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1974 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing Navigation
Volkswagen's 'The Thing' was only sold in the United States for just two years - 1973 and 1974. It was a utilitarian vehicle with West German military roots and unorthodox styling that found a niche in the counter-culture spirit of the 1960s and 1970s. It was versatile, rugged, fun, and adorned with a selection of vibrant 1970s color schemes. It had a foldable windshield, removable doors, a removable soft top, and a spartan interior.
This particular Volkswagen Type 181 The Thing was built as a 1974 model for export in left-hand drive (Typ 181) configuration. It has been given a restoration and refinished inside and out in a deep blue paint scheme. The interior has been reupholstered in black vinyl and features a black folding convertible top. The wheels have been upgraded from steel to aluminum, refinished to match the vibrant body color, and feature BF Goodrich Baja Champion All-Terrain tires.
The engine is built on a Type 1 'E0' 1,300 cc air-cooled flat-four engine mated to a 4-speed manual transmission.By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2024
This particular Volkswagen Type 181 The Thing was built as a 1974 model for export in left-hand drive (Typ 181) configuration. It has been given a restoration and refinished inside and out in a deep blue paint scheme. The interior has been reupholstered in black vinyl and features a black folding convertible top. The wheels have been upgraded from steel to aluminum, refinished to match the vibrant body color, and feature BF Goodrich Baja Champion All-Terrain tires.
The engine is built on a Type 1 'E0' 1,300 cc air-cooled flat-four engine mated to a 4-speed manual transmission.By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2024
2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $20,000-USD $25,000
Sale Price :
USD $24,640
1974 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Volkswagen Type 181 Thing
(Data based on Model Year 1974 sales)
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Chassis#: 1842542035 Sold for USD$19,800 2025 Mecum : Glendale | |
| 1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING ACAPULCO EDITION CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1842544260 Sold for USD$27,500 2025 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale | |
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible Chassis#: 1842470886 Sold for USD$35,200 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
| 1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1842320974 Sold for USD$39,600 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
| 1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1842468524 Sold for USD$19,800 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
| 1974 Volkswagen Type 181 The Thing Chassis#: 1842543056 E Sold for USD$24,640 2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia |   |
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Chassis#: 1842467994 Sold for USD$37,400 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Chassis#: 1842544390 Sold for USD$30,800 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Chassis#: 1842468524 Sold for USD$17,600 2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey | |
| 1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING ACAPULCO EDITION CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1842544260 Sold for USD$23,100 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
| 1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1842320974 Sold for USD$30,800 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 Custom Sold for USD$29,700 2022 Mecum : Houston | |
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible Sold for USD$34,100 2022 Mecum : Houston | |
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible Sold for USD$27,500 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Sold for USD$30,800 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee |
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 Convertible | 1842469940 | 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | $18,000 | ||
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Acapulco | 1842321957 | 2024 Mecum : Las Vegas | $8,000 | ||
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible | 1842470886 | 2024 Mecum : Houston | $30,000 | ||
| 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 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $17,234 range.
| 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#:1g1yy32g245104983 Sold for $17,325 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
| 1953 ALLSTATE CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#:A3301000425 Sold for $17,270 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale Fall | |
| 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP Chassis#:5TELU42N39Z595697 Sold for $17,380 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale Fall | |
| 1973 Kougar 3.4 Roadster Chassis#:1L23186BW Sold for $17,100 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Auburn Auction | |
| 1956 Pontiac Hardtop Chassis#:K856H10487 Sold for $17,100 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Auburn Auction | |
| 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa Spider Chassis#:1076767W151201 Sold for $17,080 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Auburn Auction | |
| 1949 Ford Custom Sold for $17,100 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Auburn Auction | |
| 1967 Volkswagen Beetle Sold for $17,360 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
| 2018 Dodge Charger Chassis#:2c3cdxag0jh247266 Sold for $17,325 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special 2023 | |
| 1958 Edsel Ranger 2-door Hardtop Chassis#:W8UG719481 Sold for $17,360 2023 Bonhams : The Greenwich Auction | |
| 1978 Renault 16 TX Chassis#:0154684 Sold for $17,383 2022 Artcurial : Automobiles Sur Les Champs | |
| 1930 American Austin Roadster Chassis#:L8854 Sold for $17,360 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
| 1960 Edsel Ranger Deluxe Two-Door Sedan Chassis#:0U11V702136 Sold for $17,360 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
| 1936 Ford Deluxe Touring Two-Door Sedan Sold for $17,360 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
| 1973 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing Convertible Chassis#:1833022899 Sold for $17,360 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
| 1991 Renault 4L Clan Chassis#:VF111280006224769 Sold for $17,401 2022 Artcurial : Le Mans Classic | |
| 1996 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Collector Edition Chassis#:1G1YY325XT5109488 Sold for $17,360 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Enthusiast Auction | |
| 1970 Chevrolet Nova Sold for $17,250 2022 Carlisle Auctions : Spring Carlisle | |
| 1954 Fiat 500 C Belvedere Chassis#:478852 Sold for $17,115 2022 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
| 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Anniversary Sold for $17,250 2022 GAA : February 2022 |
1974 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing
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1974 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing Vehicle Profiles
