On Wed, 12 Apr 1995, corbin blaine connell wrote:

> 
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 10:30:00 -0600 (MDT)
> From: corbin blaine connell <cconnell@mesa5.Mesa.Colorado.EDU>
> To: vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu
> 
> Subject: philosoph.advice
> 
> Hello to all,
> 
> I have a '65 split window, original paint, original interior (excpt 
> uplstry), only a little rust (under the battery), with a '71  1600 SP, 
> original leaking trans, original leaking weather stripping. It sounds 
> pretty desperate but it runs well and looks pretty nice too.
>   My wife and 
> I are planning to move from Western Colorado (Dry) to the Twin Cities (Wet).
> I am continually wrestling with the idea (and the cost) of a complete 
> restoration, but sometimes I feel that it is necessary in order to keep 
> this 30 yr. old vehicle on the road.
> I would like to hear some opinions regarding the restoration of such a 
> vehicle (the guy who sold it to me felt it should be placed in a museum) 
> i.e. NOT DRIVEN, but he also pieced together the enging using misc. parts 
> which I have subsequently removed and replaced-  so he really showed some 
> inconsistencies.
>  Where should I begin?
> Are there any anti-rust compounds (I've heard of a zinc/nitro mixture???)?
> Will a move to Minnesota be the death of my bus? 
> Should I stop driving it in order to save it-  This doesn't seem to do 
> her justice.
> Any advice or philosophical discourse (to drive or not to drive) (to 
> restore or not to restore)  would be greatly welcomed.
> 
> Thanks, 
> Corbin Connell
> 
> 

OPINION TO FOLLOW:  Please find your grain of salt now.

The concept of a volkswagen is utilitarian.  Within reason my thought 
would be to keep your bus useful.  VW itself has a museum - not EVERY old 
bus or bug should go into a museum- that would be a waste.  Utilitarian 
implies useability.  Modifications that make a VW more useable make sense 
- hacking the body to put Baja Tires on a street vehicle does not.  I'd 
keep stock what you can but not sweat what you can't.  DRIVE IT.  I would.

bill killian
'93 EV MV
'73 Thing