Had to throw in that "highly desired and *Un-importable* Canadian models." didn't cha?  Way to twist the knife... touche`

On Sep 25, 2010, at 4:11 PM, Michael Sullivan wrote:

> Sorry...meant WEST coast where ALL the Vanagons live...except the highly
> desired and Un-importable Canadian models.  ;-)
> Michael in San Antonio
> 91GL Weekender AT 2.1L 'Gringo'
> 
> 
> 
> On Sat, Sep 25, 2010 at 5:32 PM, Jake de Villiers <
> crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Zoltan is in Lynnwood,Washington - near the Pacific Ocean?  ;)
>> 
>> 
>> On Sat, Sep 25, 2010 at 2:41 PM, Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@gmail.com>wrote:
>> 
>>> Bravo---East Coast to the rescue.
>>> Michael in San Antonio
>>> 91GL Weekender AT 2.1L 'Gringo'
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Sat, Sep 25, 2010 at 4:04 PM, Brandon Christophel <
>>> bchristophel@gmail.com
>>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I had beed doing small projects on my 1987 Westy for a few months.   As
>>> you
>>>> do van research, you can't help but run across peoples experiences with
>>>> rust.  I could see where my seams were showing a tinge of rust color.  I
>>>> sense of dread sunk in.  Rust is like an iceberg they say.  If you can
>>> see
>>>> the tip, then whats underneath is huge.  This is what started the sense
>>> of
>>>> dread that I carried while finishing up small projects.  Pretty soon it
>>>> became the monkey on my back and I couldn't take it anymore.  I finished
>>> up
>>>> the projects and began to seek out a doctor for my baby.  Not just any
>>>> doctor, I wanted a specialist.
>>>> 
>>>> I put out some feelers.  The name that came back was "Zoltan".  He's had
>>> my
>>>> van for awhile now.  He sent me a mail saying, "its out of paint and it
>>>> looks beautiful".  You have to know the man but, he usually doesn't use
>>>> decorative words like that.  He'll say, "and it's fine" or "that's ok".
>>> So,
>>>> I was *very* curious what I was to see.
>>>> 
>>>> Getting the van to this point is the culmination of a lot of hard work.
>>>> Zoltan has been like the conductor of an orchestra.  Doing the tear
>>> down of
>>>> *everything*, noting items to be replaced or fixed and giving me options
>>>> along the way, getting the sanding done and bringing the body metal back
>>> to
>>>> trueness,  attacking rust and going through the procedures he has to get
>>> rid
>>>> of it and probably a hundred other things I'll never know he did.
>>>> 
>>>> Today I get to see it.  The results of all this work so far.  So, in my
>>> car
>>>> and off to Lynnwood I go.  I saw Zoltan and waved hello.  He was moving
>>> cars
>>>> around among the fleet of Westys that are his domain.   We greeted and
>>>> walked as we were chatting.  We rounded the corner of one of the other
>>>> Westys and suddenly, I looked up and there it was, my baby... it was
>>> simply
>>>> STUNNING...  I think I clapped my hands and yelped.  I turned to Zoltan
>>> and
>>>> shook his hand.  "It's fantastic!" I said.  All his preparation work had
>>>> paid off.  The van is incredible looking and yet, it doesn't even have
>>> it's
>>>> trim put back on it yet.  Zoltan took me around the vehicle and led me
>>>> through pieces of the the work and how it was done.  I just couldn't
>>> stop
>>>> looking.  It's gorgeous!  We still have a ways to go but, man it's going
>>>> well.  It is a work of art already.
>>>> 
>>>> Zoltan won't brag so, I felt it necessary to send this mail.  He may not
>>>> like it but, the way I see it, If I don't inform the community of the
>>>> availability of a master craftsman and the fine work he is doing then, I
>>> am
>>>> doing a disservice to all all those van owners who were like me and had
>>> a
>>>> monkey on their back but, didn't know who to trust.
>>>> 
>>>> Get rid of your monkey.  Call Zoltan.
>>>> 
>>>> -Brandon
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Jake
>> 
>> 1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van'
>> 1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'
>> 
>> Crescent Beach, BC
>> 
>> www.thebassspa.com
>> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>> 
>>