I'm 55

I bought my first Vanagon (Big Blue) new in '85 to hold the wife, 3
kids, another on the way, and my disabled bro-in-law.  It was our family
ride for several years.  We loaned to to family on occasion so that van
got to places we never did.  The kids (except for the youngest) grew up,
got their own cars & moved out.  My bro-in-law died.  My wife started
using it to ferry kids around for her new day care business.  I modified
the back space over the engine with seatback and belts to hold more
kids.  On the way back from one family gathering we carried 10 adults
and three adolescent kids back to their homes.  My wife tired of daycare
and gave up the business, I got laid off and started being a handyman,
so we swapped cars and the Vanagon became a work van.  It finally threw
a rod through the top of the case at 212K miles.  Dang thing would still
start & run, but I was put off by the cost of a decent rebuild.

So I bought my current 85 Vanagon (Beluga)  and used it as a work van
until the engine died.  By that time I'd seen this list and
[SubaruVanagon] and so am gathering parts to make it a 2.2 Vanaru.

Ed