In a message dated 06/06/2008 9:23:19 P.M. Central Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

It looks  like the gas-filled strut to open the pop-up roof was an official
factory  option in Europe for years on the Vanagon Westies.

For those with ETKA,  look up under Local Market (not USA) and select CAMP
Campomobile  (Typ2/Transp./LT) and choose any year from 1980 to 1991 and
further select  Campmobil-Typ 2.

Then under MG (Model Group) select 0, under SG select  70 and under
ILLUSTRATION select 47 for the gas-filled strut.

Sadly  most of the parts are no no longer available but it sure looks like it
was  a factory option from at least 1980 to 1991.

TRUE  story !  Ralf, my friend near here, who is a German citizen and has
been  importing German Vanagon campers into the area for a few years now,
confirms  that most Westys with pop tops in Germany were delivered with the pop top
struts.   ONE MORE Vanagon Westfalia gadget that we were denied having  !

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15,  2008