5k: Cheap Type 181: 1974 Volkswagen Thing
The Volkswagen Type 181 was originally developed for West German Army
use in the late 1960s, but a civilian version was sold in the USA from 1972 to 1980 1973 to ’74 as the Volkswagen Thing (Kurierwagen in Germany, Trekker in the UK and Safari in Mexico.) Find this 1974 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing offered for $4475 in Tempe, AZ via craigslist.
In the world of convertibles, the Thing is one of the few that was sold with four doors. The Thing used a Karmann-Ghia floorpan and various parts from the Beetle, Transporter, etc, and is powered by the rear mounted 1.6 liter flat-4 making
about 50 horsepower and 50 ft-lbs of torque. Power is put down to the pavement via 4 speed manual transaxle mated to the rear wheels.
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Only sold in the US officially for 73 and 74, other years are gray market if you see them in the states. Production was from 68-80.
I had one with those colors and the interior was striped with those colors. It was called the Acapulco model.
bargain, es[ if floor and bulkhead not rotten