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Fantastic 1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING - Very Rare Vehicle - Runs & Drives Great - Summer Fun !
Fantastic 1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING - Very Rare Vehicle - Runs & Drives Great - Summer Fun !

Fantastic 1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING - Very Rare Vehicle - Runs & Drives Great - Summer Fun !

Winning Bid
$11,400.00
Item #882983
Lot #1 of 1
Item Description

The Volkswagen "Thing" aka The Type 181 is a two-wheel drive, four-door, convertible, manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen from 1968 to 1983.

Originally developed for the West German Army, the VW Thing / 181 also entered the civilian market as the Kurierwagen (“Courier Car”) in West Germany, the Trekker (RHD Type 182) in the United Kingdom, the Thing in the United States (1973–74), the Safari in Mexico and South America, and Pescaccia in Italy. Civilian sales ended after model year 1980.

let me start by saying . . .this car is a TON OF FUN to drive. . .EVERYWHERE I took it. .EVERYONE would beep . .wave . . thumbs up. . .take photos / videos . .it draws TONS of attention . . .

The Volkswagen Thing we are selling is a 1974 model . .odometer shows 25,165 miles . . .it runs and drives GREAT . . .clutch feels fine . . .I had it out on I-95 . . .drove it . . 55-60 MPH felt GREAT, drives nice and straight no play or shimmy (MIGHT actually be 25k). . .brakes feel fine as well (tires are fine) . . . motor runs smooth . . starts quicky and idles fine. . I do not know if the miles are 25k or if it has rolled over . .the title (State of Florida) says mileage exempt . . .

In my opinion . . .the motor LOOKS rebuilt / refreshed . . .lots of newer parts . . .lots of chromed parts . . .we cannot run a Carfax report (Carfax requires a 17 digit VIN number) ALL cars built before 1981 do not have 17 digit VIN number . . .the current owner bought it a few years ago from an online auction (paid $15,000 + buyers fee & shipping) it arrived running kind of so-so . . .he spent another $3,000 fine tuning the engine and drivetrain . . . . . .he really didn't use it all that much . .and is now relocating and wants to sell it. . .

condition overall (for a nearly 50 year old vehicle) is good / very good . . . THE CAR PRESENTS VERY WELL . . . .upon close inspection . .its not perfect . . .ITS A GREAT "DRIVER" . .the paint is ok (car was originally orange) . . . lots of touch up (brush & spray) . . .I checked headlights . . .turn signals . .brake lights . .fog lights. . .windshield wipers. . . ALL GOOD. . .would be great to keep as a weekend car or at a vacation property. . .hood pins are custom (looks very cool) has a radio antenna. . . . .

the market on VW Things is steadily going up. . .take a look at the last year or so auction results I found online. . .most were between $20,000 & $25,000 with a few topping $30,000 and even more recently $40,000 (the last VW Thing to sell was $42,000 on 6/8/21). . .I don't have much history of this particular car. . . . . .all I know is it was purchased in Florida a few years ago. . .there are some patches in the floor where there was must have been rust. . .everything seems very solid . .(poked around with a hammer) . . . .don't see any issues there . . .the gas tank / fuel pump looks new (every once in a while I get a faint gas smell . .its probably nothing) . . .the spare is missing . . the top is ok . .it works (manual) window is ok. . . drove it in the rain. . surprisingly dry inside. . . seats look fine (one bit of tape on one of them) . . . parts are DIRT CHEAP. . .there are DOZENS of aftermarket VW parts manufacturers . . .best deals seem to be on eBay . . .there also is a place called "Parts for Things" to get Thing specific parts. . .EVERYONE LOVES THIS THING (no pun intended) . . .when we went to do the photo shoot it literally took an extra hour because people kept coming up wanting to look . .chat. . .take a photo with it . . . has two keys . .Florida title (in previous owners name) and Florida Bill of Sale . . .

Manufactured in Wolfsburg, West Germany (1968–74), Hannover, West Germany (1974–83), Puebla, Mexico (1970–80), and Jakarta, Indonesia (1973–80), the Type 181 shared its mechanicals with Volkswagen's Type 1 (Beetle) and the pre-1968 Volkswagen Microbus, its floor pan with the Type 1 Karmann Ghia, and its concept with the company's Kübelwagen, which had been used by the German military during World War II.

All four doors were removable and interchangeable, the windshield folded flat, and the convertible roof could be removed for al fresco driving. the spartan interior featured vinyl covered bucket seats, painted sheet metal, drain holes with wooden lattice type floor grates.

Thank You for looking the auction, we try to describe our vehicles in the most open and honest way we can, occasionally we get cars from the estates that we do . . .this car is from an consignor in Norwalk,CT (Rowayton)

keep in mind this car is ALMOST 50 YEARS OLD . . . . its an old used car . .its looks a bit better in the photos than it does in person . . . you WILL find dings, dents, scrapes, flaws, scratches, minor leaks, bubbles, rust, chips & touch up paint, spray paint . .paint runs and flaws here and there there as well as other flaws & imperfections . . . . . . LIKE YOU WOULD FIND ON ANY USED CAR . . . EVEN MORE SO ON A CAR NEARLY 50 YEARS OLD ! ! !

another GREAT point . . .this car can be registered and insured as a classic (qualifies for classic Connecticut plates) . . .full coverage insurance is VERY inexpensive

THIS IS A GREAT CLASSIC CAR . .GOOD LUCK BIDDING
NO MINIMUM . . NO RESERVE . . .ITS HERE TO SELL

THESE VOLKSWAGEN THINGS SOLD IN PAST YEAR
1973 VW THING - $42,000 - 6/8/21
1974 VW THING - $23,500 - 5/21/21
1973 VW THING - $25,000 - 5/18/21
1973 VW THING - $20,750 - 4/24/21
1974 VW THING - $20,000 - 4/12/21
1973 VW THING - $25,000 - 3/21/21
1973 VW THING - $32,500 - 2/15/21
1973 VW THING - $19,500 - 1/14/21
1974 VW THING - $22,500 - 12/2/20
1973 VW THING - $20,500 - 10/16/20
1974 VW THING - $21,500 - 10/1/20
1974 VW THING - $19,000 - 9/20/20
1973 VW THING - $32,000 - 8/19/20
1973 VW THING - $25,500 - 8/3/20
1974 VW THING - $18,000 - 5/1/20
1973 VW THING - $20,000 - 3/30/20
1974 VW THING - $20,750 - 4/10/20
1974 VW THING - $19,500 - 4/17/20

Buyer's Premium

18%

Seller Info
Clearing House Estate Sales
  • AN5
  • AN5
  • AN5
  • AN5
  • AN4
6242
Auction Details & Seller Instructions

WHERE TO PICK UP:
PRIVATE LOCATION
Norwalk, Connecticut 06851
(Winning Bidders Will Be Given Full Address VIA EMAIL)
Pick up: By Appointment Only
Winning bidder to contact auction manager after auction closes to coordinate pick up day and time

Seller Info
Clearing House Estate Sales
6242
Auction Manager

Brian Vasquez | (203) 856-0891 | newestatesale@aol.com

Pickup Details
AN
PRIVATE LOCATION

Norwalk, CT 06851

AN
When to Pickup

By Appointment Only

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