Date:    Mon, 14 Nov 2005 16:24:43 -0800
From:    John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Old Spare Tire

On 11/14/05, Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Graz????? if you have a syncro, you'll FRY the VC by running tyres of 
> different size. VC cost about $1000+ M
>

Nah, it's a rare, UNcoveted "base model"--2WD, power nothing, no wing
windows, black metal bumpers, tweed upholstery, unpadded dash. I think
thes=
e
were fairly rare here in the US. They brought the "no frills" model back
in
'90-'91, perhaps so the dealer could have ONE and claim "Vanagons
starting
at X-thousand dollars!" and then up-sell(AKA bait and switch) you when
you
came for the cheap car. I've never seen another anywhere. I suspect all
the
base models were made at the Graz factory, as all the non-westy 90-91
syncros I've seen for sale have been strikingly similarly equipped.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"

While the Syncros were obviously all built at the Steyer-Puch factory in
Graz, Austria, only late in the T3 production run were the 2WD
Transporters built in Graz. Prior to that the 2WDs were all built at
Hanover however towards the end of the T3's run, final production was
switched to Graz as I suspect the Hanover facility was already tooling
up for the beginning of the T4's production.

To confirm where one was built, look for a H or a G in the vehicle's
chassis # designating either Hanover or Graz.

Cheers,
Steve O
NSW Australia
'92 Transporter WBX Kombi (built in Graz - Chassis # NG018100 )
'00 Transporter Double Cab
'03 Transporter Double Cab (work truck)
'78 Land Rover 109 Series 3 Soft top ute (ex-Aust.Army)