My 1973 VW Thing

My 1973 VW Thing

Some"Thing" Else

Many people compliment me on my Thing. And before you get the wrong idea, we're not talking about any part of my anatomy here. We're talking about my Volkswagen!

The Volkswagen Type 181 was built for the German Army in the late sixties, as a throwback (or a modern incarnation) of the WWII Kubelwagen. After a brief use by the military service, the Type 181 was eventually replaced by 4-Wheel drive vehicles. Sold in the U.S. for only two years, the commercially available "Thing" (or "Safari", in the rest of the world) wasn't very popular. It barely covered "basic transportation", but cost almost as much as a new BMW.

Regardless of its 2-Wheel drive, it's actually respectable off-road, with a decent set of tires. Especially in the sand, where it's really just a big, production-model dune buggy. It may not be as versatile as a Jeep, but as a military vehicle it looks a lot cooler (in my opinion)! The large tires and "chopped" windshield of my car makes it a bit more aggressive, as well.

This car has seen more of the world than I have, being made in Mexico and having seen a tour of duty in Central America. It was (by a previous owner) a small part of the Peace Corps! I was told that the windshield got cracked when it was rolled in a dry river bed.

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