As I recall the motoring press at the time said that the VW engine foundries
producing Rabbit engines could not keep up with the demand for Rabbits,
hence the waterboxer conversion.

Bill

83.5 Westy
87 BMW 528e

>
>Even more baffling, VW had everything necessary to put a rabbit motor in the
>vanagon in 82 with the diesel, but still insisted on using the waterboxer.
>I guess the head problems hadn't surfaced yet.  I was browsing an old issue
>of Hot VW's and saw a company advertising a waterboxer "upgrade" engine swap
>for bus owners.  Bet there outta business now.
>