1971 Volkswagen Thing

Here’s the story of this quirky classic!

The VW Thing was officially known as the Volkswagen Type 181 (Type 182 for right-hand drive versions). Here’s how this unique little vehicle came to be:

Military Origins (1968-1969)
The Thing was developed in the late 1960s for the West German military, based directly on the legendary Kübelwagen (Type 82) that Volkswagen built during WWII. It was designed as a simple, rugged, open-air military vehicle that could go just about anywhere.

Civilian Life (1969-1983)
VW started selling the Type 181 to civilians in Europe in fall 1969. Production ran until 1983 in various locations:

• Wolfsburg, Germany (1968-1974)
• Hannover, Germany (1974-1983)
• Puebla, Mexico (1970-1980)
• Jakarta, Indonesia (1973-1980)

The US “Thing” (1973-1974)
The Type 181 came to America as “The Thing” for just two model years (1973-1974). Only about 25,000 were imported to the US, which — combined with its funky styling — makes it a sought-after collectible today.

What’s in a Name?
Depending on where you bought it, the Type 181 was called:

• The Thing — USA & Canada
• Trekker — UK
• Safari — Mexico
• Pescaccia (“beastly fish”) — Italy

The “Frankenstein” VW
The Thing was built using a hodgepodge of VW parts — the platform and 1600cc flat-four engine from the Beetle, suspension from the Bus, and even some bits from the Karmann Ghia. This mechanical simplicity is part of its charm (and why it’s relatively easy to keep running!).

Want to see more VW Things? Check out our market page: https://classic.com/m/volkswagen/thing/

Can I help you find any similar vehicles, or is there anything else you’d like to know about the Thing?