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///Mink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5051 Location: Fair Oaks, CA
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Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 11:26 pm Post subject: So I bought a Thing...and then... |
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I bought another one.
Ok, for years I've toyed with the idea of getting a Thing. I'm primarily a Split Bus guy, but something about a utilitarian convertible appealed to me. So for months I trawled the classifieds here, Craigslist, swaps, etc and just couldn't find a decent Thing within a thousand miles for a reasonable price.
So I put a "Thing wanted" ad on my local Craigslist and didn't really expect much. Boy, was I wrong. Within a week I had found a clean original paint orange '73 with both tops that hadn't been advertised anywhere. But then right after that deal was done I was offered a '74 Acapulco Thing so cheap I just couldn't say no.
The '73 is a nice driver with an original hardtop, brand new curtains and thrashed soft top. It has a big old dent on the rocker under the LR door but it's fixable. I'm fairly handy with a welder and spray gun.
The '74 was an Acapulco and has been raised with an adjustable beam and some other black magic in the rear which includes 930 CV joints or so I'm told. It's been sitting forever, but I got it fired up and it seems to run good. I initially bought it as a parts car but I think it's too good for that fate. It also came with a ton of extra stuff including a brand new black soft top which will go on the orange '73.
So that's my story. Go easy on me as I learn the Thing ropes.
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Pierre G Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2007 Posts: 1771 Location: New Caledonia
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 12:14 am Post subject: |
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Welcome to the Thing world. Keep the orange and sell the purple one to fund the resto of the '73. And keep this thread as your build thread for the orange one. Nice finds. _________________ 1976 181/Thing, 1967 fastback, 1973 squareback, 1964 microbus, 1967 Double Cab, 1969 westfalia (currently under resto), 1972 LM1C dune buggy, 1974 jean's bug, 1974 1303 (super beetle, currently under reassembly after new paint). |
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2-73vdubs Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2004 Posts: 234 Location: Landrum,SC
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 5:25 am Post subject: |
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I agree,the orange one looks real close to original so you should keep it and sell the other to fund the restoration.Of course you could keep both and have two fun drivers. |
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Chad1376 Samba Member
Joined: January 29, 2005 Posts: 1435 Location: Henderson, Nevada
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 6:44 am Post subject: |
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I say keep 'em both. Drive the '74 as-is while you do a resto on the '73. When you're done, keep the '74 as an of road thrasher, and the '73 as the Sunday cruiser. _________________ My never ending 1302 Autocross Project:
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&a...02b8f83f22 |
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norcalmike Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 4784 Location: Marina, CA
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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Cool Tom.
now between you, me and jason, we have 3 orange thing owners. Sweet.
id love to have an off road beater if you decide to part with the 74 |
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Pierre G Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2007 Posts: 1771 Location: New Caledonia
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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Chad1376 wrote: |
I say keep 'em both. Drive the '74 as-is while you do a resto on the '73. When you're done, keep the '74 as an of road thrasher, and the '73 as the Sunday cruiser. |
Wow, for once, I was trying to give reasonable advice (keep one and sell the other), but keeping both for dual purpose is a cool idea, more like the real me... (see my sig line... ) _________________ 1976 181/Thing, 1967 fastback, 1973 squareback, 1964 microbus, 1967 Double Cab, 1969 westfalia (currently under resto), 1972 LM1C dune buggy, 1974 jean's bug, 1974 1303 (super beetle, currently under reassembly after new paint). |
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Rev. Scott Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006 Posts: 770 Location: Philo, Ca.
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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welcome to the family... _________________ "I haven't seen one of those since I was shootin' at 'em!" |
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hitest Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2008 Posts: 10296 Location: Prime Meridian, ID
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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The Sacto Thing crowd is growing! I thought all the stray oranges Things ended up in Boise- congrats. The Acapulco has lost most of it's unique Acapulco-esque features- I echo the "roll it while reconditioning the orange 73" opinion. _________________
EverettB wrote: |
I wonder what the nut looks like.
