Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 09:11:53 -0800
Reply-To: Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: BGT: Unique! 1989 Dehler-Profi T3 Syncro 16"
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Folks: I have just finalized the purchased of a unique! 1989 Dehler-Profi Syncro 16" Vanagon (T3).
I've been told that there was only ONE of these T3 Syncro 16" vans factory outfitted by
Dehler-Profi. This van is so rare/unique that I have been told by knowledgeable people that a van
like this does not, nor never did, exist, or that it is a syncro 14" outfitted with 16" wheels, or
that the Dehler interior was added after-market. Not true, this is an original Syncro 16" factory
outfitted with the Dehler-Profi business/camping interior. FWIW I have been told that only 8 T3
Syncro 14s were outfitted with the Dehler-Profi interior. There seems to be only one known
Dehler-Profi (a 2WD) in N America, Karl Mullendore advertised a Dehler-Profi for sale in New
England last June.
The story I've been told is that this T3 Syncro 16" was shipped NEW to Dehler for their
camping/business interior. Dehler then used the van as one of its show models. A "little old man"
bought the van when Dehler stopped making the van conversions in 1997-ish (Dehler still makes
yacht interiors). The 'old man' died a few years ago and the estate stored the van till now.
The van was in Dusseldorf, Germany and Marc Peters (http://mobylhome.nl ) helped greatly in the
purchase by being the 'go-between' and brokering the deal. I can recommend Marc Peters to
everyone.
This Vanagon has a documented 138,922 kms (86,322 miles). It is a 2.1L gasoline engine, locking
front and rear differentials, (I believe heated) Isri front swivel seats, the middle seat forms
part of the bed, 2 burner stove, sink & fridge, an auxiliary heater. Everything tested out: diff
locks, viscous coupler, engine, tranny. The interior is nearly pristine and only a few surface
rust spots on the van's exterior.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the Dehler-Profi interior (competitor to Westfalia)
you can go to http://www.dehler-profi.de for photos of the Dehler-Profi brochures (click on the
left side of the page, then click on T3). Or you can go to my Yahoo site for lots of low-res
photos of my 'new to me' van: http://photos.yahoo.com/mwstebbins and click on the "Dehler 16"
album and/or click on the "Dehler Brochure" album for photos from the Dehler-Profi brochures
showing 'my' van. For the full line of Dehler-Profi conversions, go to www.Dehler-Profi.de & just
click around.
Some people do not like the Dehler interior, it uses a lot more plastic and is prone to cracking.
Also Dehler cuts out ALL of the roof's cross-member supports for the hightop, so it is not as
ridged as it could be (the Westy interior keeps these cross-member roof supports). Also the
Dehler-Profi interior is more of a business office setting versus the more camping oriented
interior of the Westfalia, but there is an up and downstairs bed, sink, stove, fridge, and some
models even had a shower (not my model). On the positive side, the rear seat sits over the engine
box so there is about 12" more room in the living quarters. IMHO the Dheler hightop is the nicest
hightop available.
Right now the van is at Marc Peter's place in the Netherlands having some work done on the van
(new fuel lines for sure, changing all fluids and filters, checking brakes etc.) and a full
stem-to-stern check, prior to it being shipped to me here in Halifax.
For the nosy among you, I paid 11,000 Euros for the van, about $13,280 USD and about $15,640 CAD
plus a few hundred Euros to Marc for his help, and, soon, a few thousand dollars to ship the van
to me here in Halifax.
In succession I have owned:
a 1981 air-cooled Westy (bought new);
a 1986 diesel Syncro 14" Westy;
currently I own a 1991 Syncro 14" gas Westy; and
now this 'new to me' 1989 Syncro 16" gas Dehler-Profi.
My 1991 Syncro 14" gas Westy (running a Weber carburetor) will most likely be for sale soon, but
I'll wait until after my 'new' Dheler 16 arrives here in my driveway (I hope December sometime).
Let the good times roll! Malcolm (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
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