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Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:24 am

Anybody else have a Hannover Edition (89vanagon GL)?Production numbers?(Hanover)

Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:19 am

The Hannover Edition badges were used on the europe market Whitestar and Bluestar special edition vans manufactured during 1989-1990. They were basically the same as our 1989 Wolfsburg Edition Star Blue and Pastel White vans. The only differences were the badges said Hannover Edition instead of Wolfsburg Edition, they had jailbars, and could be had with a 1.6TD as well as the 2.1 wasserboxer.

Don't know the prod. numbers, but aside from the Limited Last Edition, they are the most sought after T3s in Europe. Since Europe never got the Carat style van we had, the special jumpseat/multivan interior was limited to those two special editions.

Do you have one?

David

Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:35 am

Finally!!! I can hardly believe there is someone out there who knows about these. I'm making a deal for one right now in BC. But there is a mystery with the VIN. It has wv2Z.. which would normally be a camper .It may have something to do with two stage assembly changes.
Noone seems to know about that either. How about you???How do you know about the Hanover?

Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:24 pm

I'm a huge Vanagon fanatic. We owned one when I was growing up, and even as a kid I used to read all the magazine articles I could find about the different models. I've researched the models available in Europe mostly by looking on www.mobile.de for late model T3s coming up for sale.

In regards to the VIN, you're probably right on about the camper designation being due to the two stage assembly process. All of the Carat style vans were built at Hannover basically specced out as luxury Caravelle Carats, but with only the front seats, headliner, and front/sliding door panels installed. Then the vans went to Westfalia who installed the rest of the interior. The plaquard in the driver's door jam on the US models shows two build dates. Incomplete vehicle and then there's another one right above it from usually a month later that indicates when Westfalia finished with it.

That's cool that you're buying one. Post some pictures when you get it. It must be a private import, huh? They never sold them in Canada as far as I know. Is it blue or white? BTW, I have an 89 Star Blue WLE right now that I just converted to a Subaru 2.5 liter 165 hp motor.

David

Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:46 pm

I read somewhere about the ZZZ in the VINs. Something about VW being asocial about conforming to US VIN standards. I only glanced at it. I think it was posted here as a link. Don't quote me, I only vaguely remember this. It has, I think, been posted since the beginning of the year, but not 100% sure about it.

Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:14 pm

I just tried several searches. The search is not strong with me today. I could not find the reference I thought I knew about. Perhaps someone else might find it. Let us know.

Fri Mar 03, 2006 3:56 pm

The only problem I have with the two phase theory is the westy roof hole. Wouldn't the roof be on by the time they did the upholstery? I wish it had one like my '85, but there ain't no hole there!

The original sale was in New Westminster BC. It's blue, but someone took off the alloys at some point and put in a wheelchair lift. (not the OEM) I can remove the lift but it will have bruises to deal with.

I like the Sub idea too, but this one is low mileage with new heads so I will wait a while and watch for engines. How much $ is the conversion.

Bill

Fri Mar 03, 2006 5:54 pm

Bill,

The Subaru conversion price varies depending on the cost of the engine, but the conversion parts minus the engine add up to about $1500-$1800. Engines can be anywhere from $650-$2000 depending on whether it's a 2.2 or 2.5 and whether it's a low mileage or higher mileage motor.

Since you're getting one with a sound wasserboxer, I think your plan sounds good. Just enjoy it as is for a while. Contrary to proper belief a Wasserboxer can give pretty long service. Of course the long term durability of the Subaru engine is much better, but the main reason for upgrading would be more power. It's a good conversion. It sounds and feels a lot like a standard wasserboxer. But it performs like a somewhat better than average car.

So your Bluestar was purchased new in BC? Does it have two jumpseats or one jumpseat and the removable fridge? My 89 came with an owner's manual supplement that showed the Canadian model Bluestars coming with a fridge in place of the second jumpseat. That was the first I'd heard of that.

David Clymer

Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:35 pm

This one has two jumps. I saw one today with the box, in the mobile site you mentioned. This one has the raw aluminum side windows and the chrome strips, neither which I like, but I'll probably stay with stock, especially if the production numbers are low enough to qualify for collector plates which would be sweet in terms of insurance. It's auto too which I'm not used to but willing to try. I picked up a set of jail bars a few years ago for my other van, so I have those if they're appropriate. Going to miss the big sunroof of my 85 tho. That with the table would be ideal.
The mobile site had one which mentioned sunroof but it might have been an aftermarket.(no pic.)

I made a deal on some alloys today too, so things are shaping up.

Now that I know my Wolfsburg is actually a Hannover, I'll have to change my name to Hannburger or Hannsand(wich)

Sat Mar 04, 2006 6:12 am

Quote: Since Europe never got the Carat style van we had, the special jumpseat/multivan interior was limited to those two special editions.

Who else got the "carat"? I've seen plenty of badges before that were "caravelleCarat" and just "carat" neither of which were on the US models.

