Frank Loi wrote:

>
> It took me months of searching the net to find this place until I learned
> that in America you call them vanagons; How did they get that name?
> You fellas heard of a kombi or transporter? ;-)

The name is a combination of VAN and wAGON.  The owner's manual says
"Vanagon/Transporter", but the nameplate on the vehicles just said Vanagon.