Amazing-almost identical to the damage my 82 Westy sustained in a five car
pile-up in '96.
I had it fixed-the right front crash rail was also bent a little-but just
like in your case-the other car was totally destroyed. The damaged part was
cut out and a good clip was welded in. If it runs and drives staight that's
good. Insurance company wants to total this because the body shop wants
$4,000-shows you what they wanted to give for my 82 Westy with a 85
Wolfsburg interior and 1995 Golf engine, so I found someone to fix it for
$2,200 cash.

Robert K
1982 Westfalia

>From: "Filcoff, David M." <FilcoffD@MISSOURI.EDU>
>Reply-To: "Filcoff, David M." <FilcoffD@MISSOURI.EDU>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Bad Vanagon News...
>Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 21:03:52 -0600
>
>I have some bad news, Saturday the Vanagon was wrecked.  A car
>failed to yield while turning left.  I hit them at about 35-40 mph, I'm ok
>besides a bruise from my pager and a stiff neck.  I wish I could say the
>same about the Vanagon.  The other driver was in an early 80s Caviler,
>unfortunately they were taken by ambulance to the hospital, however she
>didn't look too bad.  The Vanagon is still drivable, but the frame is
>tweaked.  The other car was a mess, it was towed away.
>
>I've posted some pictures of the Vanagon here:
>http://www.251.org/Images/87Vanagon/Wreck
>
>I am surprised at how well the Vanagon did in the accident, the damage is
>not as bad as I thought it was gong to be when I saw her car after I hit
>it.  The damage is fairly well contained, but I am worried about the
>frame, the doors don't close as well as they did before, the passenger door
>scrapes the door sill.  It drives just fine though, from driving it and
>sitting inside you can't tell anything happened.
>
>Dave
>251.org
>87 Vanagon, 180k and not doing too well
>61 Bus, 79k and now the daily driver
>
>BTW on a better note I have a newly bead blasted and repainted set of 14"
>wheels with 205/70R14 Michelin Arctic Alpin snow tires.  Iff all goes well
>and the Vanagon is back on the street by winter I should be set.  I'll try
>to post pictures soon, they're painted Rustolium "Stainless Steel" color,
>very nice, close to stock color, slightly darker.

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp