For Sale at Auction: 1974 Volkswagen Type 1 in Amelia Island, Florida

Chassis No. 1842543056 E

With an outsized cultural reputation, you might be surprised to learn that Volkswagen's "The Thing" was only sold in the United States for just two years. Between 1973 and 1974 the utilitarian vehicle with West-German military roots, a highly un-Germanic name, and unorthodox style was a perfect fit among Volkswagen's lineup of classic Beetles and distinctive buses that captured the counter-culture spirit of the 1960s and 1970s. Like many vehicles of the era like the Beetle-based Meyers Manx, the Mini Moke, and the Citroen Mehari, The Thing was meant to be a rugged, versatile, and fun vehicle. The Thing boasted a selection of vibrant 1970s color schemes, a removable soft top, removable doors, a foldable windshield, and a spartan interior ideal for easy cleanup after spirited adventures. Many of these iconic vehicles did not escape the 1980s, yet for those very few that did, the luckiest examples were treated to a high-level restoration such as this example.

According to the vehicle data plate affixed to this "The Thing" was built as a 1974 model for export in left-hand drive Typ 181 configuration. As evidenced by its current condition, The Thing has seen substantial restorative efforts to not only return it to excellent condition but perhaps even better than when it was delivered new in 1974! To start the corrugated steel body has been refinished inside and out in a deep blue paint. The interior, designed to be spartan, has been reupholstered in black vinyl and features a black folding convertible top. All four wheels have been upgraded from steel to aluminum, refinished to match the vibrant body color, and feature BF Goodrich Baja Champion All-Terrain tires. Mechanically, the shockingly sanitary engine compartment features VW's disarmingly simple air-cooled flat-four engine that looks appropriately at home under the rear engine lid. Offered in such fine fettle, it's not surprising that the odometer shows just eight miles, likely the total since restoration.