Date:         Tue, 30 Aug 2005 08:55:01 -0400
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: New Owner ... Pop Top Question
In-Reply-To:  <4313CF38.40802@sbcglobal.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> Just bought a '85 Westy. It needs a new pop top canvas. Seen, 
> on-line, the ones offered by Go Westy and Bus Depot. What are 
> difference bewteen the materials - Cotton vs. Help Blend vs. 
> Sunbrella(sp?)? What, if any are the differences in quality 
> between Go Westy and BD? Are there any other good sources?



Unless you have one custom sewn, the canvas you buy from any retailer
besides The Bus Depot will come from the same U.S. manufacturer no matter
where you buy it. I do offer that canvas for those who want it, but it is
not my best seller. Instead, I import poptop canvas from Europe that it is
noticably superior to the U.S. repro.  In fact I import two - an OEM
Westfalia replacement and a European made copy of it.

Below is a copy of a post I made here a couple of years ago, which explains
the differences.  The only changes since that post are as follows...

1) The U.S. supplier has recently added a hemp blend offering. I have not
tested it and therefore cannot comment on its long-term durability, water
resistance, or suitability as a poptop canvas.

2 The aftermarket European made 3-window Vanagon canvas that is noted below
is backordered until around January. Meanwhile, I will have a 1-window
version coming from the same manufacturer in about 3 weeks at a very low
price (under $200).  If you want 3 windows and don't want to wait until
January, I do have the 3-window genuine Westfalia canvas in stock (the best
you can buy), and also have the U.S. made 3-window repro at a special low
price until my European 3-window ones come in.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW

_____________________________________________
Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT 


---- Forwarded Message -----

Some time back I promised new Westfalia poptop canvas offerings. After a
year in the works, I am happy to finally announce that they are a reality.

To recap, for the last 15 years or so, there's been just one aftermarket
manufacturer of poptop canvas. So no matter where you bought your
replacement canvas (unless it was custom-sewn), you got the same product. It
is a course cotton material that, while quite functional, looks very
different from the original in terms of finish and texture. The same factory
also offers a Sunbrella/acrylic synthetic fabric for about $100 more, which
looks a little better but is expensive and somewhat stiff (making it harder
to close the poptop). Neither is a very authentic match for the original
(although both are good quality). On the bright side, this aftermarket
supplier uses three screened windows with zippered flaps, instead of just
one front window. Anyone who has had a 3-window canvas knows that this is a
huge improvement over the original VW design, in terms of ventilation and
getting a nice cross-breeze going on a hot night. 

About two years ago I brought in some genuine Westfalia replacement poptop
canvas from Germany (from the company that actually supplied it to
Westfalia). Of course they were beautiful - the same fit and finish as the
original.  They were every bit as waterproof as the original, without
Sunbrella's tendancy to be harder to fold, and the stitching and overall
quality was unmistakably better than any aftermarket canvas. The only
drawback is that, like the original, these only had a single window. Still,
they sold out almost immediately.

Recognizing the potential for a "best of both worlds" product here, I have
for some time been working with the German supplier to come up with an
upgraded version of the OEM poptop canvas - the same genuine Westfalia
canvas, but with three screened windows and zippered flaps. And now it's
here. The price is $349, which is about 1/3 of what Volkswagen charged for
the single-window version.

While we were at it, we also upgraded the front mosquito screen to the
improved '90-91 design. On those years, the screen could be completely
removed, rather than just partially unzipped, allowing you to replace it
separately in the event that it ripped (i.e. you caught it in the latch
while closing it, etc.). Now all of our genuine Westfalia Vanagon canvas has
this feature. 

Then I also went a step further, and sent samples of the genuine Westfalia
canvas to a European specialist to have aftermarket reproductions made.
These are basically "knockoffs" of the aforementioned genuine Westfalia
canvas, complete with three screened windows (although not the fully
detachable screen). I must say I'm very impressed with what they came up
with. Compared to the genuine Westfalia ones the color shade is slightly
different (the tan is a bit lighter; the gray has a hint of tan in it), the
mosquito netting is darker, and the fabric maybe just a tad lighter-weight.
But they're surprisingly close - much closer than any aftermarket canvas
that has been available until now. What's more, the price is lower - just
$229, making it the lowest priced on the market.

So now you have two choices: A new and improved aftermarket replacement for
$229, or a top-of-the-line, better-than-original genuine Westfalia canvas
for $349. 

You can find the canvas at the following links:

For '80-85...
http://busdepot.com/view.jsp?model=58&group=94&prodgroup=909

For '86-91...
http://busdepot.com/view.jsp?model=43&group=94&prodgroup=909

Incidentally, new illustrated instructions are included with both versions.
The job is not particularly difficult, but it is somewhat time consuming
(probably a day's work). 

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW

_____________________________________________
Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT