Vanagon EuroVan
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Date:         Thu, 5 Jul 2007 11:29:38 -0700
Reply-To:     Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: The three classes of Vanagons..(long)
In-Reply-To:  <001001c7bf1d$23f0f820$abb2d8d1@dhanson>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

My 84 Westy is definitely the 3rd type, considering I've been full-time living in it for over 8 years now. It's only "wow-factor" accessory is the SA Grille and the engine is upgraded to 2.1 with the 2.1 Digijet ECU. Other than that, it's a bone stock automatic with around 170k.

My 84 GL is a combination of the 1st & 3rd type, as it has the requisite dents and dings in the rear corners, scratches & dings throughout the rest of the body (yes, it's the lovely "turd brown & beige"), but the interior and mechanicals are in excellent shape.

Here in Ventura, CA (and up the coast from Ventura), you can't help but trip over Vanagons, Westys, Eurobagos (EVC) and Rialtas, especially this time of year. Most regular passenger Vanagons, Westys and Eurobagos here fit into the 3rd type with an assorted several definitely of the first type. -- Jim Thompson 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria" 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt" 73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise" 72 411 Station Wagon "Pug" oldvolkshome@gmail.com http://www.oldvolkshome.com *********************************** On 7/5/07, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote: > > So... > Since I've owned my 84 low top semi-westie, I have come to recognize three > major types of Vanagon as I travel around or do my daily thing. > The most numerous of 'My' 3 types, at least in my home area of eastern > Wa. and Or. is the "POS, but it does the job". This type van (and owner) > usually has dents in the back corners, rust on the surface, faded paint, > etc. The owners usually are distracted and never wave, though they > sometimes look around when I wave, perhaps wondering what that other nut > is > referring to with his headlight blink or hand in the air. I think they > probably don't even realize that they are driving the same vehicle as the > one I am in...These owners and drivers would probably much rather be in > some > other vehicle...a new minivan, a bigger SUV, a Cadillac...but they "got > the > van already" so they just drive it and don't think much about it, except > to > rail against how slow it is, or how "old" is it..... > Second type is the Collector...These are the Lifted, buffed, alloy > wheeled, subie powered Syncros and the totally restored Westphalia's that > gleam with ten recent coats of wax and usually have all kinds of Zoot, > Bling-Bling gear and toys on racks hanging on top. I see lots of these > in > Hood River, Oregon on weekends, festooned with bicycles and > sailboards..These types often don't wave at me Perhaps they think I am a > "POS but does the job" guy and I won't wave back, or that my old > turd-brown > is 'beneath them" or something. This type, the few owners I have talked > to, > seem to be more into how exclusive their vans are than what they are good > for... Some of these ones I very much covet. > Then the third type are those I see being used as I travel about. I see > plenty here in the Columbia River Gorge during summer. This type van, > they > usually aren't totally buffed out. But you see many that have been > improved > with bigger wheels and SA light kits..This type, the owners know they > have > a pretty special vehicle, but one that should be used. Most look like > the > may get washed now and again, but they also look capable of going down a > forest road without the owners worrying about a scratch, or perhaps a rock > chip to one of the displayed toys hung on the outside..I put myself into > the > third type, I guess. These 'guys' usually wave at other vanagons.. > If I had extra cash and fewer other hobbies, I would love to have a > fancy > tricked-out Syncro to drive only on Sundays to Starbucks, too. Or a > collector's edition Westie, maybe. But I would probably "trash out" that > type vehicle by using it and it'd soon no longer be a collectors > item...And > I seem to be always out in my semi-crummy turd brown camper van doing > something else,... > Don Hanson


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