Chevy is also now the first to offer an all wheel drive full size van,
avaliable with locking differential too:

http://www.chevrolet.com/express/index.html

My new project is to convert an american full size van to a westfalia by
putting the westfalia interior out of a vanagon in one.  The goal is to
have a reliable campervan.

There is also a mailing list for gtrv westy owners:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/gtrvwesty/

It is very intersting to see that there are a lot of similarities between
the compasion the ford "westy"  owners display on that list and the real
westy owners display on this list.  It is good to see that this "westy
spirit" is not just a VW thing.  I think that this new generation of Westy
owners is trying to be like us.

Andrew Fox
86 Westy

On Fri, 24 Jan 2003, Stuart MacMillan wrote:

> Although I like a lot of things about my '84 Westy, I'm going to have to
> replace it someday (probably sooner rather than later), and am always
> looking for alternatives.
>
> Unfortunately, the EVC is too narrow to sleep two adults below, and I've
> seen too many complaints about the Winnebago quality on the EV-update mail
> list to spend $45,000 for a new one.  Full size American van conversions are
> way too big, Vanagon Westies are too old, and engine conversions are a big
> PITA, so what's left for someone who wants a camper with the benefits of
> modern automotive technology (i.e., power and reliability) that can also be
> driven and parked in congested urban areas?
>
> Well, I recently learned that the folks at GTRV, who brought us the Ford
> "Westy" (www.gtrv.com), now have a GMC Safari conversion available on either
> a 2WD or AWD van base.  I've only seen a couple of pictures sent to me by
> Mike there, but it looks interesting enough to prompt a visit to their
> showroom.  You can email Mike at westy@starband.net for photos.
>
> They convert lease return vans with less than 20k miles to save costs, and
> sell these for under $30k.
>
> If anyone happens to be near their plant (I don't know where it is, other
> than somewhere in Canada) stop by and let us know what you think!
>
> Stuart MacMillan
> '84 Westy w/2.1
>
> PS:  To reply to me you must put "I'm a bozo" in the subject line.
>