TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Sep 26, 2014 9:50 pm

I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

I bought this van sight unseen from Austin Texas. It was advertised on CL as a simple Vanagon. I got it for a good prize with an engine issue that I have not dived in to yet. My intention was to use it for a parts van for my herd of other vans. I really wanted the Weekender interior. Well it shows up and it has a Carat Badge and the Wolfsburg stickers. It's a Texas van a completely rust free. Now I'm thinking I'd be crazy to start tearing this apart. I'm pretty well versed on Syncros but this is new to me. Any help on value, rarity, etc would be appreciated. Thanks!

Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:18 pm

Wolfsburg should be a badge, eh? Anyhow, pics might help some of the experts know if it's a particular model, or something a previous owner put together. I really like the weekender I have - great layout and very practical and versatile layout.

Pics, pics?? Heh....

Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:30 pm

Year?

Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:37 pm

Heh - I never get to dig you. Check the thread title..... :D

Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:38 pm

oh yeah :oops:

Need pix

Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:43 pm

1989

This is the only one I have right now

Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:51 pm

They sold both in 1989. 1989 was the first year of the Carat model, but it was simply badged as "Carat" and had no Wolfsburg Edition logos. VW also sold a Wolfsburg Edition in 1989, but these were badged as "Vanagon GL" at the back and had black Wolfsburg Edition labels on the front corners. Someone probably added one of the two logos to your van. If your van has the diagonal striped interior and a grey dash it is a 1989 Wolfsburg Edition. If it has the regular dot pattern seat upholstery and a black dash it is a 1989 Carat.

Now in 1990 and 1991, VW sold Tornado Red Carats that had both Carat and Wolfsburg Edition badges. Maybe that's what you have?

At any rate, I agree with you that a rust free Carat style van is too good to part out. The weekender interiors are certainly a nice upgrade for a Syncro, but it would probably be better to watch for a rusty or wrecked van to get the interior from.

Dave

Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:53 pm

ScottShelley wrote: 1989

This is the only one I have right now

That's a 1989 Carat model in Vesuveus Grey Metallic. Someone added the Wolfsburg Edition badges. Looks like a nice straight van!

Dave

Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:58 pm

I have another complete Weekender interior, so I'll use that. I can look at this one for guidance. It has the regular style upholstery. It's a pretty nice van. Now I'll just have to figure out what the engine issue is. I definitely don't have time for another project so I'll probably look for a good home for it.

Sat Sep 27, 2014 5:07 am

Nice Van. Love that color.

A similar thing happened to me earlier this summer. An ad on kijiji was placed for a 1989 Vanagon. No picture was posted and it was advertised as "tan". I called and had the seller send me some pictures. It turned out to be a 1989 Vanagon Whitestar. :shock:

I think if he would have posted a picture it would have sold a lot sooner.

What color is the interior in this grey one? That is one thing I love about the one I got, the blue striped interior.

Sat Sep 27, 2014 8:45 am

Speaking of Wolfsburg, I have completely struck out on replacing my factory round badges if anyone has a pair on the wrong Van they'd like to pop off and part with for $. My freshly painted van looks incomplete with the these badly weathered badges - most of the enamel design fell off when I towed it across the Plains in a series of thunderstorms that included a lot of light hail. Was bummed when I got home and noticed the badges were damaged....

Doug

Sat Sep 27, 2014 10:00 am

All of the 89s I have owned have had the striped interior with subwoofer.
None were grey.

There are a few of these same grey 89s available in excellent condition around right now...$2500-$3500 buys them.

Sat Sep 27, 2014 11:46 am

Wolfsburgs were available in 86.
Identical to, and the same as a Carat.

Interior, power accessory appointments, jump seats etc.
Had chrome steel bumpers front & rear was the main difference, & the only ones I have ever seen were silver only.

Had 2 of them at one time or another.

Sat Sep 27, 2014 12:52 pm

FWIW - I believe Carats had lower spring than the earlier Wolfsburgs.

Otherwise, same interior layout, poptop, jump seat, side table, etc;
but the newer fiberglass bumpers to match the model year...

Sat Sep 27, 2014 2:25 pm

The 86 Wolfsburgs had the same springs as the Carat--the van was identical in every way ---no pop top either.
It wasn't a Weekender.

Sat Sep 27, 2014 3:07 pm

Sat Sep 27, 2014 4:38 pm

There ya go, then. Looks good!

Sat Sep 27, 2014 5:59 pm

Those are just stickers, definitely not the correct badges for a wolfsburg edition.
Looks like a decent carat.
Quote:

This is the wolfsburg badge

Sat Sep 27, 2014 7:42 pm

A Carat Weekender is more than I bargained for...Cool!