Vehicle Details
- Year: 1973
- Make: Volkswagen
- Model: Thing
- VIN: 1832840644
- Mileage Shown: 86,962mi (TMU)
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: White
- Seller: GenauAutoWerks
- Seller Type: Dealer
- Location: Oakland, CA 94602
- Dealer Fees: None
- Lot #: V-0022631
Available for auction is this 1973 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing finished in white over a black vinyl interior. Originally developed as a utility vehicle for the West German Military, the Type 181 became popular among consumers for its versatile, durable, and unique design. This example was acquired by the seller in October of 2020 and has since received an upgraded 1,904cc flat-four engine, new tires, a front disc brake conversion, and more. This Volkswagen Thing is now being offered for auction by its seller out of California.
This Type 181 comes finished in white with a black convertible top. Features include removable doors and side windows, a folding windshield, dual side mirrors, and 14” steel wheels with chrome hubcaps. The wheels were dressed in a set of new Coker Classic whitewall tires under current ownership. The seller believes the car was factory-finished in orange and later repainted in the current shade of white by a previous owner, and a small tear is noted at the top of the plastic rear window. Detailed images can be found in the gallery.
The driver is greeted by a simple interior with black vinyl upholstery for the low-back front bucket seats, rear bench, and dashboard. Accessories include an aftermarket shifter, a gas heater, rubber floor mats, dash-mounted cupholders, and front seat lap belts. The seller reports the heater and odometer are currently inoperable.
Power comes from an air-cooled 1,904cc flat-four engine that was installed by Viking Foreign Auto Parts of Novato, California, in May 2022 and features dual carburetors, a PerTronix Flame-Thrower distributor, a forged 74mm-stroke crankshaft, solid rocker shafts, an oil cooler, and a mild 110 camshaft. The rear wheels are driven by way of a 4-speed manual transaxle. An upgraded exhaust system exits through the rear bumper providing an aggressive tone, and the front drum brakes were converted to discs at a cost of approximately $2,500.
This sale will include owner’s manuals, a spare tire, service records, and a clean title.
Auction Results
- Sold for: $23,000
- Auction End: Sep 21, 2022 07:17:43PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 16
Comments (24)
Sold for $23,000
Bid in the amount of $23,000
Bid in the amount of $21,250
Bid in the amount of $21,000
Bid in the amount of $20,250
Porsche 415 ruined our fun. Did not sell on BAT at $22.5K last month.
Bid in the amount of $20,000
Bid in the amount of $18,000
Bid in the amount of $17,250
Bid in the amount of $17,000
Bid in the amount of $16,250
Bid in the amount of $16,000
Bid in the amount of $15,000
Bid in the amount of $14,500
Bid in the amount of $14,000
Bid in the amount of $13,500
Good morning everyone, it's our favorite day, auction day!
It's been pretty quite around here, but I know many of you will be coming back as we get closer. So let's recap the opportunity on this Thing:
As we mentioned earlier in the auction, the current owner purchased this as a runabout on his property (where we photographed it) and around town. Since it was something that he intended to keep, he invested a significant amount to put a new 1.9l hot motor in from Viking, he also added a new exhaust, worked on the shifter (best shifting Thing we've ever driven!) and a front disc brake conversion.
This thing drives and stops really well. The new owner will love the performance of it. A property development opportunity came up that meant this Thing would no longer have a home for a significant period of time, so he's decided to part with it.
We are here for any last minute questions, please check out the driving video!
Thanks, see you in a few hours!
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Bid in the amount of $12,000
Bid in the amount of $9,000
@Bruce914 @Bruce914, whoops, answered in a separate comment. Sorry!
Hi @Bruce914. Nice handle. 1.7, 2.0? We have a 914-6GT tribute. Fun cars!
Yes, it was. We were close and should have been able to get the deal closed, but the high bidder disappeared on us. Maybe this is a sign! ;)
Wasn't this just for sale on another site? Good looking car - I didn't win then but now another chance.
Hello everyone!
We are very excited to have our first auction here at PCarMarket! Before we get too far, I want to let you all know we have driving video for this car: https://youtu.be/g_sopfBjOtM
While this is our first auction with PCar, we have been helping client's sell their cars for many years! You can check out the cars we have done in the past on our website: www.genauautowerks.com.
Now, about THIS car! Someone is going to get very lucky. My client purchased this in October 2020 to use on his property as a runabout. Because his intention was to keep it for the long-term, he started doing some really great upgrades, not the least of which is a brand new 1.9L Viking Auto Parts engine! Definitely a little hotter than a normal 1.9L, this Thing really moves! He also had a disc brake conversion done on the front brakes. Please have a look through the pictures and listen to the video, this is a mechanically great car!
The owner has had an opportunity to develop a residential property that was too good to pass up. Because of that, he's sold the property where you see this Thing photographed and he won't have the room for this vehicle for at least another year.
He knows he's upside down on this Thing (check out the receipts!), so someone is going to really get a great deal. Again, we are excited to host our first auction here, if we can answer any questions, please let us know!