More likely, they were not required for that type of vehicle. VW only
started using air bags on selected passenger cars in 89 or 90.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Edward Maglott
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 11:25 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: What to do with a crash survivor

At 10:33 PM 1/5/2008, Max Wellhouse wrote:
>There's probably a reason VW didn't
>put airbags in the front of the Vanagon

They hadn't been invented yet?   : )

>>  * A 2.3L GoWesty engine, still under warranty (about 7,000 miles on
it)
>>  * New Nokian snow tires with reinforced sidewalls, about 100 miles on
them
>>  * A Gary Lee rack
>>  * A Gary Lee rear bumper with trailer hitch
>>  * An unused Bus Depot awning
>>  * Two new GoWesty rear seat belts (weren't in use during the crash)
>>  * A whole van full of parts in good shape
>>
>>The question is, how much of a pain is it going to be for me to recover
>>some of the money we put into the bus?  The engine alone was around 5
>>grand.

When my insurance was trying to total my van for minor front end
damage I said it had a rebuilt engine.  They told me that if I could
show proof of that, they would consider it.  In my case it was from a
long gone PO, so I couldn't get any receipts or anything.  You
shouldn't have that problem.  I also got a lot better response when I
talked to my agent after getting a lot of BS from the adjuster.

I think it's still your vehicle at this point and you should have
access to it until the insurance pays you the value and totals it, at
which time you transfer ownership to them.  The issue of the cost of
towing and storage is something I've never had to deal with...

Curious what you hit and how it faired in the wreck.  Glad you are OK!

Edward