Your right of course!
Starting in 1988 the GL Vanagons became at least a foot longer and 2
inches wider. The non-GL Vanagons stayed smaller.
The Syncro on the other hand is even wider ( by about an inch).
On the Syncros even the non-GL model is larger.
All these size changes have many consequences of course: the interiors
are wider too. So are the bumpers.
Especially important are the length changes. Be careful to buy the right
accelerator cable. On the Syncro the driveshaft became longer too.
Starting in the same year, the right hand drive Vanagons had engines
that turn the other way around! So beware of english and Aussie parts!
So what is most collectable?
Definitely the 1988 fully chromed (yes the whole body was chromed
entirely) Westfalia Vanagon GL Syncro, that was only sold in California.
Very few were sold before the full chrome was made illegal because it
blinded the other drivers. Today definitely a collectable! Its right up
there with the 1980 only DeLuxe Vanagon with the 8 skylights and steel
sliding roof (this one is still in production South Africa with an
in-line 6 cylinder two-stroke engine).

I'll be glad to help with any other question.

Martin Peitz
96 Full Chrom Vanagon Syncro 16" Tristar Last Limited Champagne Edition
Double Cab Wide Bed Right Hand Drive (official designation, sold only in
Hawaii)

David Hicks wrote:
>
> Does anyone know if the 87 Van is the same size as the 91. I've got a 91 that
> I think is bigger than the 87's and others say the think so too, but I'm not
> sure if it's just the different bumpers and the fiberglass racker pannels that
> make it look that way.
> Does anyone know?
>
> TIA,
> David
> 91 Multi