This 1973 Volkswagen Type 181 ‘Thing’ was refurbished and modified in the 1980’s and spent time in the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum before the seller’s acquisition in 2020. Finished in white and blue over blue cloth upholstery, it is powered by a 1.8-liter flat-four mated to a four-speed manual transaxle, and equipment includes a white soft top, a fold-down windshield, removable doors, a Blaupunkt stereo, and an aftermarket exhaust system. Recent services are said to include replacement…
This 1973 Volkswagen Type 181 ‘Thing’ was refurbished and modified in the 1980’s and spent time in the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum before the seller’s acquisition in 2020. Finished in white and blue over blue cloth upholstery, it is powered by a 1.8-liter flat-four mated to a four-speed manual transaxle, and equipment includes a white soft top, a fold-down windshield, removable doors, a Blaupunkt stereo, and an aftermarket exhaust system. Recent services are said to include replacement of the clutch components, push rod tubes, brake shoes, spark plugs, and distributor components.
The exterior was refinished in white with a blue-painted front end and confetti-motif accents in the 1980s according to the seller. A replacement white soft top and removable side curtains are fitted, along with door-mounted mirrors, and a fold-down windshield.
Steel 14″ wheels wear aftermarket chrome hubcaps and trim rings, and they are mounted with 185/60 Waterfall Eco Dynamic tires, and a jack and spare wheel and tire are stored in the front trunk. The suspension has been lowered, and the brake shoes, wheel cylinders, and shock absorbers were recently replaced.
The interior features low-back front bucket seats and a rear bench upholstered in blue cloth with pink piping, and matching carpets line the floor. The painted dashboard is accented by custom graphics, and further equipment includes lap belts, custom-upholstered sun visors, and an AM/FM Blaupunkt radio linked to a rear speaker enclosure. Stains are noted in the carpets, which were removed and reinstalled after the floor panels were resealed.
The three-spoke steering wheel frames a 100-mph speedometer with an inset fuel gauge and a five-digit odometer that shows just over 30k miles.
The seller states that the air-cooled flat-four was fitted with a 1,835cc big-bore piston and cylinder kit in the 1980s. During current ownership, the engine was reportedly removed and refurbished with a replacement rear main seal and push rod tubes as well as seals for the oil cooler, carburetor, and exhaust manifolds. An oil change was performed and the spark plugs and distributor components were replaced at the same time.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle, and the seller states that the clutch components were replaced during their ownership.