Usually I just lurk on the list here but I saw something that was just so
unusual last night that I feel I have to share it with the list.

Twice a month I drive from San Jose to northern Nevada on buisness.  This
weekend was one of those, and instead of staying the extra day and making
my way home leasurely on Monday, I figured I would leave on Sunday
instead, kind of late (about 6pm for a six hour drive) to avoid the hoiday
+ burningman traffic.  I was also driving my Volvo, since both my syncro
is disabled (tranny is out for a rebuild right now) and, honestly, the
Volvo's top speed is quite a bit higher, especially in the hills :).  I
raced through Sacramento, making good time the whole way, despite the
heavier than usual traffic, and, while having lost daylight some time
before, was sure that I spotted a Vanagon up ahead.  Creeping up on the
v'gon I checked the rear out, looking for some indications of model and
year.  From behind I guessed it at a '86-'88, the interior looked like a 7
passenger.  What confused me about this was that it was of a color green I
had never seen before on a vanagon.  This was unusual, but I'd seen some
wierd pantjobs before.  I continued on past so I could take a look at the
rest of the vanagon.  It was dark but I spotted on the side that it was an
airport shuttle from Sacramento.  This was the real surprising part for
me, since I have almost never seen a 'working' vanagon in the US.  (For
anyone interested, I have scads of pictures from a visit to Isreal of
vanagon and eurovan pictures, almost all of them doublecabs.)  I figured
it was interesting enough to get a mention.  I'd be thrilled if the van
that picked me up from the airport was ever a rear-engined vw :).

P.S.  Anyone know who is a good supplier for gearbox parts?  I've got my
syncro tranny open and I need some gears and other parts for it.

-k