Volkswagen Vanagon/Transporter "Carat"

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
08/30/2015 at 21:06 • Filed to: None

Was exceptionally clean, inside and out. Apparently the Carat was briefly the top trim level, all the bells and whistles model for the Vanagon. The Vanagon is one of those cars that is fairly common in Colorado and the Coasts, but rarely found here in Nebraska. It had a little picnic table in the middle. Interior pic not mine, but it had the rarer striped cloth.

EDIT: More about this individual car/the wheels:

http://www.rc135.com/0023/INDEX000.…

http://www.wtv-zone.com/kingdon/vanago…

vw vanagon lisa ann

DISCUSSION (39)

Amoore100 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:09

Of course the interior pic isn’t yours; it doesn’t exist at all...Kinja must have eaten it or something...

jkm7680 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:10

Like those body matched bumpers and the wheels. Think they’re from a Mercedes E Class though.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:11

Kinja'd!!!

Blacked out taillights? But why...

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Amoore100
08/30/2015 at 21:13

Shit, lemme try again.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/30/2015 at 21:15

Dunno

Boxer_4 > jkm7680
08/30/2015 at 21:17

Kinja'd!!!

Close... 00-98 CLK wheels.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > jkm7680
08/30/2015 at 21:19

Close but not quite. They are factory though.

jkm7680 > Boxer_4
08/30/2015 at 21:20

Euro market E-Class also! I spend about a month each year abroad.

Kinja'd!!!

jkm7680 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:21

E-Class also, but European models only!

gmctavish needs more space > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:21

Those are factory? My friend has them on his Westy but he said he got them from a Mercedes CLK or SLK or something

Boxer_4 > jkm7680
08/30/2015 at 21:22

I did not know that! I should have figured that those wheels would be available on more models outside of the US.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > gmctavish needs more space
08/30/2015 at 21:23

They look like CLK wheels (see another comment) but these are not those. Maybe they are aftermarket, but I feel like they aren’t.

McMike > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:23

That’s an ‘89 Whitestar.

All the ‘87+ Wolfsburgs (later called Carats) had the table/removable jumpseats. Table is straight formica - great for quaters.

jkm7680 > Boxer_4
08/30/2015 at 21:24

They were entry trim wheels I believe.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:25

Kinja'd!!!

This is a suggestive seat arrangement.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > McMike
08/30/2015 at 21:28

Ok then the interior picture I found is wrong. It is registered and badged as a 1991 VW Vanagon Carat.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > jkm7680
08/30/2015 at 21:30

Kinja'd!!!

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:33

Nice van. Having moved from SoCal to St Louis I don’t see these too often; I know of one that I regularly see, and I think that’s the only one in the three years I’ve been here.

We’ve had three in my family, from a 1980 L model, a 1983.5 basic and a 1990 Carat. I’m still somewhat ticked that I wasn’t able to buy the ‘90 off of my mother, but I figure I’ll have another one some day, preferably a Westfalia camper (even though I have no intention of camping.

Kinja'd!!!

The second best stereo I’ve ever listened to was installed in that ‘83.5 - I would spend hours and hours in the driveway enjoying it.

I still have a brochure for every year the vehicle was sold in the US and several from around the world. Then there’s the collection of dozens of models, most being 1/87 scale. And then my avatar image. Yeah, I’m a little obsessed...

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/30/2015 at 21:36

So I see.

jkm7680 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:37

There was a similar hubcap style, but I think centercaps are interchangeable. They just look too similar to the Benz wheels.

Amoore100 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:42

It’s back! Interior reminds me of a Euro train coach...10/10 would ride in the back with friends on a road trip, assuming the sounds of the flat-4 are properly muffled...(VW H4’s never struck me as the best sounding engines, and it would quickly get tedious on a road trip to listen to one...)

McMike > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:42

That’s a special interior, only offered in the 89 Bluestar/Whitestar editions.

The layout is correct, but the stripes are not.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > McMike
08/30/2015 at 21:44

Interesting. It had some sort of pattern similar to that, but perhaps it was not that exact one. It also could’ve been reupholstered or fitted with other seats.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Amoore100
08/30/2015 at 21:46

It would indeed, especially considering that same engine would draw the trip out to half again its original length. This was an exceptionally, almost amusingly slow vehicle.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Amoore100
08/30/2015 at 21:52

0-60 in 30 seconds.

Amoore100 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:52

I don’t want to say it was amusingly slow because it’s probably not amusing at all when you’re in it, though I’ve never ridden in one myself...

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Amoore100
08/30/2015 at 21:53

I actually just replied with a 0-60 time. Yeah, it’s frightening.

Amoore100 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:54

That’s even slower than the first gen Nissan Serena, long known as Europe’s slowest accelerating car...

Kinja'd!!!

0-60 in 21 seconds...there’s a reason it was called the Nissan Largo in Japan...

Amoore100 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:55

I actually just replied with a Nissan Serena. Just as frightening considering 20 seconds to 60 was still acceptable in 1999...

Steve in Manhattan > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 21:56

$7,500 is what they’re asking? I got no clue. I’d want it for minimum dollars because there are doubtless a couple grand in repairs lurking in that thing.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Steve in Manhattan
08/30/2015 at 22:03

I didn’t realize I made any implication about it being for sale or any price?

Steve in Manhattan > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/30/2015 at 23:51

No worries - even at 7.5 I’m not going there. Lots of problems.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Steve in Manhattan
08/31/2015 at 09:02

No I mean this car isn’t for sale.

McMike > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/31/2015 at 09:25

Interesting. It had some sort of pattern similar to that, but perhaps it was not that exact one. It also could’ve been reupholstered or fitted with other seats.

Likely, as people really love that rare pattern, but sadly, no. He’s got the normal gray Interior like the rest of us

http://www.wtv-zone.com/kingdon/vw-van…

His ‘91 Carat

Kinja'd!!!

My ‘87 Wolfsburg

Kinja'd!!!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > McMike
08/31/2015 at 09:39

Hmmm. I must have miss-seen.

McMike > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/31/2015 at 10:03

I was hoping to find some more info on it if he had gotten his hand on a White/Bluestar. Those also came with a gray dash pad (that I always thought looked out of place), and I was curious if he had also used that, as well.

Looks like he didn’t :(

And those are CLK wheels. They only require a spacer, and being 16” (larger than the stock 14”) they really open up the options for tire choices.

Steve in Manhattan > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/31/2015 at 15:19

Ahhh ... understood. I think I meant even a hypothetical car at 7.5 ... whatever. It’s a great vehicle, but a lot of potential problems.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Steve in Manhattan
08/31/2015 at 15:47

KBB for a clean one with 100k miles is two grand.

Steve in Manhattan > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/31/2015 at 18:34

Yeah, but those things have a cult status. You get the right 60s throwback, and the checkbook comes out.