Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 17:20:17 -0500
Reply-To: tellis <tellis@WISCASSET.NET>
Sender: Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From: tellis <tellis@WISCASSET.NET>
Subject: Can't Import EV Westy from CN
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Bad News for EV Westy Lovers: Some time ago I posted some questions about
importing a 1994 EV Westfalia campervan. I had located one that I wanted
to buy in Alberta. The owner contacted VW to ask for a certificate
verifying that the vehicle could be imported to the USA. Finally the
disappointing letter came saying that it could not be imported. Here is
what the letter said:
Based upon records in the possession of Volkswagen of America, Inc., we
confirm that the vehicle identified above ('94 VW Westfalia Eurovan Camper
with its VIN) was originally produced by Volkswagen AG for sale only in the
Canadian market. The vehicle was certified to conform to all applicable
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS).
While the engine with which this vehicle was originally manufactured was at
one time certified for sale in the US market for model year 1993,
Volkswagen did not introduce a "like" product for sale in the US market,
the 1994 Canadian EuroVan cannot be imported into the US in spite of the
fact that it's engine met US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and
California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions regulations at the time of
its manufacture.
Buy definition, a Eurovan camper is a motor home. The camping equipment
with which this EuroVan was manufactured meets only the safety standards
for Canadian motor homes and cannot be imported into the state of
Washington which is defined as a "restricted" state which has its own
safety standards for camping equipment installed in motor homes.
Because of the above, this vehicle cannot be imported or registered in the
US market.
Volkswagen of American, Inc.
Product Compliance"
So the is the letter. Frankly, I think that the problem has less to do
with safety and standards than it does with politics and money. I suspect
that VW and Winnebago made an agreement that if Winnebago did conversions,
VW (and probably Westfalia) would not import the Westfalia campers.
Anyway, that is the end of the story of my desire to import the '94 Westy.
If any Canadian is interested, email me directly and I can check to see if
the owner still has and may still be interested in selling it.
So -- I have sold my '82 Westy diesel and have purchased a '95 EVC.
Although I am less enthusiastic about the Winnebago conversion, we are
getting to know each other and getting along fairly well.
Tim
'95 EVC