It's a testament to their sales & marketing efforts IMO.  Some people keep
their vans in perfect mechanical condition and they don't sell them for near
their prices when they are ready to let them go.  (actually they probably
can't sell them for near that much--not sure how GW does it).  Their pricing
includes tons of labor at their shop rate, so it is easy to see how they get
to 40K.  Redoing an engine conversion is probably close to 10K.  A 5.43
tranny is 4500.

Let's not forget they are a used car dealer.

>From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
>Reply-To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: wow..  got an extra $40k?
>Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 01:12:18 EDT
>
>I've got a cousin who could get you that same bus for $39K. ;)
>
>Here's the deal. While I suppose it's good for all of us if these things
>really command that kind fo price, and we should hail GoWesty for coaxing
>up the
>pricing, I can't help feeling a little gouged for the community at  large
>when I see a $40K Weekender--even a syncro.
>
>But maybe I'm off the mark. I've never been to GoWesty to see their rigs.
>Maybe people are thrilled with them and glad to pay those kind of prices.
>Problem is I don't know that many rich people so I don't know anyone who
>could  pay
>that for a 20 year old bus. And I used to know middle class people who
>might
>have been able to scare up $40K for a car, but that class has been
>cancelled.
>
>Are their renovations of busses that good? Anybody on the list bought  one?
>Will this one really fetch $40K?
>
>Best,
>Jeff
>83.5 Westy
>LA,CA
>
>
>
>
>
>In a message dated 5/31/2006 11:18:00 AM Pacific Standard Time,
>JordanVw@AOL.COM writes:
>
>http://www.gowesty.com/forsale/87syncro1733.htm