Date:         Thu, 13 May 1999 13:58:50 -0700
Reply-To:     Vanman <mckayaa@OIT.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Vanman <mckayaa@OIT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Mexican buses
Comments: To: KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>I thought about importing SA Vanagons too.
>Two problems though:
>1.  Doesn't meet safety standards for the years that I would want to import
>it (92-99).
>2.  These things are expensive to buy over in SA.  I checked out a website
>where they advertise South African Vanagons and did the conversion from
Rand
>to Dollars.  Most of the vans were well over $10,000.  I guess that is why
>they are considered luxury vehicles over there.
>Ken Wilford
>Van-Again
>John 3:16
>PS Never hurts to dream though. :)
>

Do these safety requirement (or emissions) still stand if you import these
vans as "kits"?  Well over $10,000 is no big deal, as I've seen vanagons in
excellent condition also going for over $10,000.  I imagine that a BRAND new
S.A. Caravele/micro-bus would easily be worth as much as a '90 syncro westy
w/ 9 years and 90,000 miles on it.  Just a few more thoughts....

-Aaron McKay

PS: are these vans RH drive, and if so, how difficult to convert to LH
drive?