EXCEPTIONAL 1973 VOLKSWAGEN THING ALL ORIGINAL NO RUST OR DAMAGE

Description for Volkswagen Thing 1973

VIN: 702-353-7500 Year: 1973 Make: Volkswagen Model: Thing Style: Convertible Engine: Air-cooled flat-four, 1,584cc//46hp Transmission: 4-speed manual transmission Exterior: Pumpkin Orange Interior: Black Leather ... kinda? Mileage: 41,180 1 of 7,819 sold in US CDC Presents... An incredible 1973 Volkswagen Thing with only 41K Miles. It may look like the illegitimate love child of a corrugated shipping container and a dumpster, but the VW Thing was in fact the resurrection of a German military vehicle known as the Kübelwagen. The basic concept behind the VW Thing (Type 181) dated back to the... World War II-era. Engineered by the Porsche Design Bureau by demand of the Third Reich, this light, maneuverable all-terrain combat vehicle was considered the German Jeep. As 1 of only 7,819 ever sold in 1973 in the US, this VW Thing exceeds expectations as a collectible piece of appreciating history who's drive provides a thrill like no other. Preparations... Upon acquisition of this Volkswagen Thing, our initial steps to prepare it for market were through a visual and mechanical inspection. When it first arrived, we put it on the lift and powerwashed the underside. This frees the vehicle of any grime and debris to reveal any forseeable issues. Common problem areas, especially with cars of this age, are rust in the floors, frame, and suspension. This car having spent a lot of its life in a collection, it shows only minor signs of surface rust. The floor underneath the battery was rusted, so we did a simple metal replacement. As you will see in over 100 photos, the floors are exceptionally straight. Following the undercarriage inspection, the vehicle went through our service department. Our technicians performed a thorough engine inspection. The carburetor had been replaced, but required some fine tuning to get it functioning properly. With the completion of the inspection and standard service, this VW Thing runs and drives flawlessly. Finally, our preparations come to an end with cosmetic and driver-experience items. These items are a crucial component when it comes to our restoration process due to the nature of the market. We pay close attention to originality. The entire interior on this VW Thing was reupholstered in OEM style with black leather seats. Every metal interior panel was hand polished to perfection. The floor was stripped and restored to black. The latches that hold the brand new convertible top to the windshield were replaced. We purchased OEM floor mats and a mat for the glove box. Both the headlight lenses and taillight lenses were replaced, along with their gaskets. Interior... The interior of the VW Thing is the definition of stripped. The only instrumentation is a speedometer that houses a fuel gauge on its dial, and the glove box is really just a glove hole that usually lacks the optional door that this Thing posesses. Volkswagen boasted that the interior could be hosed out, given its non-carpeted floors covered with perforated rubber mats that allow water to escape through drain holes. As for this VW Thing, we restored the interior to be as close to original as possible. We had the original seats professionally re-upholstered in Black Vinyl. We installed all new OEM style floormats, the glove box mat, and the trunk mat. Every interior panel was hand-polished in order to restore its shine. The interior floors were refurbished back to black. As you can see from our many photographs, careful attention was taken during the restoration process of this Volkswagen Thing. Exterior... The VW Thing's exterior style is pure function. The fenders bolt on, the simple flat body panels sport strengthening ribs, and the double-walled sills and rear body section improve torsional rigidity. The roofless four-door body is "jeep-like" in its convertibility; the interchangeable doors are easily removed and refitted, the windshield frame can be folded forward onto the hood, and the roof structure can be removed entirely for true open-air motoring. Inclement weather is kept at bay by a brand new vinyl soft top and removable side curtains. The original Pumpkin Orange exterior paint on this VW Thing can be easily defined as attention-grabbing. The easily removable front windows are glass, which is an rare find on most VW Things. They easily slide back and forth properly and snuggly lock in to place. The convertible top is brand new and fully operational, including the latches that attach it to the windshield that are commonly broken. Both bumpers have been repainted. We even repainted "The Thing" along both sides of this car due to faded paint from aging. The wheels are original to the vehicle, with a set of brand new Yokohama Geolander A/T tires. A few areas of paint have been touched up as well. Drivetrain... The VW Thing is powered by an Air-cooled flat-four 1,584cc engine that produces 46hp. It is mated to a 4-Speed manual transmission capable of propelling the Thing to a modest top speed of 68mph. The Thing's transmission was a heavy-duty unit, and the differential's ring and pinion were stronger to allow the off-road ability. The engine is similar to a 1973 Beetle's, but it has Thing-exclusive components like the fan housing and rear cover. The Thing axles are 100mm units with heavy-duty CV joints. Test Drive... Once you get moving in this VW Thing, you forget the lack of amenities and intensly slow acceleration and just start smiling. Here you are, looking out over this bright-orange hood, driving along at a snail's pace, with the wind in your face and unobstructed visibility on all sides, and it just feels so fun. When you drive it, you know that in spite of all of its objective flaws, you are absolutely having more fun than any person in any modern car. After our inspection and service, this VW Thing has every bit of that 46hp, and shifts easily from gear to gear. It drives like an absolute dream with no sense of failure. The brakes work well, and it doesn't pull to either side as you putt around town. The seats are comfortable, and it has surprisingly tight and responsive steering compared to other cars of it's era. Seldom will you drive a car that provides you with laughter and fun like this VW Thing. And none of them do it with only 46hp. Conditional Assessment... This Volkswagen Thing seperates itself from others by its rust and damage free body. With only minor dents, it is in excellent condition. Everything works properly and it runs and drives like new. Take your time and sift through ALL of our photographs of this incredible 1973 Volkswagen Thing to truly appreciate its value.