I've always wondered also.
This depends on pronunciation:  I always thought it was sort of a play on words.  I pronounce it
sort of like "van again" but with the last syllable shortened, as I think many people do.  It sounds
to me like "van again" as in "they made a van again", since it was a bit different looking than the
T1 and T2.  Maybe that's stretching it...  The other explanations sound good.
-Hans

----- Original Message -----
From: "Detroit Bus" <detroit.bus@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 4:43 PM
Subject: Re: Vanagon etymology

> Jim, I've never heard that analysis, but it is certainly more creative
> than what I've always thought, that its just a combination of "van"
> and "station wagon" (the official American name of the original VW
> bus....)
>
> I actually quite like that.
>
> Garrick
>
>
> On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 15:22:17 -0600, Jim Felder <felder@knology.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > The vanagon name is an interesting one, anybody with some good insight
> > > on
> > > how vw came up with it?
> > >
> > I always figured it was to create a name for a unique shape, like
> > pentagon, octagon... vanagon. It does have a distinctive shape, and it
> > is rather rectilinear.
> >
> > Vanagon = dimensional locomotive solid with parallel opposite sides,
> > the volume of various liquids required to fill it being inversely
> > proportional to the amount of money spent on it divided by time spent
> > underneath it minus parts scrounged for it.
> >
> > Don't think outside the box, think under it.
> >
> > Jim
> >
>
>
> --
> Garrick, Queens, NY
> '87 GL Weekender
>
> *****
> With fond remembrances of:
> '77 Beetle
> '67 Bus
> '59 Pickup sn# 460440
> '67 Beetle
> '76 Camper Bus
>