Original VW vanagon used in Magnum p.i.

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#16 Post by **Styles Bitchley** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:59 am

What year is yours PW? Were you ever able to get it on the road?

paperwar · #17 Post by **paperwar** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:50 am

Styles Bitchley wrote:What year is yours PW? Were you ever able to get it on the road?

Mine is from the 1984 purchase.
There are several things which have to be fixed to bring it on the road for daily use. But yes, i drove arround several times, wearing an Island Hoppers shirt and a Da Nang cap. I even had a music-tape with me playing the magnum pi theme.

Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:00 am

paperwar wrote:
Styles Bitchley wrote:What year is yours PW? Were you ever able to get it on the road?
Mine is from the 1984 purchase.
There are several things which have to be fixed to bring it on the road for daily use. But yes, i drove arround several times, wearing an Island Hoppers shirt and a Da Nang cap. I even had a music-tape with me playing the magnum pi theme.

That's awesome. I'd love to have one - even without the paint job.

rubber chicken · #19 Post by **rubber chicken** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:24 am

Sam wrote:Found these pics today..
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg22 ... MagPI2.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg22 ... MagPI1.jpg

Great photos Sam! Is that Hillerman doing the robot dance for you? That's awesome!

I'm guessing you took these yourself? It's nice to see more of the gate house! Thanks for sharing.

Sam · #20 Post by **Sam** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:02 pm

Paperwar.The pictures came from the same link as the van and helicopter,scroll to the bottom.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... ?p=4067884

Sam · #21 Post by **Sam** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:06 pm

RC,the pictures aren't mine.You can see them here,scroll to the bottom of the page.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... ?p=4067884

If you look closely,Higgybaby is having a puff.

paperwar · #22 Post by **paperwar** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:38 pm

Sam wrote:Paperwar.The pictures came from the same link as the van and helicopter,scroll to the bottom.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... ?p=4067884

Great, thanks for the pics Sam.

I just re-read this thread and have to add, that the vanagon looks much more better on the pic as it finally is. There`s really a lot of restoration work to do. Also the paint is faded out -really interresting that it turns out on the photo looking pretty good.

pw

Sam · #23 Post by **Sam** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:43 pm

Can you post some more pics of your van?
You can send them to me and I'll be happy to post them.

Pahonu · #24 Post by **Pahonu** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:25 am

Sam wrote:Found these pics today..

These pictures show an early aircooled van, before the 1984 purchase. You can tell by the metal vents behind the rear window with seven slots. They only had these in the first two years, 1980 and part of 1981. All subsequent years (like my '88 westy) had black plastic vents with a dozen slots that screwed in. The magazine article shows the difference. These photos could verywell be from the first season.

Nice view of the gatehouse too. I don't believe I've seen that angle before.

robspace54 · #25 Post by **robspace54** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 2:31 pm

There was a Revell model of the Vanagon available too!

Rob

56E 478 · #26 Post by **56E 478** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:51 am

That's way too cool. That would be the ultimate MPI collectible for me,for real!! I remember these Vanagons being a common site back in their heyday,thinking "Wow,T.C. really gets around!" The last time I saw a IH Vanagon was in the mid to late 90's in Waikiki,in fair shape,and daily driven. The owner needed a jump start and I kindly obliged. I asked the obvious question and got a yes,it was the van from the show,and a distinct no when I offered $ for it. He knew what he had and wasn't gonna let it go for any crazy amount of $. He let me check it out though,as if I was a potential buyer. Oh how I wanted that VW so bad!! We talked about the show for a while,then it was off to chase the breaks at Diamond Head. It would be later when I found out (from a friend at Matson) that the van was shipped to the mainland.

Started on a replica in '00 with an '82,but let it go soon afterwards,due to a nasty divorce. Been thinking about doing another one,since finding this site. Gettin' all nostalgic now!!

KENJI · #27 Post by **KENJI** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:04 pm

Hi PW,

Great to see you saved the I.H. van!
Could you send more pics to the site of the interior, exterior all 4 sides...of the van. It doesn't matter what shape it is in, just great to see it stills exists. You mentioned a lady in the U.S. owns the only other one with original paint. Do you have any idea whereabouts in the U.S.? It would be great to see if this one is still around and here about its story.

KENJI · #28 Post by **KENJI** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:06 pm

I did a bit of detective work and found out a little more about the balloon company that purchased the Vanagon after the show went off the air. The company was called FLYIN' HAWAIIAN BALLOONS and the name comes from the owner, who was nicknamed THE FLYIN' HAWAIIAN. I've been told he was a star on the roller derby circuit which is quite interesting!
Anyways, he his retired and no longer owns the balloon company which is now under new ownership. I talked to them and they have no pictures of the van, but the company name is in the window in very appropriate colours. I will send the pic to James and he can post it here for you to look at.

Mavrick · #29 Post by **Mavrick** » Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:44 am

More Pics Please

fastfred · #30 Post by **fastfred** » Thu Jun 02, 2016 4:48 pm

does anyone know the exact number plate of the island hopper van ?

or a picture still of it ???

Original VW vanagon used in Magnum p.i.

Re: Original VW vanagon used in Magnum p.i.