Date:         Sun, 2 Dec 2001 11:31:48 -0800
Reply-To:     David Richoux <tubaman@WOMBAT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Richoux <tubaman@WOMBAT.NET>
Subject:      Newspaper article on the end of Combi production in Mexico
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

FWIW,  in the paper today 12/2/01
http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/business/docs/mexicovw.htm

Dave Richoux   83.5 Westy
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End of a long,  strange trip for  VW bus in Mexico

 BY MARK STEVENSON
Associated Press

MEXICO CITY -- The era of peace and love really is
over: The Volkswagen van that took a generation on long,
strange trips is going out of production in Mexico at
year's end.

Sales are scheduled to halt at the end of December. And
in Brazil, the only other place where the boxy VW bus is
still being made, union officials say they suspect
Volkswagen is planning to end production soon as part of
cost-cutting measures.

The van, known in Latin America as the Combi, was
introduced in 1950. Distinctive because of its air-cooled,
rear-mounted engine, the van was last offered in 1982 in
the United States as the Transporter.

It is being replaced in the VW lineup by the Eurovan, a
more modern vehicle with a water-cooled front engine.

The demise of the old bus has saddened a lot of old
hippies here, as Volkswagen conceded with full-page ads in
Mexican newspapers that read Adios, Combi above a
picture of a teary-eyed, aging flower-child in a tie-dye
shirt.

``I think it's gonna be a big surprise for Volkswagen
fans that they were still making them down there,'' said
Ryan Price, editor of the magazine VW Trends. ``In the
same sentence, I think there will be some remorse.

``It's the end of an era. It came to symbolize a certain
sense of freedom, as if they could go anywhere.''

Volkswagen said in a statement that the Eurovan would
``offer the modernity, new technology and space that
current customers demand.''

The famous Volkswagen sedan -- the original Beetle, or
``Bug'' -- will continue to be produced at VW's Mexico
plant. Green-painted Beetle taxis are as common in
Mexico City as black cabs in Britain.