Vehicle Description
Looking every bit as straight and true as it did when it first
rolled off the assembly line, this 1974 Volkswagen Thing hails from
a class of cars originally designed to provide the West German Army
with reliable, no-frills transportation. Its manufacturer only
brought the model over to U.S. shores very briefly, so the
collectability factor is undeniable here, and this VW's unique form
and sheer simplicity draws double takes whenever seen while the
unusually solid condition of this particular specimen will make it
an outstanding acquisition for any vintage VW fan.
Pull up to a gathering behind the wheel of this '74 and you're sure
to make an impact. It's got such a distinctive shape and its
geometric, no-nonsense appearance and compact wheelbase are pretty
much a guarantee it won't be mistaken for anything else on the road
- you can also get a sense of its military heritage right off the
bat. The white paint draped over its exterior presents well, with a
nice shine and a smooth finish and a closer inspection will reveal
that, even after more than four decades of service, this car
remains well aligned - the gaps surrounding the front deck lid and
the quartet of doors look very even on this rarely seen German
classic. The Thing's open air configuration was always part of its
appeal for civilians and the included convertible frame on this one
looks straight and solid - once a vinyl top is installed, it will
rise up over an added roll bar that provides a welcome measure of
safety.
The sheer simplicity of the interior ably represents a
task-oriented purpose. You won't find any frills inside these
doors, but with the clean steel surfaces mostly exposed, it
provides the opportunity to get a good look around and doing so
will provide a favorable impression. Both the black front buckets
and rear bench seat were recently reupholstered, showing no signs
of wear at all as they sit between front and rear doors whose open
centers provide some additional interior storage space. Beyond the
original factory steering wheel, the dash area is disarmingly
simple but functional, featuring two displays behind clear lenses
to keep tabs on driving speed and operating temperature, and both
the black dash pad above and the grip bar positioned on the
passenger side appear to be in good shape. With the rear engine
configuration, there's plenty of luggage space below the front deck
lid - just imagine the approving nods you'll get cruising to your
destination behind the wheel of this one of a kind ride.
In addition to its substantial visual novelty, this VW is a very
solid driver harboring plenty of clues that its drivetrain in
particular has been well cared for over the years. The 1600 cc
engine harbored at the rear of the car starts promptly and is
running strong, providing plenty of power to propel this
lightweight roadster forward with enthusiasm. The accompanying
4-speed manual transmission shifts solidly and the clutch action is
surprisingly seamless. An independent rear suspension not only
smooths out uneven terrain, but also provides a reminder of this
model's original utilitarian purpose. This rolling conversation
piece patrols the road on its set of 14" original steel wheels that
still wear their VW-branded hubcaps and are wrapped with tires that
appear to have plenty of miles left on them.
It's a model that's very rarely spotted on American roads these
days, and the solid running condition and fresh look of this 1974
Volkswagen Thing make it a welcome find. Call today!