Vehicle Description
No, it doesn't swim and it doesn't have 4-wheel-drive, but this
1973 Volkswagen Thing is still one of the coolest things on four
wheels. The Beetle's outdoorsy cousin, the Thing is hard to
classify but remains one of those great moments in automotive
history where a major automaker said, "Hey, let's do something
different."
Now the unusual thing about this Thing is that it's in such good
condition. Most have long ago rotted away or been abused to the
point where they were scrapped, but not this one. A few years ago
it was repainted, which suggests that it was always a
well-maintained car, er truck, er Thing, and it's holding up rather
well. There are some minor nicks and scratches that come from use,
because this Thing is always up to having some fun, but otherwise
it looks pretty darned good. The sheetmetal is straight, the doors
fit well, and when it was painted, they even reinstalled fresh
fender welting between the pieces to give it that highly detailed
look that's factory-correct. The bright orange finish seems
perfectly appropriate on something designed just for fun, and the
blacked-out bumpers look suitably industrial. You also get a
fold-down windshield, familiar Beetle-style taillights, and chrome
door handle that dress it up a bit.
In the usual VW fashion, the interior is basic, but it's friendly
at the same time. New tan vinyl bucket seats up front and a split
bench in back make it a legitimate 4-seater, the kind of car we
might have called a phaeton in earlier times. The dashboard is a
simple flat sheet that has been painted body color and the familiar
Beetle round instrument cluster was stuck in the middle. There are
a few other knobs and handles for the secondary controls like
headlights and the cigarette lighter, but if you can't figure out
how to make this Thing work, you probably shouldn't be driving.
There's no radio, no heater, no real creature comforts of any kind,
but that's the whole appeal of the Thing: how basic can we go?
There's a new tan convertible top that fits rather well and with a
full set of side curtains it seals up pretty well. Or just remove
the doors and go without, the Thing doesn't care, which is why
there's a built-in roll bar. Up front, there's also a good-sized
trunk that's decent for a run to the beach.
For reliability, there aren't many better choices than the 1600 cc
Volkswagen air-cooled flat-4. It's the same one you find in a
Beetle, so parts are plentiful, upgrades are easy, and it'll run
practically forever with only modest maintenance. This one is quite
correct and bone simple with all the correct parts, including a
Bosch ignition system and proper generator. A single carburetor
means tuning is easy and it's surprisingly vigorous out on the open
road. The 4-speed manual shifts cleanly thanks to an aftermarket
shifter and the gearing makes the Thing feel reasonably quick in
just about any situation. The body tub is in very good order and
the suspension is also from the Beetle, although 4-wheel disc
brakes are a very welcome upgrade. Big 15-inch wheels look sporty
and carry oversized 215/70/15 radials that look as rugged as the
rest of the car.
You don't see many of these, and the good ones really stand out.
This one has enjoyed an easy life and has a lot of smiles left in
it, so it's ready to enjoy. Call today!
