I have an '85 Vanagon that I bought used. It didn't have a grip on the emergency brake handle. Solution? I installed an old foam mountain-bike hand grip, trimmed to the appropriate length. I didn't use any adhesive, for fear that it might gum up the operation of the release button. Despite this, it doesn't slip on the handle. Since the grips are only sold as a pair, I installed the other grip on my '85 Golf, which (surprise, surprise) had a broken plastic grip on its e-brake.
The foam grips look good, feel good, and cost very little.

Alex
'85 2.0 inline 4