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pinetreeporsche
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009
Posts: 752
Location: Falls Church, VA
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 Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:27 pm Post subject: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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| Anyone seen any info-- world-wide, North America, or just owned by Samba regulars? Any guesses on the number that get wrecked/parted out each year? For that matter how many were made, and what fraction came to N America? Just curious--my one ('87 Westy) is enough for me. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22639
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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Im going to swag that after 20 years about 5% of production is left on the road
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7462
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:34 pm Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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135,384 sold in the US according to carsalesbase.com. Assume 20% remain (random guess) leaves 27,076 on the road. Probably 25,000 of them are in Ballard, Seattle and some equally odd neighborhood in Portland.
1991 5.039
1990 6.368
1989 4.969
1988 5.227
1987 10.336
1986 12.288
1985 16.296
1984 21.352
1983 14.695
1982 13.234
1981 11.479
1980 14.101
135.384
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12005
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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17.
Might be a little low though.  |
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Paulbeard
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2015
Posts: 2604
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 9:14 pm Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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| jimf909 wrote: |
| Probably 25,000 of them are in Ballard, Seattle and some equally odd neighborhood in Portland. |
This is 100% accurate.
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs
— dhaavers |
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16CVs
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2004
Posts: 4024
Location: Redwood City, California
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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I've got 4 in my driveway.
Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread. |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6529
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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| jimf909 wrote: |
| 135,384 sold in the US according to carsalesbase.com. Assume 20% remain (random guess) leaves 27,076 on the road. Probably 25,000 of them are in Ballard, Seattle and some equally odd neighborhood in Portland. |
Hmmm............
Cool info on the numbers sold per year, though!
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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levi
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005
Posts: 5522
Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:34 pm Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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Yeah, interesting how 84 was the peak year and it went down sharp from there....
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One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way
https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40 |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6529
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:45 pm Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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Yeah, you know, they finally got it right so everyone lost interest after that.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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Tobias Duncan
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 1390
Location: Taos NM
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:08 pm Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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| levi wrote: |
| Yeah, interesting how 84 was the peak year and it went down sharp from there.... |
The weak dollar made them expensive here. |
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Xevin
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 7623
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 12:18 am Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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| Tobias Duncan wrote: |
| levi wrote: |
| Yeah, interesting how 84 was the peak year and it went down sharp from there.... |
The weak dollar made them expensive here. |
I would have thought the new water cooled engine had to do with the spike in sales. I could see a lot of Bay Window folks upgrading back then. Just thinking out loud.
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Keep on Busin'
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GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
| Clatter wrote: |
| Damn that Xevin... |
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I respect Xevin and he's a turd  |
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My God! Xevin and I 100% agree  |
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levi
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005
Posts: 5522
Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 1:18 am Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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What's a Xevin?
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way
https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40 |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22639
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 4:44 am Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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| levi wrote: |
| What's a Xevin? |
It's just a xool name.
_________________
.ssS! |
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2795
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 5:14 am Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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Hard to believe for you younger folks I know, but pretty sure the sales dip is for a large part attributable to the introduction of the oh so fine dodge caravan and the copy cats that followed.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 5:39 am Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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| mikemtnbike wrote: |
| Hard to believe for you younger folks I know, but pretty sure the sales dip is for a large part attributable to the introduction of the oh so fine dodge caravan and the copy cats that followed. |
Yeah...how many of them are still on the road? 😆
I drive by a metal scrap yard often and the number of good cars I see going into it everyday is really unbelievable. There is still a functional vehicle from passing by on the road being totaled...a throw away society!
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There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16501
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22639
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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A little more numbers to crunch, all dug off web, unverified
Average lifespan of car before off-road 16 years
Average age of cars in service today 11.5 years
Im going to guess that pushes the still on the road percent estimates closer to my 5 guess than the 20 above.
Unless you are a Van Nut like all of us, you are going to replace your Van with a used something for much less than most repairs.
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7462
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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| Abscate wrote: |
A little more numbers to crunch, all dug off web, unverified
Average lifespan of car before off-road 16 years
Average age of cars in service today 11.5 years
Im going to guess that pushes the still on the road percent estimates closer to my 5 guess than the 20 above.
Unless you are a Van Nut like all of us, you are going to replace your Van with a used something for much less than most repairs. |
I spent about 3 seconds considering the 20% figure (and was inclined to believe it to be a bit high) so I could easily be convinced that the number is closer to 5% or 6,750.
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
|
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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WestyWanter
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2017
Posts: 459
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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| It is funny how many are out west... like they all migrated out there. They're pretty much a unicorn where I live and I get really excited when I see one, usually try an pull over to meet the owner. |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6529
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 7:49 am Post subject: Re: Is there an estimate on the number of Vanagons on the road? |
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| mikemtnbike wrote: |
| Hard to believe for you younger folks I know, but pretty sure the sales dip is for a large part attributable to the introduction of the oh so fine dodge caravan and the copy cats that followed. |
That's some kinda sick humor right there, Man...
Welcome! 
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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