What's a vanagon?

Me and my Vanagon - taken in 1991 (I've changed, the bus hasn't)

For anyone who doesn't know what a vanagon is, it's called a transporter or caravelle in Europe. It's the 3rd generation of buses from VW, and has now been superseeded by the Eurovan (which is still called transporter or caravelle in Europe). The VW bus (or type II's as they're called) era started with the splitscreen buses, which they produced until 1967. In 1968 the 2nd generation buses came, and was produced until the first vanagon in 1979. The vanagon is the 'square' looking VW bus.

All the VW buses were air-cooled until the first watercooled (or wasserboxer, named after the pancake engine which is used) vanagon rolled into the streets in 1983.

Latest:

Unfortunately my dear old Vanagon no longer exists among the living. It ended its days sometime in May 1996, after suffering from a severe engine wrap-up. $3500 for a replacement engine was more than I could manage (and find sensible) at the time. I'm leaving this page behind though, as a reminder and a shrine to its 15 years and 125.000 miles on the road.

I hate to say this, but my new daily driver is not a VW *cringe*. It IS German though, so lets just leave it at that.

Back to the "my VW's" page

paul@nvg.unit.no