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Mon Mar 13, 2017 5:40 pm

Acapulco Things all fell within a certain 3-month range from May-July 1974. None before & none after those dates. Take a close look at the database, you'll see it's true.

Mon Mar 13, 2017 8:46 pm

I have never seen such holes on windshield hinges before. Has anyone else?
If so what are they used for? :?

Mon Mar 13, 2017 10:42 pm

Just got back in and checked behind the dash, it is blue, it seems to have white under the other colors on the body and blue everywhere it is supposed to, maybe it was done this way by someone back in the day and sold it to a local hotel or the local hotel copied the others, it is hard to say, the son only remembers it about 1978 or 79, it still had the top and was all white by then, the dad did work for the hotel but that is not definitive it was born that way, on a side note we got it running earlier today after sitting for a few years, the mystery is in the hinge holes, they look very clean and factory, they are chamfered/countersunk nicely, I have never seen a Thing with them, Acapulco or not, I hope someone will recognize them, I would like to restore it Acapulco style but until it is determined originally one I will call it a tribute/clone and enjoy it, all the info is greatly appreciated.

Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:31 am

hobie16 wrote: Eric Goodman wrote: As you can see from the Registry list, the VIN's were not specific or in any order for Acapulco's. The only real way yo tell if your Thing was an Acapulco would be to check the original color (white/blue), behind the dash panel should be blue.
Have you now changed your contention that Acapulco's fell into a specific VIN range? The back side of all three sections of my dash panel is painted blue on the back and there are holes in the fenders for running boards.

Hobie16, As you can see from the VW Thing Registry list on our website, the VIN's were not specific to a block of VIN's for the Acapulco's. I agree with Ron and Lee that they were made over a certain time period and VIN range, I was just saying others Things were made during that time also.

Thu Mar 16, 2017 2:11 pm

According to the parts manual, the last Acapulco Model ended with 184 2818 496. So if your vin number is after that, if may not be an Acapulco model.

Thu Mar 16, 2017 3:40 pm

Al Capulco wrote: According to the parts manual, the last Acapulco Model ended with 184 2818 496. So if your vin number is after that, if may not be an Acapulco model.

I have 194-2818 972, so I agree if its after the 184 2818 VIN numbers it is not an actual Acapulco. Interesting others estimated dates of production for Acapulco's were dates between May-July or August, but the 194-2818 972 is December.

Tue Mar 28, 2017 12:11 am

The VIN is 1842817169, am I understanding correctly that this would be within the range?

Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:52 pm

Resurrecting this from the dead.

Hello my name is ian, im from tennessee. I purchased a 1974, made in mexico, vw thing about 2 months ago...found it on craigslist at a farm in shelbyville, tn. The car is now orange but you can see the original white in behind places... I also noticed that it appeared to be re painted blue at some point so i had thought. Fast forward to today i was at my mechanic (another vw guy) talking about it. I had seen Acapulcos online upon researching the thing vehicles in general. I told him mine had blue behind the bumper stops, but i had never suspected it to be Acapulco because it didnt have running boards. He told me to do more research. Needless to say as soon as i got home i started researching more. I found what known vin numbers the acapulco models were made...low and behold mine is smack dab in the known range (1842543201)! After that i ran outside with a flashlight to check behind dash for blue, its was blue! Also under license plate light! Then i wanted to see if there were bolt holes for running boards...they were there, they had bondo covering over them! Someone had them removed (covered up) when removed. Hopefully this is another acapulco found!

Any info appreciated! Working on uploading pictures asap.
Thanks! Oh and sorry about the authentic mouse nest haha.

Mon Oct 08, 2018 7:23 am

This is great info Lee - thanks.

I wonder if you or another knowledgeable reader might help me decipher what I have. I bought a 74 (sight unseen) that I was told was an Acapulco -which is what I wanted. It needs essentially a full restoration

Upon receipt, I learned the SN is 184 254 4430 which is well outside the known range of 2024-4064. It also had no surrey top or frame or running boards. I concluded it is NOT an Acapulco.

However, during the tear-down I'm now seeing things that are giving me 2nd thoughts. Keep in mind, it appears to have never been restored but it is correspondingly rough (but not rusty). In the fenders, it has threaded and countersunk holes for running boards that my mechanic says are factory in his opinion. Upon disassembly of dash, its blue on the back side. Similarly, front AND back bumpers are currently primered on outside but both are blue on inside. It came with tan side curtains and Acapulco style seats that were absolutely rotten (looked 40+ years sold). My mechanic (the auto archaeologist) is not a VW specialist but he says the SN is very near the end of production range so anything could have happened ?

Does anyone have any thoughts ? I'd love to use the VIN to track down original owner and/or factory records and verify one way or another for certain ?

Thanks,
Tony

Tue Oct 09, 2018 5:30 pm

I have an Acapulco that was painted over white and restores to look like a standard thing. I have a chip or 2 that shows the blue underneath. It's a very nicely restored car, however. I am wondering if the Acapulco designation makes the car more or less valuable? Note the grey lower panel that was originally blue and I am not sure if visible in this photo but the running board mounting bolt holes are still there.

Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:14 pm

Getting around to sanding some if the paint layers off...low and behold, there is the running board hole! Looks like I know it's a true acapulco Now! :D I just wonder where those running boards ended up...

Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:59 pm

My VIN is 184-254-3805 this seems to be in the Acapulco range. Was wondering if some could confirm??
Plate on door has a manufactured date of June 1974.

I’m still fighting with the California DMV, as my title lists the year as a 1975 🙄

Fri Nov 02, 2018 7:37 am

I had gotten this Acapulco a couple months ago... since sold to a guy in NE. Vin is 1842544262. Vin on title matched body. Had beautiful blue paint under the hood, blue behind dash, holes in fenders and nuts on rockers for side steps. No sign of surry top or striped seats. All signs point to it being real...

Sun Nov 25, 2018 9:23 pm

Hi, i have the hooks for the chains used when the doors are not installed. someone knows how to install in the body?

Sat Apr 06, 2019 12:48 pm

Here's the vin on my Acapulco.

Mon Apr 15, 2019 7:36 pm

Hi all.

I picked up a 74 Thing several months ago and have recently discovered that it is an Acapulco edition. The dash panels have blue behind them and under the spray paint. The deck lid light was also blue. No running boards though. Hard top.

Here is the VIN

184 Z 542 2119

I started body work on it and paint is still a ways off. Can someone give me some pros and cons of changing colors to avocado ... Should I keep this as an og Acapulco? It seems like not only is that the right thing to do, but it will be worth much more and my intent is to sell it some day.

Thoughts?

Tue Apr 16, 2019 4:12 am

its your vehicle but your last two sentences say it all to me. If it was mine i would do it up as an Acapulco.

Tue May 28, 2019 6:06 pm

Here is my Acapulco Thing-Got it from my father-in-laws air plane hanger-IT was beside two 1967 corvettes-(which I could not get) It has not been on the road since 1997-My son and I are about to start work on it

Wed Dec 01, 2021 9:56 pm

My wife and I recent purchased a June of 74 Acapulco
We bought it from a man and woman who had owned iT for close to thirty years I believe.
We are slowly learning some stuff about the car.

My question is, out of the 400
How many are left?

Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:11 pm

Hillbilly73 wrote: My wife and I recent purchased a June of 74 Acapulco
We bought it from a man and woman who had owned iT for close to thirty years I believe.
We are slowly learning some stuff about the car.

My question is, out of the 400
How many are left?

go here to get somewhat of an idea
https://vwthingregistry.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Registry-Public-List-June-10-2021.pdf