Volkswagen Thing (1974)
Sale price: US $2,000.00 Make an Offer
| Condition: | Used | Year: | 1974 |
| Mileage: | 135000 | Model: | Thing |
| Make: | Volkswagen | Engine: | 1600cc |
| Number of Cylinders: | 4 | Transmission: | Manual |
| Drive Side: | Right-hand drive | For Sale By: | Private Seller |
| Drive Type: | RWD | Fuel Type: | Gasoline |
| Interior Color: | Black | Warranty: | Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty |
| Vehicle Title: | Clean | Exterior Color: | Yellow |
| Safety Features: | seat bealts | Options: | Convertible |
| Body Type: | Convertible |
Absecon, New Jersey, United States
Vehicle description
She"s gotta go ! I have owned and garaged the car for 16 years, all service records well maintained & documented in that time. I bought the car with 109k on her. .Probably around 25k miles in those years. So in the 135K range conservatively. The odometer gave up so I installed another and all miles, fueling and maintenance is all consolidated. I know a great deal about the car, and there should not be much left to the imagination if you read on. .
Numbers matching & rare car. There is not a time when I am out, a conversation ensues. Car was never hit.
Starts, runs, drives and stops. . Get in and GO!
NEGATIVES. . we will go over the photos as I took some of the weakest points. front to back:
the Re-paint over 16 years ago is not perfect nor high quality, there are chips n flakes and scratches, some bondo along a rocker/rattle canning mojo not a show car, but like me, looks great from 10 feet away! lol.
Isolated surface rust throughout the body especially in the interior with nothing integral. A little Swiss cheese along the sides of the battery pan. I did take a photo of inside the pan and as you can see there is integrity and no visible holes. As for underneath, you can see there was some JB weld that has started to fissure. The battery pan should be patched eventually, you could probably stand there in it now and the pan would not collapse. .maybe not in a couple years if you leave the car outside near the beach. One wheel-well has a little rot, but no hole (see pic). .I will hit it with VH Rust inhibitor before she goes. I have POR 15"d the car in some typical problem areas long ago and most of it is stable and nothing has really rotted to the point of needing repair. I mention all this to just get it out of the way. The car is not a rust bucket. .and will not need pans for a while!
Car had a small fire. .16 years ago in engine bay with the original solex carb fuel input (carb replaced)which gave out and squirted gas. At that time, this melted the harness, distributor cap/wires, and fuel lines. . a new harness and most everything else was neatly spliced in then and the whole compartment was cleaned rather well. The fire was extinguished in about 45 long seconds. I"ve always carried an extinguisher thankfully. No residual issues in my 25K driving. I have always changed all tune up parts at regular intervals.
Now to current negatives. .
Wipers are wonky. Wiper motor works, spindles may be stripped. I never driven in the rain/snow. That photo on hard packed sand was from a photo shoot this summer. Never driven on the beach.
Horn not working I never reconnected it to the replaced steering wheel
Side rear view mirror is wonky
Windshield frame could use some attention at passenger base but has aftermarket supports to compensate, could use another spot weld. .or leave it, or buy another frame for a couple hundred and paint. .worthy of mention.
Has heat, but heat flap mechanism on one heater box needs attention.
What VW doesn’t leak oil? It leaves maybe a teaspoon out of the pushrod tube seals after every drive, but not enough to add oil in its regular 2k changes
No reverse lights
POSITIVES. . .
A driver and east coast survivor. Engine is strong and "normal" with good compression, and no smoke, knocks or issues. Regular valve adjustments, every other oil change.
Prime candidate for semi or proper resto. .or drive as is like I have. A lot of the paint wonkyness is surface stuff.
Included is my 16 year old notebook of regular documented maintenance and fueling. There’s more that has been done that I probably missed here that can be referenced in my service history.
Thing has tasteful mods while retaining originality.
Original bumpers
Original ignition key.
Original spare
OriginalVW Factory Roll Bar Original four German moon hubcaps that still shine. Original Stock air cleaner (clean/serviced regularly) Original Glove box light still there and functions
Original seat belts (4)
New LED headlights $$ led tail lights New Bosch 55amp alternator
New Bosch starter.
New Neru blue coil
Recent beefy Interstate Battery in great shape and maintained (2019)
Top and windows in great shape, you can actually see through them. You do have to fiddle with the top to raise and lower it, but it works and does its job.
I will include a Front push bar/brush guard.
Wired for fog/accessory lights w switch.
Frictionless clutch cable assembly (you’ll never snap a cable)
Interior fabric in great shape. back seats are perfect, front seats could use some stuffing, but look very presentable.
Cocoa mats with a lil driver heel hole.
Hardware to fold rear seats up and down (picture is folded down position)
Vintage dune buggy sparkle steering wheel, have original as well.
Speedo replaced w cable. Milage documented.
Recent ignition tuneup
Tires raised white letter 80%
KYB shocks
Windshield folds down flawlessly and doors come off instantly. .Fantasy Island ! It is one of the most unique and funnest cars on the planet. You will find conversation everywhere you go.
