Egads! The Vanagon is 40!

"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury) 01/08/2020 at 10:34 • Filed to: None

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I still want another one, preferably a Westfalia, even though I have no plans to go camping. For some odd reason I love this box on wheels, and have since the first time I saw one in 1979. Between me and my mother we’ve owned three of these these things, spanning the full range from 1980 to 1991.

I was just reading a Road & Track article reviewing the 1980 model. They said that its acceleration was reasonable and could easily keep up with traffic. The 0-60 time listed was 21.2 seconds. 21.2. And these days people say that my Mazda5 is frightfull y slow, with its 0- 60 time of 8.3 seconds. And the braking on the Vanagon? They said the 60-0 performance was quite good, but they couldn’t do 80-0 because they didn’t have enough room a their testing location to get it up to 80...

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 10:58

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For whatever reason, I’ve lately been wanting a T3 with a water boxer. They’re just so... cool

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 10:59

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We live in a glorious time of horsepower.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/08/2020 at 11:20

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Dare I say needless, excess horsepower? Will I be crucified for saying that here?

VW Max > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 11:23

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Wait, the Vanagon can actually go 80? My bus officially tops out at 70, but it feels very unstable above 65

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 11:28

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Maybe just some sideways glances.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > VW Max 01/08/2020 at 11:39

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I used to routinely get my ‘83.5 over 80, but it was lowered and had a front spoiler and thus the aerodynamics were a bit better than stock. A lot of people wouldn’t move out of the fast lane when I would do a polite flash-to-pass so I put 130W bulbs in my big, round driving lights and would melt the plastic off of their bumpers if they refused to cooperate. Most would move over, but some idiots would do the ol’ brake check, giving my Meta l Master brake pads a bit of a workout.

I did various other performance mods to this van  so it was a bit quicker than stock. I even had a little fun and made a factory-looking ‘Vanagon GTI’ badge. It wasn’t going to put any hot hatches to shame, but it did make driving a boxy, utilitarian vehicle a bit more fun.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 01/08/2020 at 11:42

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Cool - until the head gaskets blow. Ask me how I know...

Just like a Subaru, amirite?

phenotyp > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 11:44

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This package, made with a carbon chassis like an i3, with electric motors and a long and wide battery pack, would be fucking stellar.

I guess that’s what I’m about to draw is this, with some Brubaker Box thrown in. I want it.

RallyWrench > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 12:05

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Got offered one with a blown engine for $500 yesterday. I sold my needy ‘82 for $500 last year. Dangit.

RallyWrench > VW Max 01/08/2020 at 12:06

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I pegged the speedo in mine with a slight downhill run onto a long flat section of highway 1. Not recommended.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 12:36

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How bad is an engine out on those? About as bad as an aircooled?

Darkbrador > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 12:36

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We w an t to see pictures ! 

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 01/08/2020 at 12:44

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I can’t imagine that it would be that bad since you have good access from above. But for head gaskets you wouldn’t even need to pull the engine. I had mine done at the dealer I bought it from since it was under warranty and my mom has hers done at a local independent shop. 

McMike > VW Max 01/08/2020 at 12:46

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Wait, the Vanagon can actually go 80?

It’s geared to go 96 at redline, but you’ll never, ever reach it.   I went 88ish on a long hill once.

McMike > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 12:49

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wafflesnfalafel > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 23:40

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sounds like an opportunity to drop an STI motor in there!

wafflesnfalafel > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 01/08/2020 at 23:42

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We had a 77' Kombi when my aunt purchased one of the early water cooled Vanagons with the 3spd auto.  She promptly blew out all the seals by adding way too much oil and ended up selling it...