Page 11 - Harnett Life Winter 2020

TW becomes friends with many of
their customers. They helped these
guys purchase and completely
rebuild this cool van. The happy
couple and young daughter took
the trip of a lifetime adventure
across this beautiful country. A
year later Sean and his wonderful
wife Cheryl have the privilege of
borrowing and driving the camper
on a week tour around the dynam-
ic and beautiful state of Oregon.

Just as you may call the Beetle “Herbie” a “bug,” “punch bug- the buses. They were everywhere then and still in the 1970s
gy’’ or another alias, Volkswagen’s Type 2s also had plenty of and 80s. They were pretty cheap to fix, too. You could take an
nicknames, depending on the model. Whether you prefer the engine out of a VW bug and put it in your van and keep on
1950-1967 “bus” or “hippie van” the best, a “bay window” going.”
or “bread loaf” model made from 1968-79 or the 1979-1983
Vanagon of which the Westfalia camper is casually called And what of Fraser’s own fixer-upper? His 1991 Vanagon, he
“Westy,” it’s all the same family. said, “is called a multivan, technically. With fold-out beds, a
pop-top and a tent top on the roof, the back seat turns into a
Think back to the Type 2 vans made famous in the movies like bed as well, and the table and rear seats are removable. It is
“Back to the Future,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Lost” and the very utilitarian. I can take the seats out and have a lot of space
2006 animated “Cars,” the later for whom one reviewer said inside. It can haul anything I want, and with 4-wheel drive, I
that “making the hippie-esque Filmore a VW Type 2 van was can take it wherever I want, too. It has locking differentials in
perfect.” Mater may steal the scene most often, but Filmore is the front and rear so all four wheels lock and do not spin and
fun to watch when he shows up. Huh. Move over, Mater. can take you wherever.”

They also debuted in the music industry, too, famous for mak- And take it he does. Virginia Beach natives but North Caro-
ing the cover of albums by Bob Dylan and The Beach Boys, linians since the early 90s, Fraser and his wife take the van
being the transportation of choice by Grateful Dead groupies off-road tripping and camping with their two Gordon setters
and earning a place in music history by appearing at Wood- and friends as much as possible, many of whom are custom-
stock in droves. ers, too.

Fraser’s favorite, the Vanagon, is also named The Volkswa- “The customers become friends for life; we are a community
gen Type 2 (T3) to signify this third generation of the original for sure. I stay in touch with the customers and their builds,
vehicle, of which Transporter Werks specializes in the water- and they stay in touch with me. I have 25 years of such rela-
cooled line up made from 1983 to 1991. With full camper inte- tionships.”
riors and 4-wheel drive capacity, people bought the Vanagons Community exists for all VW Vanagon owners, it seems.
for the functionality in traveling and off-roading fun. Through online meetups, Facebook groups and enthusiast net-
working, these like-minded motorists, to whom Transporter
Ditto that for today’s van sales with the added ingredient of Werks can help clients connect, find each other, camp and
nostalgia. “People like retro,” said Fraser. “The vans bring travel together and become close companions. The Full Moon
back memories. If you were a kid in the 1960s, you remember Bus Club, for example, is based out of the Carolinas and is