Well said, brother.
 > Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:57:41 -0400
> From: bluesbug@VERIZON.NET
> Subject: Re: Vanagon envy?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> Speaking of "True Believers," I don't know if I fit the category or
> not.  My first half dozen vans were all split windows, mostly '66.  I
> bought them because they were cheap  and suited my needs; but I looked
> on the new "bay window" vans as being strictly the province of the rich
> and prosperous.  When a friend bought a New '72, I looked at him in a
> new way...OMG how can he afford this?  .  Another friend bought a new
> '79 Westy...I might as well have been seeing a spaceship from Mars.  So
> slick, so many features, so expensive! Then the Vanagon came along. I
> was skeptical...Is this really a Volkswagen.  Once I began to accept
> them I would have traded up in a heartbeat, but it took a bit longer for
> those wonderful Vanagons to drop into my price range (my first one was
> $300).  In retrospect, though, I realize my experience with split window
> vans was quite special and I wouldn't trade any of those memories for a
> brand new Sychro Westy, even the many memories of push starting when the
> old 6 volt starting system failed.  Only those who have actually paid
> their "splitty dues" can sing the Split Window Blues.  Something about
> sliding that window open.  Something about having the front door filled
> with insulation so it closed with a real solid "chunk."  Something about
> those two doors swinging out on the side with a prop-up table.
> Something about replacing the front windshield for $25 bucks.  Something
> about sliding that engine out the back on to a milk crate, doing some
> work  on it and sliding it back in all by yourself with just a pocketful
> of tools.  Maybe I am a true believer, but I believe in the Vanagon too.
> 
> John Jensen
> johnjensen@johnjensenartist.com
> http://www.johnjensenartist.com
> bluesbug@verizon.net
> 
> 
> On 10/19/2011 6:31 PM, Tom Buese wrote:
> > Heck, in the eyes of the "true believers", Bay window buses are not even  "legitimate" members of the VW Cult, not to mention Vanagons-see pulled samba thread for BBB 2012&  whether non split window buses should be allowed to park on the grass next year?
> >
> > YMMV,
> >
> >