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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5251
Location: denver
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 Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 7:34 am Post subject: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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It's been a two-decade search, but I found the one I want.
I finally pulled the trigger on a 1991 Tornado Red Carat. Bought and paid for sight unseen (yes I have lost my damned mind.)
I'm flying into Cleveland Wednesday to pick it up then attempting to drive it back to Denver.
111k miles, carfax verified. Never driven in winter, new brakes, tires, resealed tank, tuned up, etc.
An older lady owns it and her nephew is a very colorful and honest diesel mechanic. He went over it top to bottom for her before she successfully drove it out to New Mexico and back last summer and has been in charge of regular maintenance.
I will probably stop at Harbor Freight for a heat gun to get all the stickers off. 
(And at the very least, I ridiculously overpaid for a set of CLKs.)
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17146
Location: Brookeville, MD
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5251
Location: denver
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 7:50 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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Said a respected Vanagon business owner,
"that looks like a perfect Joe project."
I do like to take in the strays.
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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mtnhome
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010
Posts: 614
Location: Summit County, CO
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 8:12 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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This must be from staring at one parked in front of you at Syncro Solstice for 3 days....
So you'll be driving this to the next Denver Vanagons get-together.
_________________
'84 Westy, '93 Subaru ej22 and Subarugears 5speed
Build thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=763098&highlight= |
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Sir Sam
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2009
Posts: 1724
Location: Fort Collins Colorado!
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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Try an eraser wheel for removing the stickers, generally quicker and cleaner than any other method, though with a razor blade on glass you can sometimes get lucky and they come off quick and clean without leaving glue.
_________________
'91 Carat Westy
87' Syncro + '87 Westy conversion coming soon |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 23863
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 8:24 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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Leave the stickers on until you are home They contain the kharmic glue of good travels.
_________________
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🍊 🍊 🍊 |
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5251
Location: denver
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| Leave the stickers on until you are home They contain the kharmic glue of good travels. |
Now that you've put it that way, I'm obligated to leave them on.
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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Red Ryder
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2021
Posts: 1185
Location: PNW — Washington
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 8:42 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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At least you won’t have to “deadhead” it home! 
But make sure you get that passenger seat back on the track before taking others for a ride!
_________________
“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition (Tornado Red)
“Nigel” — 1999 Jaguar XK8 convertible (Alpine Green Metallic) |
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5251
Location: denver
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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| Red Ryder wrote: |
At least you won’t have to “deadhead” it home!
But make sure you get that passenger seat back on the track before taking others for a ride! |
They added a swivel there, looks like it's not locked in (or they didn't know how to bend the rod to make it lock in.)
Looking forward to solving these mysteries. And getting that tire off the hatch. It's probably attached with drywall screws.
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 8255
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 9:01 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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| joetiger wrote: |
| I'm flying into Cleveland Wednesday to pick it up then attempting to drive it back to Denver. |
Keepin’ it real, Man.
Looks like a nice buy, Congrats! 
_________________
1984 Westfailure/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere." — Colin Chapman |
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bobbyblack
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4619
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 9:46 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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Cool!
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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MsTaboo
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4549
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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Nice score!
Did it come with the jump seats?
My first Vanagon was '91 Carat, still the best driving bus I've owned.
We camped all over the SW in that thing until we finally decided we had to have a pop-top.
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
All that's needed for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.
Resist Kleptocratic Oligarchy (and Idiocracy)! |
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SyncroButter
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2016
Posts: 401
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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Love it!!
I used to drive past a super clean tornado red carat parked in a driveway every day on my way to work (on 3rd ave near Phinney in case that guy is on TheSamba) and would look longingly at it every time, got a wave from the owner once or twice as I was commuting in my Tristar. Probably the best looking trim and color combo package they ever made for Vanagon with that red against the grey cladding etc.
_________________
Grant
In the stable: 1986 Syncro Westfalia/Bostig, 1989 Doka Tristar, 1974 Vespa Rally 200, 1973 Vespa Primavera 125, 1963 Solex 2200, 1938 Buick Special
Gone but not forgotten: 1989 Porsche 944, 1973 Standard Beetle |
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campism
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 4675
Location: Richmond VA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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Heat gun might put out too much heat, especially for the glass. Try a blow dryer first and see if that gives you enough heat.
_________________
'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic, tragically crushed by a falling hickory tree in my own driveway and now gone, leaving me Vanagonless and with no plans to replace it, alas. |
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bobbyblack
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4619
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 4:13 pm Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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In my pattern, I'd be poised to tint all the windows. My tint guy asks a very reasonable amount to remove stuff like that. I'm not wealthy by any standard, but I'm not superman anymore, for sure.
BTW, I just picked up a new windshield, my tint guy has me booked for July 5. Heat rejection is the goal on the fronts, almost no reduction. Save that dash!
