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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 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 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 |
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 | 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 | |||
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible | 2014 Auctions America Auburn Spring | $8,500 | |||
| 1974 Volkswagen Thing | 2014 Silver Auction DAA Big Sky | $5,100 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $17,153 range.
| 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Convertible Chassis#:wdbba48d0ha057064 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
| 1973 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible Chassis#:1532316617 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
| 1981 Chevrolet El Camino Chassis#:1gccw80h8bd465086 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
| 1990 Ford Mustang Chassis#:1facp42exlf189286 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
| 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS SUV Chassis#:1gnes13h172100430 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
| 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK 500 CABRIOLET Chassis#:WDBTK75GX6T060685 Sold for $17,050 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
| 1973 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL MARK IV Chassis#:3Y89A905970 Sold for $17,050 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
| 2009 BMW Z4 Convertible Chassis#:wbalm73579e164845 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
| 2007 BMW 650i Convertible Chassis#:wbaek13587cn80309 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
| 1977 GMC C25 Sierra Grande Pickup Chassis#:tcs247z528973 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
| 1979 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#:1z8749s430619 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
| 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 Chassis#:WDDNG71X27A064248 Sold for $17,050 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
| 1996 TOYOTA HIACE SUPER CUSTOM G VAN Chassis#:RZH1016006559 Sold for $17,050 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
| 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 AMG ROADSTER Chassis#:WDBSK74F33F041636 Sold for $17,050 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
| 2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHT UTRA LIMITED MOTORCYCLE Chassis#:1HD1KED11HB673263 Sold for $17,050 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
| 1995 CHEVROLET C1500 CUSTOM PICKUP Chassis#:1GCEC14Z7SZ230421 Sold for $17,050 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
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| 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT Chassis#:1FAFP42X72F241051 Sold for $17,050 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
| 1966 Volkswagen Beetle Chassis#:b6326519 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
| 2004 Ford Excursion Eddie Bauer Edition Chassis#:1fmnu45s54ec84404 Sold for $17,050 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee |
1974 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing
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1974 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing Vehicle Profiles
