At 19:24 14/11/00 -0500, you wrote:

>>From observing the list over the last couple of months, I suspect it is th
>4-speed. In Australia, nothing but the 5-Speed gerarbox was available after
>the switch from O2 to H20 cooling in 1983.
>
>I was reading an old American Road Test on the vanagon last night [dated
>bout's 1983] and VW of America is quoted as saying:
>'Due to the power and toque reserves of the new engine, the option of the
>5-speed gearbox was deemed not necessary for the American market.
>
>Not exact wording - but that was the jist from memory.
>Really - nothing but a piece of marketing rubbish!! There was obviously
>SOME reason why VW of America didn't/couldn't import the 5-speeder -
>initially at least.

 Wasn't it something to do with 5th gear (I suspect when laboured) not
 meeting US emission standards at the time?
 I have some hazy recollection of that being referred to on the list
 ages ago....

 Cheers,
 Steve O.
 Blue Mountains NSW Aust.
 '92 Transporter WBX Kombi (we're not speaking right now)
 '76 Transporter Double Cab
 '68 Beetle
 '00 Transporter 5Cyl Double Cab (work truck)
 '48 Fairmont M19 speeder