All,

Here are some links to the NHTSA website that pretty much spell it out.

It is indeed easier to get a Canadian model in if you can get a letter.  If it can still be done, that opens up some doors (no pun intended).

European vehicles are another story.  I only see '88,'89,'90 on the list for VW Transporters.  I'd like to be covered in case there is an accident, so I decided to go the full route.  Others may go about it a different way.

It sounds like this issue has been thrashed about several times on this list.  It's probably old news by now anyway.

Here are the links:
http://nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/standards/FMVSS-Regs/index.htm

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/ELIG071404.html

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/web_RI_list07142004.html

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/ManInfo/Ripkg0011.pdf

Have a good evening,

Kim