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Date:         Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:57:41 -0400
Reply-To:     John Jensen <bluesbug@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Jensen <bluesbug@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon envy?
Comments: To: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <1EF05B31-58AB-462A-8FB0-2167B02EA187@comcast.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Speaking of "True Believers," I don't know if I fit the category or not. My first half dozen vans were all split windows, mostly '66. I bought them because they were cheap and suited my needs; but I looked on the new "bay window" vans as being strictly the province of the rich and prosperous. When a friend bought a New '72, I looked at him in a new way...OMG how can he afford this? . Another friend bought a new '79 Westy...I might as well have been seeing a spaceship from Mars. So slick, so many features, so expensive! Then the Vanagon came along. I was skeptical...Is this really a Volkswagen. Once I began to accept them I would have traded up in a heartbeat, but it took a bit longer for those wonderful Vanagons to drop into my price range (my first one was $300). In retrospect, though, I realize my experience with split window vans was quite special and I wouldn't trade any of those memories for a brand new Sychro Westy, even the many memories of push starting when the old 6 volt starting system failed. Only those who have actually paid their "splitty dues" can sing the Split Window Blues. Something about sliding that window open. Something about having the front door filled with insulation so it closed with a real solid "chunk." Something about those two doors swinging out on the side with a prop-up table. Something about replacing the front windshield for $25 bucks. Something about sliding that engine out the back on to a milk crate, doing some work on it and sliding it back in all by yourself with just a pocketful of tools. Maybe I am a true believer, but I believe in the Vanagon too.

John Jensen johnjensen@johnjensenartist.com http://www.johnjensenartist.com bluesbug@verizon.net

On 10/19/2011 6:31 PM, Tom Buese wrote: > Heck, in the eyes of the "true believers", Bay window buses are not even "legitimate" members of the VW Cult, not to mention Vanagons-see pulled samba thread for BBB 2012& whether non split window buses should be allowed to park on the grass next year? > > YMMV, > >


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