Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 21:33:45 -0700
Reply-To: Rodney Kindlund <rodney@RODKRAFTSTUDIO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rodney Kindlund <rodney@RODKRAFTSTUDIO.COM>
Subject: Re: worst cars - van? (long-ish)
In-Reply-To: <3CB231A4.692DE55F@vnet.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
--- Jim Henry <jch@vnet.net> wrote:
> Better yet, we should insist that they fly down to
> Everybus2002 and get the real story.<<snip>>
Well, I took Jim's advice and wrote a positive note to
the Car Talk Guys and asked them or challenged them to
join us at Everybus. I doubt if they make it, though.
Anyone coming to NC from New Jersey or the area where
Click and Clack broadcast from? Anyway, I attached my
note to them so y'all could see my passionate reply.
Hope they have a sense of humor, too. Peace, love, and
vee-dubyas........Rodney
----------
Can you spell V-O-L-K-S-W-A-G-E-N V-A-N-A-G-O-N?
Dear Mr. Click and Mr. Clack;
Your recent "beauty contest" for the dubious title of
the Millennium's Worst Ten Cars left some of us
perplexed. You see, when you sponsor such an event, it
would be good to have some research to fall back on. I
would venture a guess that the Volkswagen van-owners
from split-window buses, to bay-window buses, and
including the Vanagons have logged more miles in our
beloved vans than any other single auto manufacturer
(except maybe miltary vehicles). The Volkswagen van
has withstood the test of time since 1950, and
although Volkswagenwerk AG is still producing the
Eurovan, that adds up to over 50 years of VW van
history. Many of us agree that they are rather
humble-looking and homely, but hey, no one is going to
come along and steal my VW van. That's automobile
security, man! I have seen VW vans that have been
restored from the 50's that are as collectable as any
car on the market and are worth at least five figures.
Now maybe your "Worst Cars of the Millennium" was kind
of a joke for a laugh from middle America and I guess
that's one on us, but our VW vans are pretty special
vehicles. There are many dedicated VW van owners out
in the world that keep these machines running, even if
replacement parts can be very hard to find. I have
always thought that Volkswagen of America (VWoA) has
made a right pretty penny off all the people (now
approaching retirement) who purchased VWs in the
1960's, 1970's and 1980's. We raised our families
camping in VW vans and there are many younger couple
and families in 2002 who are not afraid to be seen in
and camp with their families in their VW vans. Sheesh!
I am sure we all not only kept VWoA alive in the
1970’s, but that they prospered, as well. If they were
still making parts for some of the older vans, they
could probably make another fortune because VW owners
spend the money to keep their "beauties" running and
on the road as daily drivers and camping vehicles. As
you can see, the general-run-of-the-mill VW vanagoneer
is passionate about these humble vehicles. We love
them, we fix them when they are sick, and we keep them
on the road as a part of 50 years of American
automobilia! (Flags are waving now, guys!) And now,
for the research end of your Car Talk Show: this is an
open invitation, nay, a challenge, that Mr. Click and
Mr. Clack attend one of the premier Volkswagen van
events in the USofA; namely called EVERYBUS 2002. This
event will sport about every year of VW van from the
50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and maybe some 00’s in
the great State of North Carolina beginning on April
19 and ending April 21, 2002 near Greensboro, NC. Now
I could go on-and-on, but if y’all just take a look at
the website for Everybus, you can even find directions
to get there. Maybe NPR will spend the bucks and make
sure y’all get a chance to get some real research done
on the humble VW van. And guys, if y’all can’t get NPR
to finance your trip to the State of North Carolina
later this month, just send me an email and I’ll see
if we can take up a collection to help you get here.
Better yet, just look at the carabus information…....
….c-a-r-a-b-u-s….. ....….that’s not a car and a bus
that’s been welded together, okay? Anyway, look at the
“carabus lists” on the Everybus website and there is
probably someone headed down this way from New Jersey
or close to the area y’all hail from. And that
Everybus website is: www.mindspring.com/~ncbus/eb02.
Hope to see y’all at Everybus; hey, why not just do
your show “live” from Everybus? (Just a thought).
Thank you for your unbiased coverage of automobile
news……Rodney
=====
Rodney Kindlund
RodKraft Studio (Leather-Art)
rodney@rodkraftstudio.com
www.rodkraftstudio.com
----------------------------------------------------------
'84 VW Wolfsburg Weekender "VanGo(gh)"
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