A friend of mine was collecting big GM and Ford cars and restoring them
with just basic cosmetic restorations.
I told him to watch television and see which cars they were wrecking in
the police chases in the movies and avoid buying those types of cars.
I think the same rule probably applies now.

Stan Wilder

On Thu, 28 Jun 2001 09:39:24 -0400 Jay L Snyder
<Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM> writes:
> Excellent point.  How many '85 Caravans are still out there as
> everyday
> driver's?  If you see one, there is usually a large cloud of blue
> smoke
> coming from the tailpipe.  They will not be collectible!
>
>
>
>
> Kitzmann <kitzmann@EXIS.NET> on 06/28/2001 09:15:01 AM
>
> Please respond to Kitzmann <kitzmann@EXIS.NET>
>
> To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> cc:    (bcc: Jay L Snyder/AE/DuPont)
> Subject:  Re: Engine conversions and such...
>
>
>
>
> Oh I forgot one little thing, if they do become collectable most
> restorers
> have to bring things back to stock for most vehicles.  People mess
> around
> with there cars all the time, just look at some of the old Beatles
> or
> Busses, bored out engines, little gagets added or removed, nonstock
> interiors, etc....   In all reality even if the Bus has an engine
> conversion many restorers will still want the body if it is in great
> shape
> to restore back to original.  If I was going to restore an older Bus
> I
> would definitely take a rust free nonorignal, say with a bigger
> motor with
> dual carbs, then an original with rust and other problems.  So all
> this
> complaining back and forth is really pointless.  What matters is
> that we
> like are Vans and are keeping them running in some fashion.  Oh, and
> about
> reliability, I don't think any of the vans from the 80's where that
> reliable.  I've know a lot of people with Caravans and the like that
> have
> sunk much more money into thier vans then I have.  Example 4 engines
> in 10
> yrs for a Caravan!  Two different people I know had to return thier
> Caravans to the dealers after 6-9 months for a replacement because
> the
> originals where such S#@&.  Better proof of reliability was a long
> term
> reliability test that I saw a while back of the vans sold in 1989
> the top
> two for reliability where, suprise, the Vanagon and MPV.  They all
> had
> problems, Chrysler just did a better job at selling to the
> unsuspecting
> public.
> Dave K.
> 178000 miles on 2 engines 82 diesel now 1.8L gas
> Friends Caravan 145000 miles 4 engines, and currently no AC or power
> windows and it is hot!
> Which is better?

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