For those of us who have been wondering why we don't see Vanagons for
sale that much anymore, part of the reason may be the voracious market for
these beauties overseas.

     Yesterday I answered an ad in the Washington Post and went to see a '91
Vanagon which I didn't buy (it was trashed), but found out something very
interesting.  The gentleman I met said for the past year or so, he has been
scouring the US for used Vanagons.  He buys them, puts them on a ship and
sends them to South Africa where he probably more than doubles his money.  He
says anymore it's too hard to find Vanagons so he is looking for another type
of used vehicle to export overseas.

     What does the depletion of the Vanagon inventory mean to us who are
always on the lookout for used ones from which to scavenge parts?  Doesn't
seem to bode well for keeping a Vanagon alive indefinitely.  Soon they will be
an endangered species - may the gov't will protect them then!!

Russell Gunter
Woodbridge, VA
'85 GL
'93 EV