<My son is 7 and already talks about when the Vanagon will be his. I don't
have the heart to tell him that may not be possible>.

Why not? I have a 1974 Super Beetle convertible that I bought for my daughter when she was 5. Now that she's almost 15 and a drivers license is on the horizon, it's fantastic leverage when she gets an attitude (which is hourly)! Can't tell you how many times over the last 10 years I've threatened to sell the Beetle.   Jeff