In Birmingham, Alabama and area any Vanagon sighting is a really rare
event. These vehicles are definitely not popular here. However, Thursday
I saw one.

I went to the Jefferson State College campus just north of Birmingham
near Pinson, Alabama, and as I pulled in to park in the parking lot, I
spotted a vanagon. I was blown away. I was able to park right next to it.

Now what made this van particularly interesting to me was that once
parked, it was like looking in a mirror.

My van is a 1988 Vanagon GL - Burgundy - manual tranny, gray interior,
captains chairs with arm rests, folding rear seat, center seat, overhead
factory air, heated power mirrors.

There sitting right next to me was a 1988 Vanagon GL - Burgundy - manual
tranny, gray interior, captains chairs with arm rests, folding rear
seat, center seat, overhead factory air, heated power mirrors.

Now how often does that happen??? Even the hubcaps were the same stock
large slotted moon plastic hubcaps.

As I sat there marveling at the mysterious ways of The Maker, I noticed
one difference between the two vehicles. Mine has the fiberglass front
and rear bunper and side panels at the door and rear, the other had
metal bumpers only with endcaps. Other than that, and the fact that the
over vehicle had paint a little more ratty than mine, the vehicles were
serious look-alikes.

Amazing for this town.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver