So I bought a Thing...and then...

[///Mink]

I bought another one.

Ok, for years I've toyed with the idea of getting a Thing. I'm primarily a Split Bus guy, but something about a utilitarian convertible appealed to me. So for months I trawled the classifieds here, Craigslist, swaps, etc and just couldn't find a decent Thing within a thousand miles for a reasonable price.

So I put a "Thing wanted" ad on my local Craigslist and didn't really expect much. Boy, was I wrong. Within a week I had found a clean original paint orange '73 with both tops that hadn't been advertised anywhere. But then right after that deal was done I was offered a '74 Acapulco Thing so cheap I just couldn't say no.

The '73 is a nice driver with an original hardtop, brand new curtains and thrashed soft top. It has a big old dent on the rocker under the LR door but it's fixable. I'm fairly handy with a welder and spray gun.

The '74 was an Acapulco and has been raised with an adjustable beam and some other black magic in the rear which includes 930 CV joints or so I'm told. It's been sitting forever, but I got it fired up and it seems to run good. I initially bought it as a parts car but I think it's too good for that fate. It also came with a ton of extra stuff including a brand new black soft top which will go on the orange '73.

So that's my story. Go easy on me as I learn the Thing ropes.

[Pierre G]

Welcome to the Thing world. Keep the orange and sell the purple one to fund the resto of the '73. And keep this thread as your build thread for the orange one. Nice finds.
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1976 181/Thing (daily driver), 1967 fastback, 1973 squareback, 1964 microbus, 1967 Double Cab, 1969 westfalia (currently under resto), 1972 westfalia, 1978 westfalia, 1972 LM1C dune buggy, 1974 jean's bug, 1974 1303 (super beetle, currently under reassembly after new paint) + 2 semi wrecks 181 (1971 and 1972)...

[2-73vdubs]

I agree,the orange one looks real close to original so you should keep it and sell the other to fund the restoration.Of course you could keep both and have two fun drivers.

[Chad1376]

I say keep 'em both. Drive the '74 as-is while you do a resto on the '73. When you're done, keep the '74 as an of road thrasher, and the '73 as the Sunday cruiser.
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See progress on my "Free Thing" here
http://1973vwthingproject.blogspot.com/

[norcalmike]

Cool Tom.
now between you, me and jason, we have 3 orange thing owners. Sweet.

id love to have an off road beater if you decide to part with the 74

[Pierre G]

[Rev. Scott]

welcome to the family...
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"I haven't seen one of those since I was shootin' at 'em!"

[hitest]

The Sacto Thing crowd is growing! I thought all the stray oranges Things ended up in Boise- congrats. The Acapulco has lost most of it's unique Acapulco-esque features- I echo the "roll it while reconditioning the orange 73" opinion.
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[///Mink]

I spent most of the last 2 days working on the '74 and driving the '73. I did a ton of wiring work on the '74 and now pretty much everything works. Installed the fuel tank, worked on the brakes and e-brake and drove it up and down the street a few times. It's been off the road longer than I thought - the last registration sticker is '83!

Anyway, it's now had a bath and is parked with some of its siblings.

[crofty]

Good Job Tom!

Welcome to the Thing forums - you thought bus folks were odd!

Oh, and you don't need a 2.0l in that Thing either!
_________________
I don't mind eccentric people i just don't care for shit heads.

I am Bastard, hear me Roar-

[///Mink]

[Ian Epperson]

[crofty]

[crofty]

[///Mink]

[crofty]

[///Mink]

[crofty]

[sixty9fasty]

[norcalmike]