European v. US specifications??!?

[LauleaKai04]

This weekend I watched a German movie called "Big Girls Don't Cry" and one of the characters had a thing, looked like the military used. But anyway, it had smaller, clear turn signals and had the standard beetle tail lights mounted on the vertical part of the back of the body. All the models I have seen have Super Bettle tail lights at the angeled part in the back and big ugly orange turn signals. My question is, is there a European and US model of the Thing?? Thanks!!
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[bljones]

european spec is different, although there is also some variation from year to year. My Euro 181 (73) has bus style taillights, but amber front turn signals, and multi-piece headlights, rather than sealed beams. The transmissions also had different ratios. My car also doesn't have the intake muffs, instead it has louvers just like earlier 181s. I'm sure there are toher differences, but those are just off the top of my head.
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OG JHC
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[LauleaKai04]

ah yes, bus tail lights. I was doubting that they were standard beetle lights, I don't look at 68 and ups. Can you give me more information on the multi-piece beams?
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[bljones]

they are essentially the same as the halogen conversion kits for sale now- trim ring, glass lens, reflector bowl, and bulb receptacle.
_________________
OG JHC
Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%

[TimGud]

bljones> Aren't the intake covers only for the 74 Things without the gas heaters? Every 73 and back I have seen have gas heaters and no intake covers/muffs.

[bljones]

you're right, tim. My fingers were moving faster than my brain. My 74 parts car had muffs, but it also had low taillights. That was the thought that i was trying to get across... and completely failed.
_________________
OG JHC
Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%

[chabanais]

Does anybody know why those Super Beetle lights were installed on US-bound Things? Was it a height requirement or something?
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All the military units (option code M63) has gas heaters, even to the end of production in the 1980's. Hence they sport no muffs. They had 2 diffeent type of h-1 headlights, one was a multi piece unit and one was an all in one that even included the trim ring, but the bulb was replaceable.

The US DOT cars had to have the larger lights to meet the spec for reflector and brightness. The Euro car had the extra rear facing fog warning light mounted on the rear bumper. The euro 181 tail light is a 2 bulb affair, not a true usa type 2 part interchange, but they have the same outside dimensions.

The mil spec car options are detailed on my web site

http://hometown.aol.com/kfjc

or I can send you a email containg the part #'s and prices of the Mil spec stuff.

Ken

[TimWVU]

First of all they were not "superbeetle" taillights...all beetles std. and super had those same taillights 73 and later, i think the reason US things had them were because it was DOT regulations or something. I hate them...they are ugly...

[rfoutch]

Several after market sites (including the thing shop) sale a flattened version that looks a whole lot better.

The ones at the thing shop are $70.00 for the pair, like to find them cheaper.

I always hated those type of lights too... Love the late 50's early 60's beatle lights. Late 60's started to get too big for me, then the 70's and WOW... Disco lights on the rear.....

RF

[vdubthingden]

I have a 1971 German Military Thing, it has the bus tail lights and the gas heater