On April 9, 1999, I submitted on the web a request to VW for a
"birth certificate" for my van, which they indicated that they supply free.

Reply received yesterday:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
July 15, 1999
Dear Mr. Neal

Thank you for your enquiry in connection with your vehicle's records.

Regrettably, we are unable to provide you with the requested information,
as the historical vehicle data is stored on old and extremely fragile
microfiche.  These records need specialist handling and some are already
unreadable through overuse.  We aplogise for this unfortunate
circumstance.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours sincerely,

(sig)            (sig)
Michael Prause   Roswitha Karbe

(22 more names printed on the the letter)
------------------------------------------------------------
Comments:
Maybe they've stopped offering all BC's if record integrity is gone.  Will
  Rick's orders be filled?
The German/British/English is impeccable.
TWO people signed the letter and 22 more names were printed on the letter.
  A certain sense of finality there.

Regards, Tom Neal