Date:         Sun, 8 Apr 2007 20:19:51 -0700
Reply-To:     John Runberg <jrunberg@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Runberg <jrunberg@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Are they still making the bus/Vanagon anywhere these days?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

It's not like America recently found a desire for speed, horsepower or thrills. There have been excessive cars/ trucks every decade since at least the 20/30s, although the % comparend to "efficient" models goes down when the gas $$ goes up.

Regarding the Vanagon (that's what this list is about, right?) I can't think that there ever would be anything like it again -- no significant audience exists for the cost that they were or would be. Combine that with more stringent safety rules and the cab-over passenger vehicle is about dead. (and I LIKE those tougher rules BTW- they let my wife get nailed at 45mph in her Jetta and walk away from it. Maybe also true in a Vanagon, but not in an old 70s / 80s american car, I'm afriad)

Two things I can see happening:
1) people like Go Westy (and others) rebuild to "new" condition.
For those that have the skills and the captial, this makes great sense. Throw in some engine options (Subie, TDI, ??), price it competitively with modern vans and I'm there for the monthly payment.

2) someone might just get the tooling
This happened for the classic MGB in the late 80s / early 90s, IIRC. A company in CA got the original tooling and started producing "factory" bodies, shipped to your door. You put it next to your rust bucket and just swapped the parts over (after cleaning and replacing them all!).


Since I can afford a Go Westy, I'll just stick with my poop brown model and try to keep the rust at bay.

john









Subject: Fwd:

While it's easy to be dismissed as a grumpy old fart dreaming of
better days, this is also my experience, but I think it is just part
of a larger social devolution. I blame:

Unbridled capitalism. Everyone needs at least 150hp, right? Watch most
car commercials and see how they are driven. My bus was shipped with
67hp.

Male adolescent power fetish. From television to virtual reality to
global politics (Iraq) western culture has become obsessed with power
in it's rawest form. Driving fast and recklessly is part of that
fantasy. Twenty years ago the kids drove fast but grew up and showed
their prowess with money and social status. Now everyone has a need to
show off like tenagers and damn the consequences. Women,
unfortunately, are also lining up at this altar. There was a time when
you would have been laughed out of town if you showed up in a hummer.

The rise of the cult of the individual. See capitalism. All that
matters is what I want and I want everything and I want it now. And I
want to drive fast and get home or show off or whatever and that's all
that matters. Your safety isn't my problem. Now get the @#$% out of my
way.

Breakdown of basic transportation infrastructure. When did it become
acceptable and even normal to have to commute 2-3 hours a day? People
now commute from Chilliwack into Vancouver. Urban sprawl has led to
impossible traffic problems, especially in the vancouver area, which
is great for tire manufacturers and the petroleum industry but the
consequences are enormous for everyone else.

Nathaniel