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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Buggeee
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016
Posts: 4934
Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Captain Pike
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2003
Posts: 3437
Location: Talos IV, Piedmont Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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Orphan Adoption.....Right On>>>>
A Tornado reborn....
Modify or stock resto?
I went power(3.3 H6) over body.....
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers.... |
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sanchius
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1567
Location: IN
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| Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2024 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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You clearly have too much spare time and $$$ on your hands...
If you are taking the wandering route back, we've got a beer, a porch swing, and a spare bedroom for you here in central Indiana. If you are flying back straight through on 70 or 90/80, we're probably not close enough to make sense stopping in. But consider us a port in a storm if needed.
_________________
The Syncro years (2005-16) - The 2WD years (2017-23) - In Hoosierland (2023-now)
Westy & WBX rebuild spreadsheet - Sanchius & Tuna: The Video
Your gold star membership keeps this awesome list going! |
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5251
Location: denver
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| Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2024 7:39 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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| MsTaboo wrote: |
Nice score!
Did it come with the jump seats?
My first Vanagon was '91 Carat, still the best driving bus I've owned.
We camped all over the SW in that thing until we finally decided we had to have a pop-top. |
It does not have jump seats, but I have a spare driver's side bracket and seat in my stash.
A Reimo mushroom top might be in the works for this one.
| SyncroButter wrote: |
Love it!!
Probably the best looking trim and color combo package they ever made for Vanagon with that red against the grey cladding etc. |
Thanks! This is the only vehicle that's ever been on my "want" list due to color. I might have settled for an Orly Blue carat had one popped up, but I saw one of these in person nearly twenty  years ago and wanted one instantly.
| campism wrote: |
| Heat gun might put out too much heat, especially for the glass. Try a blow dryer first and see if that gives you enough heat. |
Good to know--thanks
| bobbyblack wrote: |
| In my pattern, I'd be poised to tint all the windows. My tint guy asks a very reasonable amount to remove stuff like that. I'm not wealthy by any standard, but I'm not superman anymore, for sure. |
I will do a mild tint. In Colorado, tinting the windows is not just for drug dealers--it's almost a necessity, in my opinion, due to the blinding sunshine. And it looks cool on Carats. 
| Buggeee wrote: |
Congratulations!
And call Guinness Book of World Records to document the first time in history that anyone has hunted a dry, rust free VW out of the North Coast for transport to Colorado |
I was stunned by the undercarriage pics. I'm sure there's rust hiding somewhere, but my Syncro came from upstate NY and I'm now an expert at rusty, broken bolt extraction. Every fastener on that van...
| Captain Pike wrote: |
Orphan Adoption.....Right On>>>>
A Tornado reborn....
Modify or stock resto?
I went power(3.3 H6) over body..... |
I love your setup. I'm doing some serious thinking about a conversion; all options are on the table. I'm thinking I'll run the WBX for the time being (if it comes home in one piece) then do a conversion of some sort next year. A little bird told me I could potentially source a full H6 kit and engine locally.
| sanchius wrote: |
| You clearly have too much spare time and $$$ on your hands... |
I have neither. But time is passing and we ain't getting any younger. When opportunities for enjoyment present themselves, Vanagon or otherwise, I'd best get them while the gettin's good.
There are no guarantees in anything, and I've been waffling on a Tornado Red Carat for twenty years. (and I can't see myself in a divorce Corvette.)
| sanchius wrote: |
| If you are taking the wandering route back, we've got a beer, a porch swing, and a spare bedroom for you here in central Indiana. If you are flying back straight through on 70 or 90/80, we're probably not close enough to make sense stopping in. But consider us a port in a storm if needed. |
Thank you thank you! I'm plotting a course now. I'll probably try to get it back to Denver as directly as possible, gotta try to be back by Saturday.
I should mention that I'm a bit of a believer in synchronicities...Sitting around the campfire last Wednesday, a fellow Syncro guy asked me if I would ever buy another van.
"Yes. I want a Tornado Red '91 Carat. I want to make it perfect, a luxury van, a city and highway cruiser. The total opposite of Pigpen."
We got to Syncro Solstice the next day and what pulled up to camp right next to me? I must have taken twenty pictures of it.
Monday morning, Mr. MtnHome sent me a link to the Ohio van. I went back and forth on it and talked to the owner several times.
I looked at a few other Carats including a pristine '91 outside Houston ("It's got a brand new GEX engine!") but it was far more expensive and I wondered if it would make it to Denver with that "brand new engine."
So, I kept coming back to this one.
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 10639
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2024 8:18 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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| joetiger wrote: |
| Monday morning, Mr. MtnHome sent me a link to the Ohio van. |
Mr Mtnhome has lots of good ideas!
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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