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The Volkswagen Thing had several names; in West Germany it was called the Kurierwagen, the Trekker in the UK, and the Safari in Mexico. It shared its floor pan with the Type 1 Karmann-Ghia and flat-four engine and transaxle layout with the Beetle. The Thing was available in the United States for just three years.
This particular Thing is a rust-free example with all its original parts. It was given a bare-metal refinish in the original Sunshine Yellow and the floor was media-blasted and coated with a Kevlar weatherproof texture. The seats were professionally reupholstered using original Volkswagen materials in the special-order, two-tone waterproof yellow plaid and black motif. Options on this vehicle include the plaid waterproof seating surfaces, one-year-only black Euro-spec door handles and light housings and running boards. Both the engine and four-speed manual gearbox have been fully rebuilt. The underpinnings were fully rebuilt. The engine is a 1.6-liter air-cooled flat-four engine offering 46 horsepower. At all four-corners are hydraulic brakes.By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2018
This particular Thing is a rust-free example with all its original parts. It was given a bare-metal refinish in the original Sunshine Yellow and the floor was media-blasted and coated with a Kevlar weatherproof texture. The seats were professionally reupholstered using original Volkswagen materials in the special-order, two-tone waterproof yellow plaid and black motif. Options on this vehicle include the plaid waterproof seating surfaces, one-year-only black Euro-spec door handles and light housings and running boards. Both the engine and four-speed manual gearbox have been fully rebuilt. The underpinnings were fully rebuilt. The engine is a 1.6-liter air-cooled flat-four engine offering 46 horsepower. At all four-corners are hydraulic brakes.By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2018
2018 Worldwide Auctioneers : Pacific Grove Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $35,000-USD $55,000
Sale Price :
USD $27,500
2018 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale
Sale Price :
USD $9,350
1974 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Volkswagen Type 181 Thing
(Data based on Model Year 1974 sales)
1974 Volkswagen Type 181 The Thing Chassis#: 1842543056 E Sold for USD$24,640 2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Chassis#: 1842544390 Sold for USD$30,800 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Chassis#: 1842467994 Sold for USD$37,400 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Chassis#: 1842468524 Sold for USD$17,600 2023 Mecum : Monterey | |
1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1842320974 Sold for USD$30,800 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING ACAPULCO EDITION CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1842544260 Sold for USD$23,100 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible Sold for USD$12,100 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible Sold for USD$16,500 2022 Mecum : Las Vegas | |
1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING ACAPULCO EDITION CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1842543039 Sold for USD$44,000 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Houston | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Sold for USD$23,100 2022 Mecum : Fountain City | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible Sold for USD$31,900 2022 Mecum : Orlando | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible Sold for USD$34,100 2022 Mecum : Houston | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Custom Sold for USD$29,700 2022 Mecum : Houston | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Sold for USD$30,800 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible Sold for USD$27,500 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Sold for USD$15,400 2021 Mecum : Las Vegas | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Sold for USD$14,850 2021 Mecum : Dallas | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Sold for USD$17,600 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Sold for USD$20,900 2020 Mecum : Las Vegas | |
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible Sold for USD$25,300 2020 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special |
Volkswagen Type 181 Things That Failed To Sell At Auction
1974 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2020 Mecum : Indy | $19,000 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2019 Mecum : Kissimmee | $7,500 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible | 2019 Mecum : Kissimmee | $9,000 | |||
1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING 4 DOOR | 2018 McCormick's # 65 | $16,000 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2018 Carlisle Auction : Fall Carlisle | ||||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2018 Mecum : Denver | $11,500 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2018 Carlisle Auction : Spring | ||||
1974 Volkswagen Thing Type 181 Convertible | 2018 Mecum : Kissimmee | $10,000 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible | 2018 Mecum : Kissimmee | $17,000 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2017 Auctions America : Auburn Fall | $16,000 | $22,000 | ||
1974 VW Thing | 2017 Silver Auction Arizona in March 2017 | ||||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2017 Silver Auction Arizona in March 2017 | $10,000 | |||
1974 VOLKSWAGEN TYPE 18 THING | 2017 Leake Auction OKC Fairgrounds | $8,500 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 1842543965 | 2017 Mecum : Los Angeles | $14,000 | ||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 1842542542E | 2016 Mecum : Anaheim | $10,000 | ||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2016 Mecum : Dallas | $27,000 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2016 Mecum Indianapolis | $19,000 | |||
1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING CVTBLE | 2016 McCormick's Palm Springs # 60 | $11,000 | |||
1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING CVTBLE | 2016 McCormick's Auction # 60 | $11,000 | |||
1974 VOLKSWAGEN ACAPULCO THING | 2015 McCormick's Auction # 59 | $14,000 | |||
1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING | 1842542542E | 2015 Mecum Anaheim | $11,000 | ||
1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING | 2015 Mecum Anaheim | $19,000 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible | 2015 Auctions America Auburn Fall | $9,600 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing Acapulco | 1842542648 | 2014 Mecum : Anaheim | $22,000 | ||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2014 Silver Auction Sun Valley | $7,500 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2014 Leake Auction : Tulsa | $29,000 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2014 Leake Auction : Tulsa | $16,000 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible | 2014 Auctions America Auburn Spring | $8,500 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2014 Silver Auction DAA Big Sky | $5,100 | |||
1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible | 2014 Mecum Kissimmee | $12,000 |
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1974 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing
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