In a message dated 9/19/98 5:41:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time, peitz@HIWAAY.NET
writes:

<<
 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)

  >>
Are you sure? I can't tell a difference at all between them, on the length or
width. So how would my 87 syncro compare ( length and width) to a 89 or newer
vanagon?    Boy, I guess I learn something new every day.
 Michael Modl
 87 syncro
 87 quattro