Hey Youse!
    I've thought about this a few times also.  Perhaps when there is a free
minute I'll look into the mechanism, which probably only needs some metal
removal.
    If you remember the old bugs, their wind wings opened up almost all the way
back, causing much wind.  They also had the little splash guard to keep rain
out of the inside of the car.  I suspect that the new windows don't open far
enough to cause this, and thus money can be saved in manufacturing.

    Randy

LouiZe! wrote:

> Hello, from the balmy South!
>
> Would be interested to know if there is a retrofit avail. to allow the
> front triangular vent windows to open approx. 45 degrees further forward in
> order to get air flow?  My 72 Westy has the fully opening windows, which
> are sorely missed on the Vanagon.
>
> Was there any reason this feature was discontinued, as well as the rear
> seat opening window on the 72?
>
> My 89 Westy (who's PO lived in Germany and was German) has manuals in
> German.  One of them shows optional rear side windows (the long bays in
> back) that are "safari" style, in that they kick out and swing up. Am going
> to check and see what is involved in getting those shipped here!
>
> LouiZe
>
> 89 Westy
> 72 Westy