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'62 L390 151, '62 L469 117, '63 L380 113, '64 L87 311, '65 L512 265, '65 L31 SO-42, '66 L360 251, '68 L30k 141, '71 L12 113, '74 ORG 181
FU#5 |
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///Mink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5051 Location: Fair Oaks, CA
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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I spent most of the last 2 days working on the '74 and driving the '73. I did a ton of wiring work on the '74 and now pretty much everything works. Installed the fuel tank, worked on the brakes and e-brake and drove it up and down the street a few times. It's been off the road longer than I thought - the last registration sticker is '83!
Anyway, it's now had a bath and is parked with some of its siblings.
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crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19670 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 7:46 am Post subject: |
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Good Job Tom!
Welcome to the Thing forums - you thought bus folks were odd!
Oh, and you don't need a 2.0l in that Thing either! _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
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///Mink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5051 Location: Fair Oaks, CA
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:10 am Post subject: |
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crofty wrote: |
Good Job Tom!
Welcome to the Thing forums - you thought bus folks were odd!
Oh, and you don't need a 2.0l in that Thing either! |
Ah, this reminds me...I have to give a public "Thank you!" to Sean for answering my unending stream of questions and critiquing countless sale ads for me during my search.
I owe you a beer or six. |
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Ian Epperson Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2005 Posts: 2262 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:35 am Post subject: |
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crofty wrote: |
Oh, and you don't need a 2.0l in that Thing either! |
Eh? What? Haven't I given you a ride with the 2.3? Solomon Grundy and Sam recently saw the light _________________ VW-181 shirts and stickers.
http://ian.epperson.com/vw |
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crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19670 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Ian Epperson wrote: |
crofty wrote: |
Oh, and you don't need a 2.0l in that Thing either! |
Eh? What? Haven't I given you a ride with the 2.3? Solomon Grundy and Sam recently saw the light |
Not yet. I think you were on your second trany replacement or something like that. _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
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crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19670 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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///Mink wrote: |
crofty wrote: |
Good Job Tom!
Welcome to the Thing forums - you thought bus folks were odd!
Oh, and you don't need a 2.0l in that Thing either! |
Ah, this reminds me...I have to give a public "Thank you!" to Sean for answering my unending stream of questions and critiquing countless sale ads for me during my search.
I owe you a beer or six. |
Awwww, no problem. Will I see it at Sac? _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
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///Mink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5051 Location: Fair Oaks, CA
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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crofty wrote: |
Awwww, no problem. Will I see it at Sac? |
I think so. We need to bring the Westy so we have a civilized place to hang out, but I might bring the Thing, too. |
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crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19670 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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///Mink wrote: |
crofty wrote: |
Awwww, no problem. Will I see it at Sac? |
I think so. We need to bring the Westy so we have a civilized place to hang out, but I might bring the Thing, too. |
So you're over-nighting? _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
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///Mink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5051 Location: Fair Oaks, CA
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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crofty wrote: |
So you're over-nighting? |
Oh, hell no. I did that once...never again. You? |
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crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19670 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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///Mink wrote: |
crofty wrote: |
So you're over-nighting? |
Oh, hell no. I did that once...never again. You? |
Always! _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
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sixty9fasty Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2004 Posts: 1066 Location: crockett, ca
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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crofty wrote: |
///Mink wrote: |
crofty wrote: |
So you're over-nighting? |
Oh, hell no. I did that once...never again. You? |
Always! |
HEAR HEAR!! Enjoy the BEER!
I can't even consider going without camping out |
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norcalmike Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 4784 Location: Marina, CA
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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sixty9fasty wrote: |
crofty wrote: |
///Mink wrote: |
crofty wrote: |
So you're over-nighting? |
Oh, hell no. I did that once...never again. You? |
Always! |
HEAR HEAR!! Enjoy the BEER!
I can't even consider going without camping out |
i will overnight with the thing. see you all there |
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