Vanagon History  The T3 generation of the Volkswagen Type 2,
also known as the Vanagon in the U.S., as the Transporter or
Caravelle in Europe, and also to some in Britain and Ireland as
the T25, was built from 1980 until 1991. It was the last of the
rear-engined Volkswagens. Compared to its predecessor, the
Microbus, the Vanagon was larger and heavier, with square
corners replacing the rounded edges of the older models.  The
Vanagon was built to be the modern successor to the Microbus.
Unfortunately, the vehicle was somewhat underpowered in relation
to its curb weight. Versions of the Vanagon produced in South
Africa from 1990 until 2002 featured a 5-cylinder Audi engine
which helped performance greatly. Installing engines from more
powerful vehicles — including gasoline and turbo diesel inline-4
Volkswagens, Subarus, Audis, and even Porsches — is a solution
pursued by some owners. Most early Vanagons had chrome-plated
steel bumpers with plastic endcaps; later years had larger and
squarer plastic bumpers.  Ve