In Praise of the Thing

[coad]

I guess I'm writing this as an inspiration to all the Thing owners out there. Maybe it belongs in the Stories forum, but here goes:

I bought a 181 brand new and finally sold it 9 years later with over 100,000 miles on it. It spent all those winters in Chicago parked outside on city streets. It was stolen twice--recovered both times. It was in so many accidents that I collected more insurance money than the Thing cost new (people kept sliding into me on the ice--don't know why).
In 100,000 miles the only problems were 3 valve jobs (#3 each time), a starter, cv jointts, an exhaust system, and more or less constant gas heater troubles from the time it was new (if you replace one of the fuses with a penny the heater works much better but flames occasionally shoot out the front fender. I forget which fuse does that).

One January it took me on a 10 day trip from Chicago to New Orleans, then to Key West and from key West to Chicago nonstop (3 drivers taking turns).

My point is-- you guys have a GREAT car which will take you anywhere, anytime. Don't put it in the garage this winter. Buy an extra pair of socks and enjoy these wonderful cars all year long. Take it on trips, drive it on the beach at Daytona.

And if you find a primer grey '73 thing with a yellow interior and a lot of body damage in a Chicago junkyard let me know . . .

[TimGud]

Great story! A 73 Thing complete with flame thrower! When I was a kid there was a sales display for the 74 thing under a big tent complete with a thing driving simulator and sales literature,and I somehow managed to get my mug in the paper with the thing. Little did I know that years later my wife would get me away from the Chevy's and hooked on VW's and this year I ended up trading for a 74 Thing.I Don't think that I'll leave it outside though. It's too hard to find parts for them now.

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Sounds romantic, but no roof and no heater means it's in the garage.