Date:         Sun, 4 Nov 2001 21:03:52 -0600
Reply-To:     "Filcoff, David M." <FilcoffD@MISSOURI.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Filcoff, David M." <FilcoffD@MISSOURI.EDU>
Subject:      Bad Vanagon News...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I have some bad news, Saturday the Vanagon was wrecked.  A car
failed to yield while turning left.  I hit them at about 35-40 mph, I'm ok
besides a bruise from my pager and a stiff neck.  I wish I could say the
same about the Vanagon.  The other driver was in an early 80s Caviler,
unfortunately they were taken by ambulance to the hospital, however she
didn't look too bad.  The Vanagon is still drivable, but the frame is
tweaked.  The other car was a mess, it was towed away.

I've posted some pictures of the Vanagon here:
http://www.251.org/Images/87Vanagon/Wreck

I am surprised at how well the Vanagon did in the accident, the damage is
not as bad as I thought it was gong to be when I saw her car after I hit
it.  The damage is fairly well contained, but I am worried about the
frame, the doors don't close as well as they did before, the passenger door
scrapes the door sill.  It drives just fine though, from driving it and
sitting inside you can't tell anything happened.

Dave
251.org
87 Vanagon, 180k and not doing too well
61 Bus, 79k and now the daily driver

BTW on a better note I have a newly bead blasted and repainted set of 14"
wheels with 205/70R14 Michelin Arctic Alpin snow tires.  Iff all goes well
and the Vanagon is back on the street by winter I should be set.  I'll try
to post pictures soon, they're painted Rustolium "Stainless Steel" color,
very nice, close to stock color, slightly darker.