No issues with my Clean NJ Title.
So, please be serious pulling the trigger here. I have given everything I know with very little mystery, and I expect no monkey biz, as you are familiar with VW"s or know someone who is. I have a modest reserve set well under most of the cars listed. Please ask reasonable questions.
Lower 48 CONUS only. Bring a flatbed or drive it away with proper insurance and registration. $500 deposit required at the end of the auction, with communication. Full payment within 5 days.
Car is as is, no warranty implied as this car is 46 years old.
Numbers matching & rare car. There is not a time when I am out, a conversation ensues. Car was never hit.
Starts, runs, drives and stops. . Get in and GO!
NEGATIVES. . we will go over the photos as I took some of the weakest points. front to back:
the Re-paint over 16 years ago is not perfect nor high quality, there are chips n flakes and scratches, some bondo along a rocker/rattle canning mojo not a show car, but like me, looks great from 10 feet away! lol.
Isolated surface rust throughout the body especially in the interior with nothing integral. A little Swiss cheese along the sides of the battery pan. I did take a photo of inside the pan and as you can see there is integrity and no visible holes. As for underneath, you can see there was some JB weld that has started to fissure. The battery pan should be patched eventually, you could probably stand there in it now and the pan would not collapse. .maybe not in a couple years if you leave the car outside near the beach. One wheel-well has a little rot, but no hole (see pic). .I will hit it with VH Rust inhibitor before she goes. I have POR 15"d the car in some typical problem areas long ago and most of it is stable and nothing has really rotted to the point of needing repair. I mention all this to just get it out of the way. The car is not a rust bucket. .and will not need pans for a while!
Car had a small fire. .16 years ago in engine bay with the original solex carb fuel input (carb replaced)which gave out and squirted gas. At that time, this melted the harness, distributor cap/wires, and fuel lines. . a new harness and most everything else was neatly spliced in then and the whole compartment was cleaned rather well. The fire was extinguished in about 45 long seconds. I"ve always carried an extinguisher thankfully. No residual issues in my 25K driving. I have always changed all tune up parts at regular intervals.
Now to current negatives. .
Wipers are wonky. Wiper motor works, spindles may be stripped. I never driven in the rain/snow. That photo on hard packed sand was from a photo shoot this summer. Never driven on the beach.
Horn not working I never reconnected it to the replaced steering wheel
Side rear view mirror is wonky
Windshield frame could use some attention at passenger base but has aftermarket supports to compensate, could use another spot weld. .or leave it, or buy another frame for a couple hundred and paint. .worthy of mention.
Has heat, but heat flap mechanism on one heater box needs attention.
What VW doesn’t leak oil? It leaves maybe a teaspoon out of the pushrod tube seals after every drive, but not enough to add oil in its regular 2k changes
No reverse lights
POSITIVES. . .
A driver and east coast survivor. Engine is strong and "normal" with good compression, and no smoke, knocks or issues. Regular valve adjustments, every other oil change.
Prime candidate for semi or proper resto. .or drive as is like I have. A lot of the paint wonkyness is surface stuff.
Included is my 16 year old notebook of regular documented maintenance and fueling. There’s more that has been done that I probably missed here that can be referenced in my service history.
Thing has tasteful mods while retaining originality.
Original bumpers
Original ignition key.
Original spare
OriginalVW Factory Roll Bar Original four German moon hubcaps that still shine. Original Stock air cleaner (clean/serviced regularly) Original Glove box light still there and functions
Original seat belts (4)
New LED headlights $$ led tail lights New Bosch 55amp alternator
New Bosch starter.
New Neru blue coil
Recent beefy Interstate Battery in great shape and maintained (2019)
Top and windows in great shape, you can actually see through them. You do have to fiddle with the top to raise and lower it, but it works and does its job.
I will include a Front push bar/brush guard.
Wired for fog/accessory lights w switch.
Frictionless clutch cable assembly (you’ll never snap a cable)
Interior fabric in great shape. back seats are perfect, front seats could use some stuffing, but look very presentable.
Cocoa mats with a lil driver heel hole.
Hardware to fold rear seats up and down (picture is folded down position)
Vintage dune buggy sparkle steering wheel, have original as well.
Speedo replaced w cable. Milage documented.
Recent ignition tuneup
Tires raised white letter 80%
KYB shocks
Windshield folds down flawlessly and doors come off instantly. .Fantasy Island ! It is one of the most unique and funnest cars on the planet. You will find conversation everywhere you go.
No issues with my Clean NJ Title.
So, please be serious pulling the trigger here. I have given everything I know with very little mystery, and I expect no monkey biz, as you are familiar with VW"s or know someone who is. I have a modest reserve set well under most of the cars listed. Please ask reasonable questions.
Lower 48 CONUS only. Bring a flatbed or drive it away with proper insurance and registration. $500 deposit required at the end of the auction, with communication. Full payment within 5 days.
Car is as is, no warranty implied as this car is 46 years old.