if this link works, here is one of those like Stuart mentions.   Really
really looks a lot like a Westie..

http://astrosafarivans.org/bb2/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7252

Thats all I'll post about these cheap VW imitations...till I put in the
'vette motor and the front and rear lockers into my 6-sp dual range truck
tranny....

On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 8:48 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Plenty of these were converted  commercially into "Westie like" pop top
> campers. I looked at one 10 years ago but ended up with an EVC.  I'd have
> been better off with a Safari.  Check out www.astrosafarivans.com.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Don Hanson
> Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 7:17 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Poor Man's Syncro...Friday OT..Safari AWD (a bit long)
>
>   I just got a  '97 GM Safari AWD van to supplement my 84 low roof westie
> wanna-be .
>
>  I've 'shopped' diligently around various NW US online  listings for the
> past few weeks,  where there are always a dozen or so listed each day,
> Running condition ones normally priced from around $1000 to $4-5K,  I paid
> $2k for this, a one-owner van with full records, a van that looks to have
> been intelligently maintained and driven well . A second set of good snow
> tires and wheels, tow package, drilled rotor brake upgrade, etc..
>
>  Amazingly, it's got all the luxury options and they all still work.. It's
> awfully "tarted-up" for my tastes, what with power everything and front and
> rear heat and AC and six captains chairs in real leather (un-cracked,  NW
> vehicle)   I'm not very keen on all these electronic widgets and OBD II
> stuff, but it's been trouble-free for 14yrs under the original owner, so
> maybe GM got it pretty right..we shall see, I guess.
>
>  I was actually looking for a more basic AWD van to be my work vehicle,
> but this little lux-o-truck was so well kept I went for it. The price was
> quite
> good, given it's condition.     It's almost 'too nice' Inside, it reminds
> me of the Eurovan or any other minivan...though these GM vans do have more
> height inside than most American-market minivans.   They are built on the
> GM small truck chassis and it drives a bit like a  small truck.  Driving
> this one I can now see how Scott came to his opinion that Vanagons are
> 'sports-car vans'...My 84 tin top feels much lighter..
>
>  These GM vans(Astro is almost identical to Safari) have a fanatic cult
> following, just like our syncros do...Being built with Chevy/GM truck and
> car parts, the easy modification options are almost endless, a lot of 'plug
> and play' possible and easy using parts from other GM vehicles.   The
> standard engine is the V6 (190hp) that was derived from Chevy's iconic 350
> v-8, minus two of the cylinders. It's been used 'forever' in most of GM's
> mid-size trucks, as has the 4sp auto tranny... The towing capacity listed
> is 5000lbs, one of the reasons that made this vehicle attractive to me as a
> work vehicle...I have a 10' Wells Cargo tool/toy trailer that I often need
> to haul, with heavy loads inside..
>
>    The rear has 'dutch doors'  with a hatch on the top half and two
> swing-outs below..  it will carry two full size motorcycles inside, thanks
> to the motor's front location and low rear floor..It looks to be wide
> enough to have a sleeping platform cross-wise inside.
>
>    Now I'll no longer have to 'schlep' my gear in and out of the vanagon
> all the time, switching from tools to toys and back, sometimes twice a
> day.... and I'll be able to easily make my driveway in the snowy months.
>  If and when my "ship comes in" or if I win the lottery I can see myself
> spending 'syncro dollars'  here, but for now it's my Poor-Mans Syncro..
>    Don Hanson
>
>