike's Toyota Yamahauler truck looks FABULOUS! We went with the strong horizontal splash of Yamaha yellow (sorry, no non-slip, but cool idea for another project) and we know Michael wants to display cool vintage VMX gear like boots and JT and Viking and misc. time period correct goodies that we all tossed into the truck on our way out the door to go racing, so we have included some of these prop items to give everyone an idea of what they might see in the restaurant setting... Maybe visitors can sit in driver seat for photos? HA HA! I would stand in line for that.... you? lol


Since73
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71
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4/16/2017
Location
Pearland, TX US
11/21/2018 4:46pm
That seat is AWESOME!! Maybe not too late to stencil "YAMAHA" in the middle of the upper black part? (same look as the YZ seat covers). Either way, this whole project is off the charts cool. Keep us posted on the next steps/plans.
Miles #805
Posts
36
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9/5/2018
Location
Portland, OR US
12/12/2018 11:34am
For those of you who are following this custom build, we had a difficult time finding a nice tailgate for this 1979 Toyota Hilux! Finally found one shipped from GREECE! Who would'a thought we would have to go international to source parts for this project! It was this or buy a whole truck! It arrived tweeked at the driver side lower corner / probably damaged in shipping, but we have the tools to fix THAT! Onward! Ka~Pow!

newmann
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24444
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4/1/2008
Location
US
12/12/2018 2:08pm
Hmmmm, even more interesting than a Yamahauler (is that even possible???), I spy a old school Batmobile!

Please share some more pics and info.

And don't stop with the Yamahauler updates!
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