Joel, I just sent an inquiry out to see if anyone knows the differences. I'll
give it a little time to foment on the list and see what I get back.

I will try and catch you a little later, let you know what I found out, and let
you know my decision.

Did you see any vans that had round headlight grills and buckets that were
intact? I'm interested in a remedy for a very poor lighting situation on My
'88GL.

Thanks,

John Rodger

Joel Walker wrote:

> blatant ad for local junkyard, with some vanagon stuff ... no relation to
> this guy, except he's about 20 miles from me. kinda high priced, but its
> local.
>
> Mitchell Service Center
> 14980 Hwy 82 East
> Duncanville, AL 35456
> (205)  752-0962
> ask for Keith Mitchell
> (on the map, it's about 20 miles southeast of Tuscaloosa, AL ... which is
> about 60 miles WSW of Birmingham, AL ... which is about 150 miles east of
> Atlanta, GA. :)
>
> anyway, he's got the following stuff:
>
> 1986 Vanagon GL, automatic, white with blue interior. 130,000 miles. dead
> battery so i couldn't drive it (i'm thinking about getting an automatic). i
> knew of the original owners (doctor's wife) and it's been wrecked in the
> front right corner, but fixed by someone who actually knew what they were
> doing ... there's some very slight rust in some small cracks in the paint
> where the behind-the-bumper was fixed, and some later scrapes on the front
> corner. interior is in fair shape ... nothing broken or missing. but the
> dash or glove box wasn't re-installed quite correctly when it was fixed: the
> glove box scrapes on one side when you open it.  engine looks good (slightly
> dirty): no signs of head gasket leaks or oil leaks. tires look ok (about
> half tread left). he's asking $2500 or best offer.
>
> for parts (or rebuild):
> 1990 Vanagon GL, automatic, red (NOT maroon/burgundy ... this is RED) with
> grey interior. 100,000 miles. kinda ratted up ... the interior looks like
> someone hauled sharp-edged furniture around .. several L-shaped rips/tears
> in the seat covers. broken armrests. middle seat not bolted down. a/c
> housing overhead is missing the little gap-sealing rubber thingies. glass is
> good, mirrors are good. alloy wheels (but left rear is scraped ... they
> scraped down the side of the bus, too). engine looks ok, but there's
> evidence of head gasket leaking gases into the coolant tank. would be a good
> project for someone to rebuild and fix up. lots of good miles left in this
> one, but i need one that runs right now. didn't ask the price on this one.
> driveable but no battery.
>
> 1987 wolfsburg, automatic. dark grey with light grey interior. didn't check
> miles ... it was t-boned in the left rear wheel, so it ain't fixable at all.
> the rear hatch is bent/twisted but the glass all round is still very good.
> interior is in excellent shape ... including the two rear-facing jumpseats!
> :) you'll have to remind him that he needs to send the bolt-on bracket for
> those jumpseats (the brackets that bolt to the rear of the front seat
> supports). steel wheels with three good wheel covers.
>
> the lights and grill of these last two are in good shape, as is the glass
> all round.
>
> others noted: blue/blue 80-81 bus, brown/tan 80-81 bus, and some blue/blue
> 83-84 bus that was over under a tree, so is likely pretty rusted up. that's
> all the vanagon stuff i say ... lots of other 68-79 buses, and a 65-66-67(?)
> double-cab pickup that's in "good" shape with engine (dufus paint job, with
> graffitti on the rear sides, and windshield gaskets that are really pretty
> far gone and no windshield wipers ... but definitely fix-up-able if you like
> them old buses. :)
>
> anyway, that's what's out there. this guy is kinda high-priced and has a
> strange idea of what is "good" and what isn't (that is, his ideas don't
> match mine!) and is a bit hard to get a price out of, sometimes. his first
> response is: "what'll you give me for it?" rather than a number. so you have
> to haggle around a lot, and i don't like to do that in junkyards. :(
>
> i can go look at the stuff again if anyone is interested ... he's open on
> saturdays for a while.
>
> joel