Filling Up With Bio-Diesel

Early morning fill-up of B100 Bio-Diesel

Actually, even though the daytime temperatures around Seattle are now into the (gasp!) mid-high 70's, Propel is still pumping their "winter mix" which is 50-75% bio rather than 99-100%.  But Westly loves it, and returns 28-30 mpg on my daily commute.  The price on this resplendent spring morning was $3.99/gal.  I could have had petro-diesel for $3.79 and saved a few dollars and sometimes I do get the 5% mix at Arco or Fred Meyer instead.  

Here is why I'm willing to pay more:  There are several sites around Seattle where anyone can drop off used cooking oil and local restaurants (including my favorite neighborhood eatery Endolyne Joe's where the Sunday night fried chicken is boffo) have collection tanks as well.  I drive by General Bio-Diesel in South Seattle every day where this waste oil is converted to fuel.  The 7-11 that sells Propel is just a few blocks away. That kind of close loop saves a tremendous amount of energy and waste compared to the world-wide transportation and distribution of petroleum based diesel.  So maybe my 31 year old engine is not as clean burning as the new high tech mills are, but at least I feel like I'm doing something to help.  

Another Very Useful Volkswagen

Photo credit to Wouter Duijndam
Thanks for sharing!

Volkswagen South Africa Video

Volkswagen South Africa 

Produced to celebrate their 60th anniversary (1946 - 2006) 

Four minutes of vintage pics, ads, soul-stirring brand loyalty and patriotism

Thanks to The Vanagon Blog for the link

The Camp Car

1955 Volkswagen Bus - Camp Car
I love this scene!

I would imagine that in 1955, most Popular Mechanics readers in the United States had rarely seen a Volkswagen of any kind.  Type 1 (bug) sales got off to a slow start here in 1950, but were steadily climbing.  The Type 2 (transporter) had been introduced as a commercial vehicle in 1950 and by 1951 Westfalia-Werke was already converting them into the "Camping Box".

But with their unusual shape and air-cooled 40 horsepower engine (in the back, no less) they must have seemed strange indeed to the average US consumer.  They could be special ordered, but it seems most in that era were purchased in Europe by tourists or military personell and brought over.

Look at that magazine cover - who could resist this idyllic scene?  Three buds, probably on the same bowling team get together for a weekend of fishing and bonding.  Or maybe it's a dad (resting with his book) and his sons out for a weekend of quality time.

The Popular Mechanics article, in which the Volkswagen is described as "... a disease, and a contagious one at that!" also optimistically states that the engine will "normally go 100,000 miles without an overhaul" with a fan belt as the only spare part needed. My actual experience has differed slightly from that, but nevertheless I would happily own and drive one of these, if only the current purchase price (originally around $2,500) had less in common with the average 3 bedroom, 2 bath suburban home.

View the original article here.  Scroll down about a third of the way if you don't want to see all the adds, but they are fun to read also.

Slow Is All I Know

Lol - Gotta get this sticker for Westly
re-blogged from PhysicalEducation

Bus Load of Bananas

Just another Really Useful Volkswagen Bus
Re-blogged from backtoroma.tumblr.com

Ethereal T2

Re-blogged from  http://darling-briannaford.tumblr.com/ 

There's something surreal about this image...


Under a masterfully painted sky, filtered sunlight provides just enough brilliance to bestow an Orton-like glow on the van which occupies it's space as if hemmed in by the menacing hedge behind and the more benign growth ahead. A scrap of clothing hangs from a mirror in frozen motion suggesting a storm blowing in. The cooler and picnic blanket bide their time, yearning to fulfill their roles under sunnier skies. Idle surfboards attempt to make themselves inconspicuous as if aware that apart from the breakers, they are without purpose.  And upon closer inspection, a body "lying in state" in the top bunk.  


The driftwood barrier conveys a message: "Come no closer - there is no berth here for the cognizant.  This ephemeral stage is reserved for the dreamer".


Wish I were there...

Very Cool Transporter Video

The entire history of four generations of the Transporter in just over three minutes. Some great vintage video - it's in German, but you still get the idea. "Bulli" is the traditional name for the Transporter used around the world (but not so much in the US).

Apparently there's not a German translation for "Flower Power" ? (1:10).

Genießen sie dieses video!

A Really Bad Day

A really bad day for some Westy owner....

Trepidation

Looks a little apprehensive about it's future, doesn't it?

Photo: Foster Huntington
www.van-life.net

Video of Vanagon Production Line

Video of T3 (Vanagon) production line in Hanover, Germany from the late 1980s.
Now I can see why these are still so tight after 20-30 years and hundreds of thousands of miles.  The camper cabinets (and all the stuff inside them) keep up a constant din of rattles and buzzes but I've never heard a peep from the chassis (except for one time when a front shock came loose).

Unloading Volkswagens

            Unloading VWs at the National Harbours Board wharf on 

                      Burrard Inlet, Vancouver, BC in the 1960s

         Source: Photo by Clyde Herrington, via MichaelKluckner.com

               Reblogged from a man. a woman. a plan. a vanagon

Terminal Island, Long Beach, CA early 60s
Source:  TheSamba

Aerial view of Terminal Island lot taken from Goodyear Blimp, 1969
Photo: John Malmin
Source: Los Angeles Times

Port of Everett, WA 1963
Source:  The Samba

The Volkswagen Ship
Photo: Alan Bogarth