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Augie Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2004 Posts: 160 Location: LI, NY
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2023 7:04 pm Post subject: Thing at Amelia auction |
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I saw a 73 Thing that was auctioned off this weekend at the Amelia Concours. Very clean, do not know the winning bids but they were hoping for the $30K range.
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yel-mel Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2015 Posts: 421 Location: Tampa Florida
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2023 5:32 am Post subject: Re: Thing at Amelia auction |
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It does look nice ! |
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77kafer Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2008 Posts: 823 Location: New Windsor, NY
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Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2023 5:41 am Post subject: Re: Thing at Amelia auction |
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Hammer price 33,600 _________________ Supposed to be 77käfer, but there are no umlauts on an american keyboard
Overheard on 27 June 07, one lady to another when they saw my Harli in a parking lot at West Point, "maybe he found it on the clearance aisle at the Volkswagen dealer" |
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germansupplyscott Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 7094 Location: toronto
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Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:17 am Post subject: Re: Thing at Amelia auction |
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Here's the auction page:
https://www.broadarrowauctions.com/vehicles/am23_037/1973-volkswagen-type-181-thing
Strong money for that car. It's pretty but some really weird ish with this car:
WTF is going on with the mirrors?
It's squatting in the rear. Any restorer who knows Things would not allow it to be complete without adjusting the ride height in the rear. I really hate the look of a Thing that is squatting.
Don't like the aftermarket tail lights
Overstuffed front seats - foam inside for sure instead of coconut fibre
Missing the boot on the wiper motor wires, motor is painted white on the bottom
Crappy side curtains
Weird paint job inside the trunk
Something weird about the wheels. Not sure what they are but they're not 181
A decent, solid car. _________________ SL |
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wbailey2112 Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2015 Posts: 483 Location: Grove City, OH
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Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:48 am Post subject: Re: Thing at Amelia auction |
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What's up with the mirrors is that they are just standard repro bus mirrors with no stem extensions to put the mirrors above the top of the doors.
As for the taillights, the usual generic elephant foot repro model that fits either the left or right side.
It's certainly a nice Thing but whoever paid $30K for it either did not care about the details or was an uninformed buyer that had deep pockets and just wanted a Thing. _________________ '74 Thing
'83 Westfalia |
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Augie Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2004 Posts: 160 Location: LI, NY
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Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 8:24 am Post subject: Re: Thing at Amelia auction |
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I did not see any side curtains, but I liked the top. I did not notice the odd mirrors, but I prefer them on the door post so you can remove the doors. I do not really know what is stock, but someone put bosses on the posts on mine. |
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Deckard Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2012 Posts: 296 Location: Knoxville, TN
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Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Thing at Amelia auction |
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I find it odd that rather than spending a bit more money and crafting a period-correct car they made some rather odd choices, like the grills over the headlights, which cheapen the look. They also forgot to properly glue the B pillar trim, which I find ridiculous for a 30K car
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germansupplyscott Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 7094 Location: toronto
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Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Thing at Amelia auction |
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Deckard wrote: |
I find it odd that rather than spending a bit more money and crafting a period-correct car they made some rather odd choices, like the grills over the headlights, which cheapen the look. They also forgot to properly glue the B pillar trim, which I find ridiculous for a 30K car
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Totally agree (and really dislike anything on headlights like that, grilles, eyebrows especially). I made some nit-picky comments above but they are significantly based on the price of the car. In the photo above I also notice that the plastic plug is missing from the top of the hinge and see the cheap aftermarket lap belts. Little details are part of what makes a car like this valuable and every missing detail reduces value.
Also has one of those hideously loud mufflers with the tiny resonator.
Side curtains (looks like Augie maybe you attended the event in person? The photos are from the auction company site)
_________________ SL |
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Augie Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2004 Posts: 160 Location: LI, NY
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Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 7:35 am Post subject: Re: Thing at Amelia auction |
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Yes, I was at the event. Worked out that we were in Florida on vacation. I thought it was a really nice car, more stock than mine is, but that was the way it was when I bought it. It is always a work in progress, but will do it to my preferences. I am not a purist in that sense.
The Thing on auction at least started and moved on its own power. The Manx that was also on auction did not start and was towed to the auction area. |
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germansupplyscott Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 7094 Location: toronto
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Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:06 am Post subject: Re: Thing at Amelia auction |
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The great part of this is that a Thing can sell for that kind of money! _________________ SL |
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Dusty1 Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2004 Posts: 1432
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Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:08 am Post subject: Re: Thing at Amelia auction |
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It's all good fun until you want a Thing project for reasonable money.
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