Date:         Mon, 20 Jul 1998 21:00:44 -0700
Reply-To:     Chris Wood <cwood@FOOTHILL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Wood <cwood@FOOTHILL.NET>
Subject:      wrecked '86 Wolfsburg?
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I have an 86 Wolfsburg that unfortunately rolled down my driveway into a
tree a couple of months ago. The oak tree has a divot taken out of it, but
the car's left rear corner is squashed in pretty good, the back door is
sprung open, and the left rear side panel has a serious buckle in it.

Once I got it towed up onto the concrete again, it started right up and was
driveable, although I could feel the out-of-straightness in it. Two
different body shops have given me estimates in the $4-6K range to fix it,
which is more than I feel it is worth, but I wonder what the list thinks.

190K, 60K on the engine, new cooling system less than a year ago, tires
pretty new, interior so-so (frayed corduroy), A/C hasn't been used since
about a year after I bought it in 1987 (finally just took off the belt).
I've got all the records if someone wants to get specific.

Even though the engine compartment took a pretty good knock, everything in
there looks ok - no leaks, all wires and hoses still connected. Since the
accident I've only driven it a couple of times and it is ok except for the
fumes coming in the back and the slight crab feel of the suspension. It
happened that the registration was up for renewal about the time of the
accident so I haven't registered it (nursing my 81 Civic instead).

I think I've been in shock all this time but now I've got to get going and
do something. I'm not really up for transferring all the mechanical into
another body (suggested by one of the body shops), but maybe one of you is.
If so, how much is it worth? I do have some photos, but no web page. If
someone is really interested, I can scan them and send them as attachments.

BTW, I am the second owner. The first was a VWoA rep who put 30K on it in
the first year. To the best of my knowledge, the car has never been out of
California. Well, Reno a couple of times.

Thanks to all. The list is great!


Chris
cwood@foothill.net