Nothing to do with this thread, but I just recently read that the UK never got westfalia's thats why companies like Devon came into play. Thats something I never realized and thought was interesting, now I know why there are so many non-westy campers always for sale in the UK :D

Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:26 am

Hi Markus,

The Carat style Vanagons were more or less unique to the USA/Canada market. We got them first as the 1987-1988 Wolfsburg Edition Vanagon, then they were called Vanagon Carats from 1989-1991. The 1989 Wolfsburg Edition was the same as the special edition Bluestar and Whitestar sold in europe. The Bluestar/Whitestar and the 1992 Limited Last Editions were the only T3s Europe got that were equivalent to the Vanagon Carat. The Caravelle Carat you refer to was a very expensive europe market T3 that had six individual bucket seats. The middle two could be swiveled on asymmetric pedestals and the rears were from an Audi 200 and had electric adjustments. It had a table like a Vanagon Carat and the floor was built up another three or so inches. Also the headliner side panels were plastic moldings rather than glued on vinyl. From the outside they resemble the Vanagon Carat because they used the lower moldings, same alloys, and lowering springs.

So our Vanagon Carats are essentially specced out like Caravelle Carats except for the multivan style interior with the two removable jump seats. The 1990-1991 Multivan we got was also unique to our market. You could get a multivan in europe with or without the poptop, but none of them had the jumpseats or the plush GL style velour upholstery.

David

Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:08 pm

i too recently purchased a hannover edition van in Vancouver BC.

I am interested in finding production numbers. If i can document less than 1500 worlwide i immediatly qualify for collector ststus and a much cheaper insurance.

any links would be helpful.

here are some pics i took today.

Fri Dec 28, 2007 5:08 pm

You should send the originator of this thread a PM. He did the research on this model and discovered that there were only 27 of that exact model built. He also was interested in qualifiying it for collector car status. I think he was successful.

The Type # shown on your build tag is 216 108C. All other 1987-1989 Wolfsburg Edition vans and all 1989-1991 Carats were just simply Type 216 108. The C seems to designate the unique Canadian variations on this van.

David

Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:48 pm

Excuse my ignorance, but what is so special about the configuration? I think we have lots in that configuration available in California.

I understand about low production numbers but the interior just does not seem all thet unique.

Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:22 pm

Those wheels aren't factory are they? Also would the steering wheel be unique to this model?

Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:30 pm

i am new to this van some some please correct me if i'm wrong.

this van has a combination of factory options that make it rare.

lower body mouldings
lowered suspension
factory alloys
crome trim windows
power mirrors
power windows
power steering
power braked
central locking
air conditioning
cruise control
Captians seats w/adjustable arm rests
removable jump seats
pop up table
carpeted bench seat bottom/support
Hannover Badging

I dont know if the steering wheel is factory or not??

Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:23 pm

D Clymer wrote:

The Type # shown on your build tag is 216 108C. All other 1987-1989 Wolfsburg Edition vans and all 1989-1991 Carats were just simply Type 216 108. The C seems to designate the unique Canadian variations on this van.

David

If this is the case, "C" designating the rare Canadian model- note his serial number: 18?

Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:48 pm

WOLFBURGER wrote: Anybody else have a Hanover Edition (89vanagon GL)?Production numbers? might this help you http://www.geocities.com/harald_nancy/t3_history.htm

Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:19 pm

r39o wrote: Excuse my ignorance, but what is so special about the configuration? I think we have lots in that configuration available in California.

I understand about low production numbers but the interior just does not seem all thet unique.

Yes, Walt. There area lot of Bluestar vans in California. This one differs from the rest of the Bluestars by not having the 45 degree striped velour seats, the grey dash pad, and grey blue carpet. This one also has Westy style sliding windows and chrome window moldings. In Germany there were a lot of Bluestars also. And they were badged as Hannover Editions just like this one. However, the German market ones all had the same interior as the USA models. These Canadian Bluestars were the only vans with the Carat style jumpseat interior to ever use this upholstery. It is just the standard 85-86 GL blue upholstery, but was never tailored for the shorter Carat backseat or the jumpseats in any other models but for these 27 Canadian Bluestars.

Small details for sure, but still cool to find that there was a slightly oddball model that no one has ever really known about. These Carat style vans are my specialty and I thought I knew every variation of it until the originator of this thread described his to me last year. At any rate, someone could spend a lot of time searching for a replacement matching jumpseat for one of these. :D

David

Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:27 pm

toomanyveedubs wrote: i am new to this van some some please correct me if i'm wrong.

this van has a combination of factory options that make it rare.

lower body mouldings
lowered suspension
factory alloys
crome trim windows
power mirrors
power windows
power steering
power braked
central locking
air conditioning
cruise control
Captians seats w/adjustable arm rests
removable jump seats
pop up table
carpeted bench seat bottom/support
Hannover Badging

I dont know if the steering wheel is factory or not??

The Bluestar was a slightly higher spec version of the Vanagon Carat, so the seating and table were all standard for a Carattype of van. Same goes for the lowered suspension and lower body panels. The features that make this one special are:

Star Blue paint
Carpeted kick panel below rear seat
Dark blue interior and carpet
Camper style sliding windows
Deluxe (chrome) window trim
Hannover Edition badging

The steering wheel is not stock, nor is the diamond plate brake pedal cover.

David