My Westy is totaled! - UPDATE and parting out

[Busdepot]

See the end of this thread for my update - the insurance company settlement, and parting out my camper.

If you're curious to see what happens when a 60 foot tree falls on a Vanagon, see this link:

http://home.comcast.net/~type2/Vanagon.htm

I've never seen a Vanagon so totally demolished. It's squashed like a bug. Not a single body panel is intact and it literally split at the seams.

While I've had a number of VW campers over the years of various vintages, this one had a special place in my heart, as my little girl (now 9) pretty much grew up in it over the summers.

So now comes the arduous process of convincing the insurance company that a VW camper is worth more than the NADA book says it is. And finding a replacement. I'm leaning toward another later model Vanagon Westy, although I wouldn't completely rule out a '76-79 or a Eurovan camper. If anyone knows of a really clean one that isn't overpriced (preferably but not necessarily within driving distance of Philly), please pm me.
_________________
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot
www.busdepot.com

[Randy in Maine]

Perhaps it will buff out.

[dart330]

Did the passenger door pop open?

[allsierra123]

wow that is amazing.
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95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold

[Busdepot]

[lovedavdubs]

awe man that really sucks. I remember your van from the BD camp out/clearance sale. Ironically I commented at the time on how much I liked its low stance.

It was a nice one. Sorry to see it go like that.

Dubs
_________________
82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway.

[westylife]

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
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1983.5 Westfalia Bostig RG1

[TeamSpatula]

Yow!!!Lucky that thing missed the house! I picked up cheap probably the cleanest 77 or so Westy I've ever seen in similar condition after Hurricane Fran came through 11 years ago.

_________________
<---Air Cooled Search & Rescue Team - STICKERS & T-shirts for sale!
1981 Diesel Rabbit
I NEED A CAMPER!!!! (1971 is ideal but will consider other years)
http://www.TeamSpatula.com

[allsierra123]

you would think that fibreglass would just shatter. strange.
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold

[McVanagon]

I remember your place when we looked at that Innocenti
a few years ago. Danm, that was pretty close the front door!
I hope nothing else got damaged! I remember that NADA
and KBB have different prices..

One might be better than the other.
_________________
'69 Mike
'85 GL
'87 Wolfsburg Hardtop

[pete000]

I see lots of good salvageable stuff there !
_________________
1990 Vanagon
--------------------
Koni Shocks
Witech Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats
JL Audio, Kenwood, Soundstream, MB Quart, Audiocontrol

[Perales]

60 foot trees don't just jump out of the ground. Was someone cutting it down and misjudged the fall angle?
I feel really bad for you man. I hope you find a decent replacement.
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-- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino)

[danfromsyr]

Looks like any passangers would have survived.

I'm always suprised at the stout qualities of these vans.



and yes, there are of course many good parts still there i'm sure you are more then aware of.

Dan
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[ohlott]

Well at least you can get 60 buck for the stove knobs.
_________________
83.5 westy 2.2 subi

[kevinbassplayer]

Keep us posted as to the whole insurance outcome, just in case..

[Volksaholic]

Hey Ron... sorry about the damage. That really sucks. As usual, it's good to know nobody was hurt. I hope the insurance adjuster is sympathetic.

Was this related to the ice storm damage in PA? I know there were a lot of pretty big limbs coming down but I didn't see any shots of entire trees.

I wish I had taken pics when a 50' or 60' tree split down the middle under the snow load and came down on a '64 Kombi I had parked in front of my house back in about '82 or '83. I walked out to drive that bus to school and I couldn't even see the front half because it was buried in the crown of the tree. I figured it was totalled and I was late so I drove my '58 Westy and didn't even really look at the '64.

After school I investigated and found that the roof on one side of the front overhead vent was punched in but not creased. Other than minor scratches there was no other damage... the crown of the tree had landed on and around the bus and absorbed all the energy. I lopped off a few limbs, backed the bus out, and popped out the roof with almost no evidence of having a tree on it.
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1988 Wolfsburg Edition, 2001 Subaru EJ251

[ThorAlex]

We had one fall down a few years ago, it destroyed the naibours new hedge. just glad it fell that way (east). to the north was the house, to the west the garage and to the south a small transformerstatin delivering elektrisity to most of the town. guess we were lucky after all.
We were very surprised wen it fell, there was nothing that could have warned us before it fell, When we saw how rotten it was inside we were kind of surprised it hadn't fallen before.

[bucko]

Arrrrg! Sorry for your loss.

I suppose you could buy it back from your insurance company once you settle on the claim, then part it out
_________________
Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia

Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181

[Randy in Maine]

Here in Maine we would refer to that as "stove in".

We would also refer to the baywindow back there as "the lucky bus".

[winkshog]

Dam you too.. did not happen to my westy but my daily drive.

The roof went through the seats and out the floor of the truck
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85 Westy
85 7 pass w/AC 2.2_Subaru
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