February 1973, Chicago Auto Show Picture of VW THING

[randybriscoe]

First time the VW THING was in Chicago. I remember standing on that hideous yellow carpet. The one in the foreground is red, w/pre-import tail lights.

[SilverThing]

That is awesome! Thank you for sharing that!

I'll have to go through my collection, but I have a magazine article somewhere that was an auto magazine that stumbled across a pre-import Thing being test driven out in the dunes somewhere. I wonder if this picture is the same one.
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"I like how everyone likes talking about Zeke's Thing yet he's the only one that's ever seen it." - Katie
"I've seen pictures..." - Jeremy

[MRJEL]

Man I love the "hippie" paint job! Don't know why, but I do!

Also drooling over the orange fastback!

[IHC]

Love the Fastback in the picture.Almost bought a 73,last year made.Also looked at the Thing at the port dock prior to official introduction.The local dealer had the Thing priced at 3600 which was more than all VW other than the Camper and 411.Ended up buying a Thing in 99 for $5500.Should have bought it in 73 for $3600.

[citroen]

Great picture I will add it to our website thanks . If you want to see more of the old pictures of thing's in old magazine's check out the photos on our website http://kubeltreffen181.com

[oasis]

The corporate groovy paint scheme drew my attention first, then the Type 3, then the Euro/Type 2 tail lights. Pretty amazing pic especially when we now know it was the last year for the Type 3, next to last year for the Type 4 and Karmann Ghia, and simultaneously the first and next to last year for Thing (officially in the US).

I would love the Fastback, Mr. Groovy, a Type 2, or a 412.
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Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[randybriscoe]

This is the first time I saw a VW Thing in person, February 1973, the Chicago Auto Show. We ordered a Red colored one from a corporate level friend at the show. I think it was delivered late May or Early June. It was Orange of course, because they didn't import Red. Downers Grove VW told us we couldn't have the car for a couple of months, until they received a stocking order. They explained that most dealers were getting one car for showroom display only.

My family sent letters from an attorney friend about legal action, and had corporate lean on them a little. After a few days we took delivery. Car had no windows! Dealer claimed that they were shipped "Knocked Down", and that they had thrown the windows away, still in boxes, by mistake. Who knows. So no windows for about a month. The one overwhelming memory of the car, at delivery, was the rubber smell of those factory floor mats. That and the semi gloss orange paint. Not a lot of vehicles painted semi-gloss, then or now.

The THING I bought, used, from a Mail Man, in the dead of winter 1976, is now being fully restored. Follow along in the Forum under "Barn Find Thing Type 181, 27,000 Original Miles". Here's the link.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=579882

[delux68]

Is there any more picture of the multicolored one? It would be great to recreate it.