Thanks for the replies, Ken Dennis & Jeff.
 As it happens, this list has produced some magic and I have found someone
(local!) who is interested.  I think I'm going to go that route.

 Any tips on a reasonably prices electric 12v cooler?  I've found one
offering from Igloo for about $80 that seems decent enough.  I'll just have
to build a custom mount so I can bolt it to the floor in the same spot.
 *And* install the secondary deep-cycle battery.. ;>)

 Much obliged!  I'm sure I'll see everyone around.

 vroom,
 .
 Neil

On Thu, Jun 26, 2014 at 11:03 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net> wrote:

> When I bought my '85 Weekender about 4 years ago, it also had the cooler (
> I first thought it was a window air conditioner the seller had just left in
> the van) but mine worked. I was going to toss it, as it took up way too
> much room and I didn't ever see using it. Decide d instead to stick it on
> Ebay where it sold for around $150.00 IIRC. You never know!    Jeff Stewart
> ----- Original Message -----
> > Neil, I hate to throw stuff out.  There might be a person on
> > thesamba.com
> > that would rush right to your place and take it if you offered it for
> > a low
> > price or free.  Maybe they need it to complete their full show quality
> > restoration of an 85-86 era Wolfsburg Westy Weekender.  They are so
> > rare.
> >  Brown with brown interior for some reason is the most common color
> > scheme.
> >  I am actually joking about them being rare.  At least at my shop they
> > aren't.  I have one customer that has two, another has one and I went
> > to
> > inspect a fourth one in Deptford for a customer the other night.
> >  Three of
> > these are 85s and one is an 86.  They are all brown on brown. None of
> > them
> > has the cooler.  I have only seen one cooler in real life and that was
> > in
> > an 86 Syncro Wolfsburg Westy Weekender (Brown on Brown of course) and
> > the
> > lid was messed up.  So maybe that person will want yours!
> > Welcome to the list!
> > Ken Wilford
> > John 3:16
> > www.vanagain.com
> > On Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 10:46 PM, Neil Cebara <neilcebara@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > Hi all!
> > >
> > >  First time post, first time Vanagon owners.... We just purchased an
> > > '85
> > > Wolfsberg Edition in March which we love!  It needs a bit of love,
> > > but
> > > that's what we're here for. Love. We have it in slop buckets.. ;>)
> > >
> > >  It came with its stock Dometic RC160E thermoelectic cooler.... the
> > > top-opening kind ..bolted to the floor behind the passenger seat.
> > >  I've
> > > tested it, and talked to a local servicing shop that thinks they may
> > > be one
> > > of the only shops in the country still able to service the RC160E.
> > >
> > >  Verdict?  It doesn't work.  The control board is probably shot,
> > > which is a
> > > $200 replacement.  The other electronic piece (might need that, not
> > > sure)
> > > is a $400 replacement.
> > >   So... I'm going to upgrade to a more recent type of 12v
> > > thermoelectric
> > > cooler. (After I reinstall a secondary deep-cycle batt!)
> > >
> > >  But what do I do with this Dometic cooler?
> > >      Should I just recycle it through my city's various recycling
> > > options?
> > >      Or is there a market out there of people wanting to repair
> > > these
> > > relics?
> > >   I'd be happy to even donate it to someone if they were going to
> > > fix it
> > > up.  It's in otherwise good shape, it just doesn't run the fan and
> > > cool
> > > anything.
> > >
> > >  Any thoughts or experience on recycling versus finding someone to
> > > take it?
> > >
> > >  Thanks!
> > >  .
> > >  Neil & Chelsea
> > >  '85 Westy
> > > *  "Phaedra von Vanagon Westphalia-Wolfsberg"  aka Phae, heir to the
> > > fabled
> > > Westphalia-Wolfsberg throne.*
> > >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > Ken Wilford
> > John 3:16
> > www.vanagain.com
>