1974 Volkswagen Thing

This 1974 Volkswagen Thing is a newly-restored, rust-free four-door cabriolet with a newer cloth retractable top, removable doors, a modern CD stereo system, and reupholstered two-tone vinyl seating. This Type 181 received a respray in Acapulco Blue as part of an inside-and-out refurbishment, deriving power from a rear-mounted 1,800cc dual-port flat-four that has been driven only 500 miles since restoration and sends power to the rear via a 4-speed manual transaxle. Finished with black accent striping, white-finished wheels, and a reupholstered blue and white interior, this Thing is now offered with a clear Arizona title in the seller’s name.

The Thing, otherwise known as the Type 181, is a two-wheel drive, four-door convertible and was sold from 1968 through 1983. The platform was leveraged in military applications in Europe and imported to the United States in 1973 and 1974 as the Thing. This example from 1974 was initially assembled in Mexico and imported to the United States, exhibiting a rust-free original body. A subsequent restoration and repaint were applied in Acapulco Blue with dual black stripes, complemented by black front and rear bumpers, stainless-steel sideview mirrors, and bodyside moldings. This Type 181 also features a hinged fold-flat windshield, removable doors, and a replacement black removable convertible top. The seller has provided images in the carousel showing both top-up and top-down configurations in place and adds that the windshield wipers do not operate.

White-finished 14” steel wheels are mounted to newer Dunlop tires, and the body rides on a four-wheel independent suspension with new Bilstein front shocks and adjustable rear shocks.

The open-air interior is outfitted with reupholstered blue and white vinyl bucket seats with black piping, while the rest of the cabin is finished in black with woven floormats in the footwells. The cabin features black-finished sheet metal door panels, a dash-mounted grab-handle for the passenger, and a tubular roll bar that doubles as part of the convertible top framework. A modern AM/FM/CD head unit is installed in the dash and connected to five speakers throughout the cabin.

Instrumentation includes a 100-mph speedometer and a fuel gauge. The odometer is a five-digit mechanical unit, although true mileage on the chassis is unknown.

The rear-mounted 1,800cc dual-port motor has been driven 500 miles since installation, outfitted with a replacement Bosch alternator, a CB Performance oil cooling housing, a chrome-finished fan shroud, EMPI aluminum valve covers, and S&S headers. Power is directed to the rear wheels via a floor-shifted 4-speed manual transaxle with newer clutch.

Photos showing the underside are available in the carousel.

The seller has provided a video.