The curse of the third generation. Isn't Ford experiencing the same.

>From: Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
>Reply-To: Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: History of Westfalia-Werke
>Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 13:51:43 -0500
>
>I toured the Westfalia-werke last summer. They are still converting VW vans
>and chassis into campers. However they weren't sure how long that was going
>to last as Westfalia has been purchased by Daimler Chrysler. The business
>apparently had been going down hill for a while.
>
>The two brothers who started the company passed the company on to their
>sons in the late 70s. The cousins did not get along and the downward slide
>began. The company was picked up in the mid to late 80s by a retired German
>executive who ran the business as a hobby. DC picked it up from him about
>two years ago. The company has now been split into three divisions,
>trailers, hitches and campers.
>
>From what I was told DC wants to dump VW and Ford from Westfalia so that
>Westfalia will produce Mercedes-Benz based units. However, there isn't
>enough income yet to justify the switch.
>
>Another interesting tidbit about DC's purchase is that DC sees Westfalia's
>work force (who specialize in handbuilt construction) to be the assemblers
>of DC's Maybach 12 cylinder luxury car.
>
>
>Ric
>
>
>
>
>
>>Gerald Masar (azsun99@earthlink.net) wrote:
>>
>>VW used to (maybe still does) have a little free magazine on the parts
>>counter called
>>"Parts & Advice". Several years ago it had a 3-part series on the history
>>of
>>Westfalia
>>(also did a 3-part series on the history of the Beetle). I have the series
>>and some
>>items of interest are that Westfalia-werke is over 150 years old . Started
>>as
>>a
>>blacksmith shop and then made farm carts out of a particularly rugged oak
>>found in the
>>area - now known as Westfalian oak.
>>Franz Knoebel, Jr., a descendant of the company's founder, patented the
>>ball-headed
>>trailer hitch in the U.S. in 1939.
>>The link between VW and Westfalia began in 1950.
>>There's lots more.
>>
>>Jerry
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: <JordanVw@AOL.COM>
>>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 10:00 AM
>>Subject: Westys for all Marques.. was: Re: Canvas Tent on ebay
>>
>>
>> >
>> > FWIW, Westfalia-Werke GMBH  made camper conversions for all kinds of
>> > vehicles.   i've seen Ford vans with Westfalia conversions, Mercedes
>>vans
>> > with Westy conversions, etc..     Westfalia-Werke also makes trailer
>>hitches
>> > and trailers... kind of like the "U-Haul of Europe"
>> > chris

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