On Jul 25, 2007, at 4:11 PM, David Etter wrote:

> Hi Brendan:
>
>        It's like I've always said. There is a hierarchy to owning a
> Westy or VW Van.
> At the top of the heap are the 'Splitties' then come the 'Vanagon'
> models (arguments with the 'Bays' still arise here) then  the 'Bay
> Window' AND at the bottom of the list lie the Eurovans, (Phew! open
> the windows in here)
>
>        Proper etiquette says that you wave to equals and of course
> the upper echelons. Only if the lower classes wave first do you
> return the wave and only then if you are feeling generous.
>
>        The reason the Euros have taken possession of the lowest rung
> is the loss of the rear drive train set-up and the loss of ground
> clearance. To say nothing of the interior by Winnebago in place of
> Westfalia.
>
>        The Bays would have locked into second place with their
> air-cooled engine but the Vanagon model was such an improvement in
> space and interior design plus the loss of the split window was to
> lose any collector's value.
>        Even within the splitties group there is a hierarchy with the
> safari window models coming out on top or the 23 window version in
> the 'deluxe' van.

& early split buses w/"sub hatches",  pressed bumpers & bullet turn
signals are better than 63-67 westies.

>        Although early Vanagons had an air-cooled engine it was the
> diesel models in 82-83 that established a higher sub-class with-in
> the vanagon series.
>
> IMHO                    David (dsl82westy)
>
> P.S.:  In my 'Second Life' , I'd love to own a centre pop-up 67
> safari 21 window Westy.. but not at the cost of losing my 82 1.6TD
> Westy.

What David says is unfortunately very accurate except for the P.S.
FWIW!  There were no 21 window stock westies.
I have a 65 deluxe(13 window) w/ poptop & westy interior but as far
as I know(it must be a hack), they didn't make westies in Deluxe models.

Tom B.-

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>> I've been waving when I see other Vanagons and sometimes at older
>> busses and
>> Eurovans.  The Euro's almost never wave back, the older airheads
>> mostly do
>> and the Vanagons almost always wave.  Hmm.  Any thoughts?
>>
>>
>> Brendan Slevin
>> Roastmaster
>> BELLATAZZA
>> tel 541 593.9750
>> I have measured out my life with coffee spoons. -T.S. Eliot