The Volkswagen Thing is One of the Most Unique Vehicles in Car History
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s THE VOLKSWAGEN THING! Jerking through sand and brush, what makes this no amenities, buggy alternative so appealing to car collectors?
A stubby off-roader developed during World War II continues to gain interest from vintage car enthusiasts across all generations. The Gen Xers, the Millennials, the Baby Boomers—they all want a piece of international
The Volkswagen Thing is cute, quirky, and fun, and may just be the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen. The German automaker that brought us the Beetle created the perfect roadside sidekick that’s ready for action.
Wartime origin of the Volkswagen Thing
The Volkswagen Thing was originally known as The Type 181.
During the late ‘60s, many European countries held out for the development of the Europa Jeep 4×4 project, which never saw the light of day. According to
, “The Type 181 was born in 1969 when the West German military revisited the boxy, open-top theme last seen in the World War II-era Type 82 Kübelwagen.” The car used Transporter Type 2 suspension and the Beetle Type 1 driveline.
The Military needed cheap and durable transportation, and though most were snatched up by NATO, the Volkswagen Thing was available as a consumer car in Europe. It wasn’t until four years later in 1973, that “the Thing” was unleashed in the U.S.
Americans referred to it as the "practical alternative to the buggy…and the ideal car for beach boys and other hippies,” according to
Europe and the U.S. weren’t the only countries who gave this multi-purpose vehicle a nickname. The UK called it the Trekker, and Mexico and South America sold it as the Safari. And according to
The Thing was a fun and cheap vehicle from the 1970s. Built for the dirt and the streets, it's easy to repair and pretty much indestructible. Like the iconic Bug, it shares the same 46 hp four-cylinder rear engine.
Newsroom notes that the Volkswagon Thing was designed, “to see over hilltops when climbing steep terrain.” It has a sloping hood, a removable top, and the windshield folds down. Perfect for summer weather and spontaneous
Versatile as can be, the car can slide through the sand and easily convert to a hardtop SUV. Popular colors in its heyday included blizzard white, sunshine yellow, and pumpkin orange. You could even get a “The Thing” decal on your roadster.
The Volkswagen Thing’s tank fills a little over 10 gallons, but you probably don’t want to go faster than 50 mph anyway. It lacks ample room for your legs, and the seats are not built with comfort in mind. But a little bit of suffering from the Thing is all part of the fun!
Is the Volkswagen Thing still kickin’ it?
Following the vintage off-roading trend, interest for the Volkswagen Thing has steadily grown since 2010.
Most 4x4 vehicles come at a high price point, but this rugged car has always been moderately affordable. You can get a typical Volkswagen Thing starting at around $22,000. Mint condition models can run in the $40,000 range.
It’s also been spotted as a rental car—a great option if you want to turn a few heads rolling up to the beach on the
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