I’m 71. I have owned a 58 and 63 bus, then bought  1969 to top on 1971 I drove for many many thousands of miles and ended up with a new factory engine in its last years in my possession. I went without a bus between 1983 and 1990 when I bought a new Carat. I owned several more late 90s Vanagons after that as well but in 2003 acquired my 1983 diesel Westy 5 speed that came from Germany. I added a turbo and have kept it in near perfect mechanical shape. It has just shy of 400,000 miles on it and my camping log says I have spent over 270 nights in it. 

Jim

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 28, 2021, at 4:09 PM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I am 82 years. I bought my first vanagon - an '85 model - in Alaska. Just
> bought my 5 th Vanagon this spring - a '91 carat. The 2nd one. It's getting
> a do over including an engine upgrade to an EJ 2.5 Subaru conversion. I am
> looking forward to putting some miles ln this baby. The Subie engine has
> been completely overhauled and I expect this will be my last van. Now I
> want to just enjoy the miles/years left.
> 
>> On Tue, Dec 28, 2021, 3:43 PM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Pete,  your van sounds Great!  I hope you share more in the future.
>> 
>>        It sounds like we made similar upgrades on our buses.
>> 
>> I’ve had the same question asked of me recently.  Is that a new van?
>> Where can I get one?
>> 
>>        When I explain it is 37 years old and not made since 1991 the
>> folks seemed shocked.
>> 
>> This happened more when my paint was refreshed.  Less so when it is not
>> shined up.
>> 
>> So, I try to keep shiny.
>> 
>> Eric Caron
>> 
>> 
>>>> On Dec 28, 2021, at 2:41 PM, Peter Cobb <careyid1@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi all and happy new year.
>>> i just couldnt help but respond,  i usually just look and never respond
>>> because i am not very mechanically minded
>>> I had my first vw vanagon in 1987 . was a 85 with a sun roof, took it to
>>> Alaska , for 2 month  put on 6k miles  sold it with 174 k miles.
>> purchased
>>> an 87 westfalia , had it for several years,  then wanted a syncro.
>> bought
>>> 91 . in VT, drove it back to california .  i spent thousands on it ,
>>> decided to sell it , very expensive to maintain.  got an offer for i
>>> couldnt refuse.. I bought my last 91 vw vanagon,put in  new 2.3 go westy
>>> engine, new paint. 16 in wheels . up date brakes   propex heater, solar .
>>> inverter  have almost everything a westfalia has . but better ride .  I
>> am
>>> 82 years young and when people see my van they always comment, nice van,
>>> is it new .  especially the young ones. you dont see a lot of these vans
>> on
>>> the road any morel  i think ill keep it for a while ,  might sell it
>> when i
>>> get a little older
>>> peter cobb
>>