Of course, this IS the Pacific Northwest!

Sent from my way cool iPhone.

On Dec 7, 2012, at 1:18 PM, Aristotle Sagan <killer.jupiter@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Big @ssed Christmas tree.
> 
> tim in san jose
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Dec 7, 2012 at 12:52 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I'm fortunate to have chosen two vehicles, both of which were in production
>> when I bought them, that are now classics and are my "old car hobby."  One,
>> of course, is my current '85 Westy, which replaced the '84 Westy I owned
>> from '86 to '06, as well as a '97 EVC I owned from '06 to '09.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The other is a 1965 MGB which was actually a college graduation present for
>> my future wife from her father in 1969 (at my urging, and we chose it over a
>> '65 Mustang, being somewhat unusual people).  The MGB has grown into a
>> collection.  My daughter has a '70 MGB-GT and my son is working on a 1964
>> roadster project.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The point of my musings is that without vendors finding and producing parts
>> and accessories for these cars there would be no classic cars on the road.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The range of accessories available for both is truly amazing.  For my MGBs I
>> can now purchase a custom designed and manufactured supercharger (if I were
>> wealthy), a Ford 5 speed transmission, modern shock absorbers, air
>> conditioning, leather upholstery, etc., as well as a huge number of
>> replacement parts.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The Vanagon also has benefitted from enthusiasts finding, importing, and
>> making parts and conversion kits, and I'm hopeful that Volkswagen's "Classic
>> Parts" effort will be robust.  When the MGB went out of production in 1980
>> British Leyland put all of their documentation and tooling in the public
>> domain (British Heritage Trust) to allow for unencumbered aftermarket parts
>> production.  This has kept the hobby possible and affordable.  Maybe VW will
>> do this too someday.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I can readily build a $20,000+ MGB or Vanagon Westy that is every bit as
>> drivable and reliable as any modern car (well, almost), and would be a lot
>> more fun and much cheaper than anything available today, not to mention head
>> turning.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Appreciate our vendors and celebrate the old car hobby, since you are all
>> hobbyists now by default.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> May you have lots of Vanagon parts under your Christmas tree!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> (I'll have a '93 Subaru donor car under mine.)  ;-)
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Stuart
>> 
>> '85 Westy, '65 MGB
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Where ever you are, there you be. Unless you're driving my van, in
> which case, you ain't got there yet.