Greetings.
Currently on my way to North Carolina to visit with markannenorton and their green Westy.
I have spent the last week all Lexusy, and thought that I might miss the air-conditioning and quiet and tinted windows and leather and stereo and heck, it's got power brakes, too, don't forget that. But no, Chloe and I instantly get back in the groove as I wind 'er out to 42 mph, shift into 4th, and effortlessly clot the flowing traffic on GA 400 south to pick up I-85.
Chloe is running transparently, which is to say, flawlessly enough that I just take it all for granted and drive. No great stories of travails and challenging failures or breakdowns, we just drive at 60 mph with the little generator/fan scream piercing through the tire noise and reciprocation clatter. After an entire summer, I still take inordinate pleasure in the interior ambience of that gloriously white headliner above the browns and bieges with the open window wind blasting me as effectively as any ol' air-conditioned car.
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2014%2010/12FL36.jpg)
I did a call in metro-Atlanta with cheesecrackers75 (whose username comes from what he was looking at while registering (we can only be grateful that he wasn't looking at any number of other objects at the time). Cheesecrackers75 is a pilot, which means I have had three pilot customers this itinerary.
We started the day with a quick tune-up and look-around on his '78 Dakota Beige Westy with the rocker stands installed upside down. After adjusting the timing, we mucked about the airflow meter to see if we could improve fuel economy and driveability. I do like his blacked-out jalousie windows (powdercoated! nicely!):
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2017%2010/09%20GA%2017.jpg)
Meanwhile, in the other bay was a 39,000 mile orange '75 Westy with Inspector Otto on the left rear tin, a 726 emission code on the right upper tin, a present and good-condition painted metal scale that I had to re-appropriate from the '78, and look at this orange!
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2017%2010/09%20GA%2016.jpg)
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2017%2010/09%20GA%2015.jpg)
Look at this front floor mat! With the scuff pad intact!
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2017%2010/09%20GA%2012.jpg)
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2017%2010/09%20GA%2013.jpg)
It has an original windshield, too. Unfortunately, it has been re-painted here and there, but like I told cheesecrackers75, the true gift is the German mechanical underpinnings that have a full service life in front of them after he gets to every single part that needs lubrication (which is most of them). We noted that his white trim strip is as fine as I've seen:
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133/73VW1800/IAC%2017%2010/09%20GA%2014.jpg)
There was another bus in the driveway (he has an understanding wife) that he was originally going to harvest, but it is actually a decent vehicle that must be resurrected and driven. Great to meet you and the family cheesecrackers75!
I will have some more photos/posts as I do this southeast lap. No North Carolina hurricane this year . . .
Colion