Reader's Ride: 1973 Vw Thing
Wild Thing! You in all probability didn’t think nosotros could detect i of these, did you? I must acknowledge that nosotros didn’t either. It must bring sounded similar a combination of pirates as well as mad scientist when nosotros discovered this Thing. We used words like, “Eureka!” as well as I think I really said, “Shiver me timbers.” We were really surprised. How could nosotros non be? One of the most elusive of all of the V-Dubs correct at that topographic point inward front end of us? Less than 8,000 were imported for U.S. consumption during the 1973 model year.
 |
| Metal everywhere you lot hold off within the VW Thing. It's no wonder they couldn't run into U.S. security standards as well as ceased import. |
A 1973 Volkswagen Thing!
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Type 181 inward Blizzard White pigment to you lot Thing techies. This is the prototype of cool. That is right. We discovered cool. According to the lexicon a “thing” is difficult to define.
“An object that i demand not, cannot, or does non wishing to laissez passer a specific advert to.”
This didn’t really apply to the German linguistic communication engineers that designed this vehicle. It had enough of names (see Fun Facts).
 |
| 1973 was exclusively twelvemonth that the VW Thing had louvers on the bodysides. |
The Thing We Love About You
We really to a greater extent than re-discovered cool. Junkyard Life friend Frank Hamby of Birmingham, Alabama owns this historic slice of cool. Hamby is the instant possessor as well as has been the keeper of the cool for to a greater extent than than xx years. He bought this 1973 model from the master copy possessor who used this Thing equally a beach vehicle! This Thing lived the golden years inward the early on days when i could motility a capable vehicle on the beach.
According to the vintage ads nosotros collected, he was exclusively next proper Volkswagen Thing protocol. That is right, he used it equally a beach vehicle during summers as well as basically whenever he could teach inward downward to Seaside, Florida. The nimble off route capabilities afforded the Thing enough of chance to fullfill its beach buggy destiny. Hamby recalls the master copy possessor reporting he only allow a few pounds of pressure level from the tires as well as the Thing was dune-cruise ready.
 |
| Four doors, boring? This is a convertible, independent suspension, amongst a 4-speed, as well as it's rear-wheel drive. Only inward a VW Thing. |
My Thing-a-Ling
The cool affair virtually the Thing (I bring been waiting to say that) is that the Thing does several things! Versatility was a telephone commutation give-and-take for applied scientific discipline this Thing. Seemingly everything folds up. The top, the doors, the windshield as well as fifty-fifty the dorsum topographic point all flexure away. Engine as well as transmission choices were real limited. Hamby's example has the master copy air-cooled flat-four, 1,600 cc dual port engine as well as a manual 4 speed. Utilizing all of the 46 horsepower this Thing has a operate yesteryear speed of 71 MPH according to VW inward 1973.
 |
| Dash as well as manual steering is bare bones as well as uncomplicated inward a 1973 VW Thing. |
The Thing We Do For Love
So parts are difficult to detect as well as tin endure a fleck costly. That is the exclusively downside to a Thing! They are unique as well as intriguing. They are a contrast of stone as well as coil as well as mellow peace. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of vehicles are either one, but few jibe the nib for both. Hamby wins.
 |
| Can you lot read German? The dash has a sticker, we're guessing a alert of about kind, on the dash. |
One Last Thing
The Thing runs now, but volition run fifty-fifty improve later a few pocket-size fry repairs. When nosotros say the automobile is unique, nosotros hither at Junkyard Life really don’t know anyone else that owns one. So when Hamby’s inner-hippie calls — the moonlight as well as the salty body of body of water breeze volition harmonize amongst a mellow exhaust musical note as well as (if I had my way) Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic.” Lucky guy.
— Ron Kidd
Junkyard Life
 |
| VW's drum brakes bring no work slowing downward a 2,000-pound Thing. |
 |
| Rear seats flexure downward apartment to allow to a greater extent than cargo. |
 |
| Design roots engagement dorsum to WWII equally the German linguistic communication "jeep" – a armed forces multi-purpose fighting vehicle. |
 |
| The 4 doors are removable equally is the operate yesteryear for opened upwards air cruising. Also, the windshield folds down. |
 |
| VW Thing rides on 5-inch x 14-inch steel wheels. |
 |
| Sticker cost was $2,700 for a 1973 VW Thing. |
 |
| Tail lights for Super Beetle volition hold off at abode on a VW Thing. |
 |
| Let's hitting the beach! Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 VW Thing needs to endure driven to the ocean. |
Fun Thing Facts
- Seaside, Florida where our characteristic automobile i time zoomed the dunes, was too where the Jim Carrey film “The Truman Show” was filmed.
- Contrary to pop belief, the Thing was non the trial of the automaker taking wages of America’s beloved for dune buggies. They already practically owned the entire dune buggy craze other than manufacturing the funky cute aftermarket bodies. Most buggies were VW-powered.
- The founder of Seaside, Florida was from Birmingham, Alabama. We idea for a instant it could bring been his VW. It wasn’t. However, from the timeline, they real good could bring known each other.
- The Thing was originally made for the West German linguistic communication Army.
- Due to strict security standards, VW stopped U.S sales of 1975 models. Other countries continued to sell them to Earth until 1980. Did Ralph Nader know virtually this?
- Volkswagen gave us hither inward the states the uncomplicated advert –“The Thing.” In Mexico, it would bring the “The Safari” name. In Italy, it would bring been “The Pescaccia.”
- The Thing was i of the few four-door convertibles e'er produced.
- A piddling over 7,800 of these were made inward 1973. Doing the math, it is non likely that nosotros volition take in many of these Things.
- Maybe Junkyard Life needs to exercise a follow-up and brand certain this Thing tin all the same negotiate the dunes. You tin all the same exercise that amongst a permit inward Augusta, Florida. I mean, nosotros wouldn’t desire to allow the readers down. Fine. I will.
 |
| This 1973 VW Thing is owned yesteryear Frank Hamby of Birmingham, Alabama. |
Share your automobile story? Send us details as well as we’re on the way! Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com & Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net