Author |
Message |
Classicvibe Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2009 Posts: 743 Location: Salt Lake City
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:16 am Post subject: Is that big box of yours safe? |
|
|
I was just following this on the Syncro list, and thought others may want to see as well (I assume this is ok to post since it was publicaly posted):
You can see all the pics here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/wetwesties/BajaRIP#
I don't know these two, and although the totalled van is a bummer, I am just thrilled to hear and see that all are OK. This van went through a tumbler, and came out looking very good, with no casualties! Very inspiring. I wish Curt and Bamee many trouble free miles of safe cruising and happiness. _________________ On a mission, the destination is just an excuse.
Syncro Solstice 2022...see you there!
1986.5 Wolfsburg Syncro Westfalia Poptop Weekender Transporter |
|
Back to top |
|
|
westyventures Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2004 Posts: 2305 Location: Oregon Outback
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
Sadly, this is the beautiful m-TDI conversion I built over the winter in early '09. The conversion and drivetrain will be moved over to his 'new' '91 Orly-blue Syncro Westy. I forwarded the pics to several friends who have always referred to my vans as 'death traps'. I can't think of one other vehicle I'd rather be driving should I have an accident. So sad to see one less Syncro Westy, but happy to know that his wife walked away from it with only a couple bruises. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
sbclayton Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2003 Posts: 483 Location: A place where owning a VW and enjoying life are synonymous
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
westyventures said:
Quote: |
I can't think of one other vehicle I'd rather be driving should I have an accident. |
I second that! Providing the seatbelts have been replaced, that is. These things are extremely strong and protect their people well in a frontal. The pic of a smashed Syncro is sad, but a smashed Syncro with healthy, living owners can also be a beautiful thing. Oddly enough... _________________ Steve - Tampa Bay Area
Original Owner (12/1990) of
NavDog, a 91 Carat
Enlightenment came when I realized that any time in my life I was having fun, it was somehow connected with owning a Volkswagen. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
foodeater Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2007 Posts: 1318 Location: Newburgh, NY
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
I am constantly amazed by these vans. After I had an "incident" in my Syncro involving an impact first with a deer on the passenger side (about 1/3 up the A-pillar) at about 50mph, then a very large tree on the drivers side (in line with the steering column) at about 35-40mph, and walked away with only a bruise the size of a quarter, I was impressed. Since then I've seen photos, and read descriptions of accidents that seem like they would be near certain fatalities in other vehicles. Like i said I am constantly amazed by these things. It seems like they not only dont make like this anymore, but that other than Vanagons they never really made them like this. I would hate to see the scene if this had been a Ford Explorer(or any other) of the same vintage. _________________ 89 Bluestar-2.5 Subaru Powered-RIP
'84 Westy Tiico-daily driver-sold
'82 Caddy diesel-sold
'87 Vanagon Syncro-RIP
'81 diesel rabbit-sold
'82 Vanagon auto-RIP |
|
Back to top |
|
|
DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
I'm impressed with how well the frame stood up. It's also gratifying being a driver. There must be a lot that can be rescued "recycled" from this van. Hope it all goes to good use. Happy they are okay.
Did anyone check their undies afterwards? _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 11998 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
That van went airborn and then flipped end over end a few times. Cars can be replaced but the driver made it out safely which is all that matters. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
OUCH end over end. I mistakenly thought it rolled. THAT should be used to show the importance of seat belts. _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Classicvibe Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2009 Posts: 743 Location: Salt Lake City
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
Following the thread, it is clear that this was a violent crash, and the driver is pretty lucky. Oddly enough, end over end often seems to rotate around the occupants, minimizing the force to huck them out (unless the vehicle spin comes to an abrupt halt). Everyone I know that has been in this type of crash has survived, but none of them walked out with a couple of cuts alone. I get light headed just thinking about 2+ tons spinning end over end with peeps inside. _________________ On a mission, the destination is just an excuse.
Syncro Solstice 2022...see you there!
1986.5 Wolfsburg Syncro Westfalia Poptop Weekender Transporter |
|
Back to top |
|
|
syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 11998 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
I've been sideswiped, rearended and been in a rollover in different cars but the idea of a end over end scares me the most. I am glad she came out with only minor injuries. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GWTWTLW Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2008 Posts: 2174 Location: Portland, OR
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
I'm glad everybody was OK!!
This was the result of a roll at 70 MPH. I walked away without a scratch on my body. All the doors opened afterwards and a lot of the glass was still intact. The Ford Exploder/Excretion next to me in the wrecking yard was flattened completely with no survivors. I cant think another vehicle I would rather be in.
_________________ 89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GardenSurfer Samba Member
Joined: April 14, 2010 Posts: 7 Location: SEA
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Quote: |
I second that! Providing the seatbelts have been replaced, that is.
sbclayton, could you elaborate? I know about upgrades for the bench seatbelts - is there a problem with the driver/passenger seatbelts, too? |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Witless Joe Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2005 Posts: 460
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Wow, good thing she didn't have a passenger at the time!
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Sir Sam Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2009 Posts: 1669 Location: Fort Collins Colorado!
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
DAIZEE wrote: |
There must be a lot that can be rescued "recycled" from this van. Hope it all goes to good use. Happy they are okay.
|
Being in my line of work you have no idea how much I start salivating when I come across wrecked vehicles such as thing......my mind just starts to break down all the different still usable parts and where they would be going...... _________________ '91 Carat Westy
87' Syncro + '87 Westy conversion coming soon |
|
Back to top |
|
|
DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
From her injuries she may very well have been in that passenger seat. And I'd think it was a good thing that the seat twisted. Was she or he driving? _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 11998 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
She was the driver and the only person in the van. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
DAIZEE wrote: |
From her injuries she may very well have been in that passenger seat. And I'd think it was a good thing that the seat twisted. Was she or he driving? |
looks like he got there to help driving another westy so one has to assume she was the only occupant of the wrecked Syncro _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12103 Location: Port Manteau
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 4:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm on the Syncro list as well, and I've been thinking about this wreck for a few days. I suspect that the Recaro seat played a role in keeping the driver firmly in place during all that "endo" mayhem. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
funagon Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2006 Posts: 1308 Location: SLC, UT
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 4:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Link
Link
_________________ 1990 GL 7-passenger
2.2 liter WBX |
|
Back to top |
|
|
AndyBees Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008 Posts: 2310 Location: Southeast Kentucky
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 6:01 pm Post subject: Wrecking a Vanagon |
|
|
I wrecked an early model Vanagon back in '87. It was so crashed up that I had to roll down the driver's window to get out.
I had my seat belt on and only had soreness across my chest and collar bone for a few days. And, my right leg was "skinned" a little just below the knee. _________________ '84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Inlet Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2010 Posts: 287 Location: SF Bay Area
|
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 5:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
how did it get thrown end over end? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|