Hello folks.  I have had a very hard time locating  the various plastic
bushings and rubber shifter rod parts for my air cooled '81.  The VW dealer
said no longer available, Bus Depot has had the order for 2+ weeks and is
waiting to see if the dealer network can indeed (???)get them....  I also
need  part #251-711-207, dealer said NLA, Bus Depot will try and get it but
is not sure that they actually can find it...  This is the nylon bushing
that goes above the gas tank for the shifter rod, which means that my gas
tank is out  of the van and the van not drivable until I get the $5.00
bushing.

What are other folks doing about the parts like this that, without them,
make our Vanagons yard art in the driveway?  It is amusing that I can buy
all kinds of new expensive fancy side tents, awnings, bug screens to put on
my Vanagon which cannot drive without a $5.00 part.
Are there other vendors who can get the low profit, hard-to-find NLA parts?
Help!

Regards,

Mike Nichols, Atlanta GA
2--'81 Air cooled Vanagons