Me - I'm one of the older bearded dudes - 73.8.....owned one or more VW
van's for the last 33 years. currently have three tintops. When I'm out
and about driving looking fashionable - flathat, sunglasses and beard -
I get the high sign from the 20-somethings and younger crowd all the
time. Kinda neat, knowing there's other generations becoming aware.

I agree with you Jim, vanity about fashion and appearance drives many
would-be/wannabe van owners away. For me, however - I was always
attracted to the different, the odd. I used to have a Volvo 544,
something really strange in this part of the world back in the day. I
flew a real early C-35 V-tail Beech Bonanza which was not common, and
owned a Cessna 195(civilian version)  and a Cessna LC-126 (military
version of Cessna 195 - uncommon all. Then came the Buses and Vanagons.
For years I have been a potter for a living - not the common job - and a
moldmaker for ceramics, something really uncommon - probably not another
pro ceramic moldmaker in the state. But then as I said - I like the odd,
the different, some would even say strange. But it's my thing!

John

On 7/1/2013 9:42 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
> I agree with Chris. There won't be any problem  finding people who want
> them and will take care of them in the future. It's right now that's the
> problem. Every once in a while I get in a conversation at a campground with
> someone about my age who says "I sure wish I had one of those. My wife and
> kids, though, would disown me." Upon further discussion it usually turns
> out to be that they are not modern looking enough. You'd think people could
> come up with a better reason than fashion for not allowing themselves to
> enjoy something.
>
> But anyway, the kids coming along won't put up that barrier, I'm sure. They
> seem to accept the looks of the car as very cool. I recently had a bunch of
> girls pass me on the Interstate with their iPhones sticking out every
> window, all smiles, and it sure wasn't me they were photographing. I think
> the future looks bright for our Vanagons if we can just keep them running
> for now!
>
> Jim
>
>
> On Mon, Jul 1, 2013 at 9:34 AM, Chris S. <szpejankowski@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Yes. I'm under 60. I've had a Vanagon Westfalia of some kind for the last
>> 14 years.  In that time I have noticed a shift in public's perception of
>> our vehicles towards the waaay cool side. There's a young crop of future
>> owners waiting in the wings.
>>
>> Chris.
>>
>>
>> Dnia Jul 1, 2013 o godz. 9:57 Andrew Graydon <andrew@GRAYDONS.CA>
>> napisał(a):
>>
>>> Myself and my wife are 41 with two boys, 16 and 13. We bought an 82
>> Diesel
>>> Westy 1 1/2 years ago. We had come to the conclusion that sometjing was
>>> odd, our kids liked hanging out with us ! So twice a year, march break
>> and
>>> two weeks during the summer, we take road trips in the Vanagon, we've put
>>> about 11, 000 miles up so far ! Most weekends the Vanagon becomes a spare
>>> room at the marina for 'overflow' of kids.
>>>
>>> Yes 'Schnail' is slow, yes her engine is a bit tired, yes she puffs the
>> odd
>>> cloud of smoke, yes she needs about 1/3 of her panels replaced because of
>>> rust. However, my sons are already planning their trios as soons as they
>>> get licenses :)
>>
>