I believe they added cruise control as an option the same
year they upgraded the Wasserboxer to 2.1l, 1986. I've
yet to find an '85 or earlier with factory cruise control, but
I've only been a Vanagon fanatic since July 4 this year,
when I suddenly decided I had to have one and bought
my '90 Vanagon Standard ten days later. They may have
offered it in '85, but I know that '86 is when they really
started loading them with fancy options like AC, power
locks and windows, heated mirrors, etc.; so it seems
likely that it was added in '86. Here's a couple good links
describing the various incartations of the Type-2 T3:
http://www.busdepot.com/links.jsp  (scroll down a ways)
http://www.vanagon.com/info/years/

I've been toying with the idea of building a combination
trip computer/cruise control unit (like the old Zemco's from
the '80s), and from what I've read the factory speed sensor
on the speedo is an inductive coil or something that
generates a sine-wave type signal. They sell a reed switch
drop in replacement at http://www.smallcar.com/speeds.htm
designed for conversions to late-model subaru engines
which apparently can't always pick up the sine-wave signal.
The link above has some really nice pics of where all that
stuff is located and how it fits together on the speedo.

John Bange
'90 Vanagon Standard "Geldsauger"

>Can someone tell me what years the factory cruise control
>was offered?
>
>Is the speed sensor in the speedometer just a reed switch
>that closes to ground 4 times per revolution?
>Or is it something fancier? (Hall effect?)
>
>Thanks!
>
>Steve
>'86 Westy "Escape Pod"
>'73 Beetle "ain't got a name yet"