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Stapler123
Samba Member


Joined: March 03, 2004
Posts: 18
Location: Tucson, Arizona
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 5:32 pm    Post subject: New here, old thing, Reply with quote

Hey there im Winston from az

I have had a 74 thing for about 6 years now. It has been in the family ever since my gramps traded a truck for it in mexico.

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It has a squareback front suspension, and bus rear... I think. The engine is a 1835 that is brand new, but wasn't put together all that well (not me but a "pro"). Fiberglass finders all around, Bikini Top. Everything else a purist would denounce I think.

As you can see its in a state of... junk. In mexico the PO the crashed it into a phone pole in the late 70's and completely fabricated his own front end since he couldn't afford the parts or another car. The hood I recently bought since his was not that great looking.

Anyway I was wonding if anybody knows the cost of sheetmetal for the WHOLE front end of the car.

The car has allot of.. . Charachter yeah thats it Charachter, But more than anything else Bondo.
Anyway Howdy yall
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g1142y
Samba Member


Joined: February 22, 2004
Posts: 4
Location: Chatham, IL
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why don't you check with Mike at Things Unlimited. His website store is at thingsunlimited.net. He's a good guy for anything you need, plus he's willing to give advice on how to do things. (no pun intended!) Also, keep checking Samba parts and type181registry.com for items for sale. There seem to be lots of Things in AZ so you might find the body parts you need close by.

I have to do some re-repair on the front myself. Good luck

p.s. I just remembered, look on page 2 of thing parts right here on Samba Classifieds. There is a front clip advertised in NM for $200..... too far for me to pick up. Here's the address..... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/index.php?alert+200401202114477850
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Big Luni
Samba Member


Joined: December 29, 2003
Posts: 427
Location: Hartford, CT
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Always keep an eye on ebay, too. Someone was selling a front clip a couple of days ago, but it's not on there now. Also, when I fixed all my rust back in '94, The Thing Shop didn't have a rocker panel source like they do now, so I bought them from a Thing junkyard in Colorado- they cut the panels off one of their Things and shipped them to me. Does anybody remember the name of that place, & know if they're still in business?
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Stapler123
Samba Member


Joined: March 03, 2004
Posts: 18
Location: Tucson, Arizona
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks I'll keep a look out. That clip looks interesting, but it still is allot of gas, and I need to go further than the gas spout . All the ribs on mine are bondo up to the front doors.
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TimGud
Samba Member


Joined: March 03, 2002
Posts: 6459
Location: Rio Rico Arizona
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try asking [email protected] as he has alot of Thing parts. Here's a cut and copy from the Thing owners roll call thread that he posted. Good luck with your search.




[email protected]
Samba Contributor


Joined: 22 Oct 2002
Posts: 53
Location: Houston, Texas
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 11:14 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had some neighbors with 6 or 7 kids in the family living up to block in 73 and they got a orange thing with side lettering "THE THING" on it. I used to go over there to play just to see the car. Then I had a VW shop and could never keep a thing on the lot, demand was much greater than supply in the warmer climates. One fateful day I heard about 50 181's for sale in Hamburg, I made an inquiry and it was more like 66 cars, then I asked for paperwork and it was 80+ cars and some parts, well it was 82 cars and the parts from 40 more . 15 containers later I had the largest private army in the US of Former German Army Vehicles. Of course I had to buy a warehouse to keep everything in and still look for good examples to trade. I took over Martha's thing owners listserve about 9 years ago and it is now hosted on topica.com under [email protected].
844 members currently signed up. Our Motto" A Thing of beauty is a joy forever."
I have the lowest milage thing sold in North America ( 4551) and I just show it every other year; But like a new love, so sweet, so fresh... here is my latest http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/index.php?alert+200402200544183171
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bljones
Resident Wit


Joined: February 08, 2002
Posts: 2377
Location: ontario canada
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 4:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome aboard! The others have given you some great advice on parts sourcing. Good to see more cars with character!
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