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VW Is Ending Production On Iconic VW Buses
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 24, 2013
Modified Sep 24, 2013
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 24, 2013
Modified Sep 24, 2013
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VW bus near Central Park (photo via charleylhasa's flickr)
Surfers have also long appreciated the VW bus
The iconic hippie transportation machine, the VW Bus, is going to die in December of this year—a bit of news that really harshes the vibe of certain people who dreamed of owning one, one of these days. If only we could scratch together enough bread to fix a vintage one up, you know, stretch its legs on Route 66. But alas, as all dreams do, that dream has died. Right? Because the prices on these things are about to skyrocket with all the "end of an era" hype around them.
According to the AP, the van was only still being made in Brazil, and now that "safety regulations mandate that every vehicle in Brazil must have air bags and anti-lock braking systems starting in 2014, and the company says it cannot change production to meet the law." The Man and his laws, always such a bummer. But the cult around the vehicle (which has been one of the most creatively transformed), and the fact that the company has produced more than 10 million since the model was created 63 years ago, will certainly keep them on the road for some time.
But perhaps we'll also see an uptick in school bus sales, the second choice in transportation for the hippie.
Here's a sweet 1976 VW bus, in sunshine yellow, for sale in New Jersey for $7000—act now!
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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