What Car Should a Gheorghie Drive: rootsminer Edition

rootsminer is next up for WCSAGD.  rootsy has a history with vintage German cars, including the greatly celebrated Spirit of '76, a red 1976 VW Rabbit with four on the floor and some rust on the door, and his dad's 197-something chocolate brown Porsche 911 which he wrapped around a tree when he ran out of talent in the middle of a turn.  The moral here is don't lift off the gas in a rear-engined car while turning, you lose traction and the back of the car suddenly swaps places with the front.  Here's how to properly corner in a 911:

Cars aren't rootsy's only vintage interest, he's an accomplished musician in an old-timey band.  He is also an accomplished outdoorsman--he famously pioneered sleeping in a hammock underneath the Martha Wood.  

Taken together, he should drive something old and German, preferably air-cooled, that you shift for yourself, can go off-road, and can carry his band and all their gear.

rootsy should drive a 1983 VW Westfalia Vanagon Camper in Escorial Green.

The interior should be shod in Van Dyke EN Boogie Woogie fabric, of course.

1983 was the last year of the air cooled engine and the first year of the 5 speed transmission so it's something of a sweet spot.  Kinda like my sweet spot for rootsy.  As the name Camper implies, these vans are meant for camping.  The top pops up to give you a tent over the cabin below.

And it really is a cabin.  The P27 deluxe version (which is of course what rootsy should drive) has a fridge, a sink, a stove and two tables.  It even has a water tank so you can run the sink without having to hook up to a water line at a campground.

You can pick up one of these for under $20k.  This crispy-but-high-mileage specimen sold for $15,500 on BaT recently.  If you don't like green, Assuan Brown is the other right way to go.

I'm sure you're saying "rootsminer deserves a B32."  You're right.  But they only made fifteen and they cost well into six figures so it runs against the spirit of WCSAGD.

You might also say "rootsminer deserves an older cooler 'On the Road' type of VW van."  Sure, but they are suddenly through the roof.  

So that's what rootsy should drive.

G:TB's First Annual Greg Kihn Update (Distraction from Second F*ckton of Snow to Fall)

Add one part guy who looks like Stiles from Teen Wolf.
Combine with one legitimately great early 1980's hit.
Dilute with sea of filler that everyone over the age of 12 (except Weird Al) loathes.
Stir.
Assemble concoction into albums selling the man's band based on the way his monosyllabic name sounds. Like this, this or this.
Dump onto the public.
Repeat.

That is the Greg Kihn era in a nutshell. He started strong in the 1980's with The Breakup Song. However, his career slowly and steadily spiraled.



If you wonder what Greg Kihn is up to these days, he's back to whoring his last name in terribly cheesy ways again when he's not spinning classic rock as a DJ. If you don't believe me, go here to get your Kihncert on the Green tickets. But buy 'em quick because tickets for juggernauts like Styx and REO Speedwagon don't last long.

The editorial staff of G:TB, bringing you all the Greg Kihn news you kihn handle, wishes you a good day.