 Late 1980s T3 Caravelle Syncro The Vanagon is a late model Volkswagen Bus, built in between the
"Bread-loaf" / "Twinkie" Bus Era (from 1968 to 1979) and 1990.
It was the last of the rear-engined VW busses and is characterized by a much squarer appearance than the Microbus, a huge windshield and rear windowscreen,
and the water cooled model years having two large Grilles in the nose. It is characterized by some as resembling a huge VW Rabbit,
Vanagons are known as "Caravelle" or simply "transporter" elsewhere in the world (outside the US)
History
The Vanagon was built to be the modern successor to the Microbus, but was failed by its engine.
Most earlier year vans had chrome-plated aluminum bumpers, with plastic endcaps;
later year vans had fiberglass (or some synthetic of some sort) bumpers that are larger and squarer than the early models,
The very early (all '80, some '81) had 8 welded-in metal slats covering the engine ventilation passages behind the rear windows. All later had black plastic 16 slat covers that slotted in at the top and screwed down at the bottom.
The First ('80 to '83.5) Vanagons had 2000cc (67bhp) Air Cooled Flat 4s, believed to be using some form of L-jetronic.
There was also one water-cooled boxer (flat 4) engine used in the Vanagon, featuring two variations:
- 1913cc (83bhp) engine used for the 83.5 to 85 model Years, which used a fuel injection system known as "Digijet".
- 2100cc (95bhp) engine used until the end of vanagon importation into the US in '91, which used a more advanced fuel injection system known as "Digifant". These were plagued by head gasket failures due to poor design and were never used an any other vehicle.
The switch to water cooling was made so abruptly mid-year in 1983 because VW could no longer make the air-cooled engines meet emissions standards (or so says the lore)
Because of the engine placement, a Vanagon has very nearly equal 50/50 weight distrubution fore and aft.
There were also 1.6l (1600cc) 48bhp diesel Vanagons available at some point in the early 80s. They didn't sell well in this configuration because the poor beasts couldn't get out of their own way, literally.
1980 to 1986 model years had round sealed beam headlights, all later
had smaller square headlights, with the primary lights outboard and high beams inboard.
The later years had a lowered suspension height because people didn't like pulling themselves up into the busses as though they were getting into a truck.
Features
With the Engine and transaxle mounted very low in the back, the Vanagon had much larger disc brakes in the front, and drums in the rear and unlike the Microbus before it, the Vanagon was available with amenities such as power steering, air conditioning, power door locks, electrically controlled, heated mirrors, lighted vanity mirrors, and a light above the glove box (most of which were pretty much standard equipment in the later models)
This was one of the few vehicles ever where the automatic transmission was tougher than the stick,
which is caused by the fact that the 3/4 Gear Syncro Slider Hub was not adequate enough to handle the load of such a heavy vehicle. This possibly results in crackingm, or at times even breakages, causing the trans to get stuck in 3rd or 4th gear.
The Autobox was a bog standard boring (but reliable) 3 speed, the same as used in Audis of the Era. Both the auto and stick have a 1.0 ratio top gear, with the automatic having a shorter geared final drive.
The Vanagon has a lot of little quirks, such as the fact that the brake master cylinder is inside the dashboard, and to get at the brake fluid reservoir you have to take the instrument cluster cover off, and a protective plastic sheet, and exercise great care when filling the reservoir so as to not spill brake fluid all over the instruments and dash wiring. This also makes replacing a failed master cylinder more than a little difficult.
The battery is located under the passenger side front seat, to protect it from the elements,
this makes finding it for the first time a bit of a challenge. there is a compartment of equal size under the drivers side seat, for a second battery, which wasn't present except in the case of the camper models.
The oil filler tube for the engine is located behind the flip down license plate door, and this requires extra care when pulling into a full service fuel station, as the gas station monkey will most likely try to put gasoline into the oil unless instructed otherwise.
(most vans had a cheap gascap right on the outside just under and behind the passenger side door, a locking cap was optional)
The spare tire lays in a tray under the very front of the van, (as the engine is in the back) just below the radiator.
To get the spare out you undo a bolt in the bottom of the front bumper , pull a small latch back, and swing the tray down.
Model variations
There were also three basic variations for the Vanagon :
- Vanagon, which featured vinyl seats and a very spartan interior,
- Vanagon L, which had optional cloth seats, nicer interior panels and an optional dashboard blower
- Vanagon GL, which had the nicest amenities (mentioned above)
There were also Westfalia pop-top Camper Vanagons, with a kitchen and bedding integrated.
There were 4 wheel drive Vanagons that were branded by Volkwagen, "Syncro".
And Wolfsburg edition Westfalia Campers (which had everything)
Also Available were Wolfsburg Edition "weekender Models" which had two rear facing seats behind the front seats in place of a centre bench seat and a table that popped up from out of the wall.
There also existed "Multivan" models which had the Wolfsburg Edition trim and interior with rear-facing seats, but the Westfalia poptop. All Wolfsburg Edition and campervan vehicles were specially built for Volkswagen by the Westfalia coachbuilders.
Some Models have optional Aluminum alloy "star" wheels. (available at extra expense)
Most came with standard black steel wheels with plastic "UFO" Wheel Covers.
External links
The Definitive Site for Volkswagen Vanagon Information. (http://www.vanagon.com)
The Vanagon Mailing List Site (http://gerry.vanagon.com)
The Vanagon Engine Swap Page (http://www.volkswagen.org/Vanagon/EngineSwap.htm)
The Bus Depot, selling Vanagon Parts (http://www.busdepot.com)
A Collection of Photographs of My '84 1.9 autobox Vanagon (http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=john+dagastino)
A collection of repair and modification instructions. (http://www.vanagonauts.com)
Alistair Bell's Vanagon Pages (http://www.members.shaw.ca/albell/vanagon.html)
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