Thanks.

I figured it was to increase air flow, but from what you're saying,
they were "thinking ahead" too.

That makes sense.

My thought was that they realized "too late in the game", that they
needed to increase the air flow. Highly unlikely. With that thought in
mind though, it bugged me that their solution to increasing air flow
may have been to make the opening larger but keep the smaller grill.
Again. Highly unlikely. Besides why would they go to the trouble of
making a grill with 3 feet? Though having an unimpeded 1"+ opening is
less restricted than a grill opening. Regardless, the FG bumper issue
makes much more sense.

Neil.

On Fri, Feb 15, 2008 at 7:16 AM,  <JordanVw@aol.com> wrote:
> In a message dated 2/15/08 12:05:43 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> musomuso@GMAIL.COM writes:
>
>
>
> Hi all.
>
>  Given all the diverse Vanagon-knowledgeable people on this list, maybe
>  someone knows.
>
>  Why there is a 1" + gap between the bottom of the lower front grill
>  and the opening it mostly "covers"?
>
>  Or more to the point. Why didn't VW just make a grill, without the 3
>  feet, so it would "cover" the opening entirely?
>
>  Just curious :)
>
>
>
>  VW of South Africa made a grill that covers the whole lower area from left
> turn signal to right turn signal.
>
>  as for why the opening in the body dips below the body line in the
> sheetmetal, my guess is to let more air in as possible.
>
>  as for why doesnt the grille extend lower,  on vans with fiberglass
> bumpers, the fiberglass bumpers would almost touch the lower grille if it
> extended lower.
>
>  i think VW was planning the fiberglass bumpers since the vanagon was
> designed..  on '80 aircooled vanagons, they even have the holes under the
> front bumper rebar for the screw bosses that attach the chin
> spoiler/airdam...
>
>  chris
>
>
> **************
> The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. Go to AOL
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--
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