Make: | Volkswagen |
Model: | Thing |
Year: | 1974 |
Mileage: | 26,816 |
Color: | Original Pumpkin Orange |
Transmission: | Manual |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Bradenton Beach, Florida, United States |
PRICE REDUCED!
A '74 VW Thing, owned for forty years by a retired colonel USA, is up for sale. As stock a model as is possible, this well cared for Thing is excellent in every way. Bought in CA, it was always garaged and is RUST FREE! The Pumpkin Orange paint is original, as are the floor pans. It has no damage history. The owners manual is the original, and included are the original jack and tool kit, wiring and parts manual, many assessories and, all service records are available. The car itself is in excellent condition. Price $21,899 reduced to $19,750 and final reduction to $19,000!
This car runs and drives like the day it was made. The odometer just turned over 26,816 miles on a new factory replacement engine (1584cc ).The body is completely rust free and everything works.
The seats have been replaced with new from The Thing Shop, Chandler, AZ, and the tires and battery replaced. An upgraded shifter was installed. Front side windows are glass with the bags. The floors are covered front and back with wood duck boards.The owner has collected many accessories. In addition to the usual soft top, there js a Baja top, a unique tonneau cover, and a custom canvas total car cover. The open glove compartment now has a cover. There is an extra wheel and tire.
The owner took care to see that the car was maintained in as original condition as possible. There was no cutting or chopping of the body of this car, or other modifications! This is one of those well - maintained, highly collectable classic cars!
As a vehicle, the Thing, has an interesting history! It may look like the illegitimate love child of a corragated box and a dumpster, but the Volkswagen Thing was in fact the resurrection of a German military vehicle known as the Kbelwagen. And with Kbel meaning "bucket" andWagen meaning "car, "? what could have been a better name for such a steel tub than, of course, the Thing?
The interior is the very illustration of stripped. The only instrumentation is a speedometer that houses a fuel gauge on its dial.Though originally the glove box was really just a glove hole, the Colonel has added a lockable door.In the beginning...it wasn't conveniences or ability that sucked people in though-it was how differentthe Thing was. VW boasted that the Thing's cabin could even be hosed out.
The windshield folded down and the detachable doors are swapable front to rear. Most important, however, is that the Thing looks so very, very unusual. Then, it wasn't the vehicle a housewife or anybody normal would buy. (Of course, today it looks like a midget Hummer!)
Only about 24,000 were imported. Today, approximately 9,000 are still registered, though, all of them may not be running.
The Thing remains as unique and uncommon today as it was forty years ago.Since so many VW components are widely interchangeable and available, the Thing is inexpensive to run and maintain-but what else would you expect from a bucket car that is a slow beast, what with their 46-hp engines and 0-60 mph? Yes, it's a great beach car with an easily removable top, pop-off doors, and foldable windshield...a steel tub that can be hosed out!
They are not making any more of these vehicles, and some are commanding big dollars on today's market.
Hagerty Insurance Valuation says "classic car values are on the upswing. As for the Thing...every model year is up, the 1973 model increased in value by 48 percent this year." (Hagerty, 2015).
Hagerty's current condition values for the Thing lists #1 Concours at $33,700, #2 Excellent at $24,100, and #3 Good at $17,900,
Where else can you get a vintage four door rag top that will endure the test of time, can go off-roading, and whose value is steadily climbing?
You won't be disappointed!
Price:$18,499