Every once in a while, Bring a Trailer delivers a gem that blends quirky Japanese engineering, diesel reliability, and just enough oddball charm to win over an unsuspecting bidder. This week’s star? A 1995 Mazda Bongo Friendee turbodiesel pop-top camper that hammered for just $3,910—proof that adventure doesn’t have to come with a six-figure overland price tag.
Diesel Power Beneath The Bongo Seats
Underneath the flip-up front seats lives Mazda’s 2.5-liter turbodiesel inline-four, the little oil-burner that could. Paired with a four-speed automatic, it sends power to the rear wheels and delivers that familiar diesel torque in a compact, right-hand-drive package. At 163,000 kilometers (about 102,000 miles), this Bongo has plenty of road left ahead. Recent service included a fresh cylinder head, new timing belt, and alternator repair—the kind of maintenance every diesel fan appreciates, because it means someone else already did the dirty work.
Pop-Top Personality
From the outside, the Bongo Friendee wears its Brilliant Black and Silent Silver paint like a badge of honor—scratches, scuffs, and peeling trim only add to its “earned it” patina. The real magic is up top: Mazda’s power-operated “Auto Free Top,” a factory pop-top camper setup with a glass sunroof and built-in sleeping space. With three rows of gray cloth seating inside, sliding benches, and a Pioneer head unit with Bluetooth, this little van is ready for weekend campouts or long-haul road trips. Add in air conditioning, footrests, and Japanese-market flair like a rear convex mirror, and you’ve got a rolling conversation starter.
A Diesel Enthusiast’s Bargain
Where else can you get four-wheel disc brakes, 16-inch wheels wrapped in Michelins, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and a factory camper top for under four grand? Sure, there’s some corrosion underneath, but anyone in the diesel community knows: rust is just a project waiting to be tackled with a grinder and a free Saturday.
Meet The New Mazda Bongo Friendee Guy
The best part of this sale wasn’t the van itself but the new owner’s reaction:
I threw in a last minute bid expecting to lose and then went into a meeting. Welp, guess I’m a Bongo Friendee guy now :). Looking forward to camping in this!
That’s the spirit. One impulsive bid later, and there’s a new diesel camper owner planning weekends under the pop-top.
Adventure’s New Mascot
In a world where diesel Land Cruisers and VW Westfalias bring eye-watering money, this 1995 Mazda Bongo Friendee camper proves you can still get into the game without draining your wallet. For $3,910, the winner scored a turbodiesel-powered slice of JDM camping culture—equal parts practical, funky, and fun.
Adventure, it seems, now has a new mascot: the Friendee.
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