-----Original Message-----
From: John S. Cronin [mailto:john.cronin@oit.gatech.edu]
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 1998 12:57
To: Reinhold, Matthias; Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Importing a Vanagon from South Africa etc.

On Jul 16, 12:40pm, Reinhold, Matthias wrote:
>> Subject: Importing a Vanagon from South Africa etc.
>> Has anybody ever looked into the possibility of importing a Vanagon
from
>> South Africa?
>> What are the problems other than that the whole vehicle is
'mirrored'?
>> What about a T2 Bus from Brasil?

> Let's see - first off it needs emission controls, so a catalytic
converter
> and all the electronics needed to ensure it can meet the emissions
>requirements.
> This will probably cost a fair sum.

European cars meet or exceed american emission requirements.  I know
nothing about South Africa or Brasil

> Next, how about American (or European, or whatever) spec safety
equipment:
> glass, side impact beams, seat belts, air bags, etc.

airbags are available in european eurovans, so are seat belts and safety
glass

> There should be some crash testing done, if you
> want to do more than one at a time (ie import for sale, not for
personal
> use).

My interest is for personal use only.  I am assuming (hoping) that some
requirements have waivers available.

> I am sure there must be other issues as well - it is probably not
> cost effective - if it was, somebody would probably be doing this
> already.

That's what I was wondering about: Has somebody done this?

> It is similar to the situation with the Mexican Beetles
> (old style, not New Beetle).  The only Mexican Beetles I know of that
> are legally imported, you have to ship them a pan and they put new
> components on it and ship it back (so it is really rebuilding an old
> car, not getting a brand new one) and that costs about as much as a
> New Beetle.

How about shipping a pan to Brasil or South Africa?

Matthias Reinhold
Sterling, VA
1987 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg