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So I bought a Thing...and then...
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///Mink
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PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2010 11:26 pm    Post subject: So I bought a Thing...and then... Reply with quote

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. Embarassed


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Pierre G
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PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 12:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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2-73vdubs
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PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 5:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 6:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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norcalmike
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PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 12:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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... Twisted Evil Wink (see my sig line... d'oh! )
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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
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PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 2:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

welcome to the family...
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hitest
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PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 3:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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I wonder what the nut looks like.



'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

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///Mink
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PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 7:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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!
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///Mink
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Laughing
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crofty
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 12:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Laughing


Not yet. I think you were on your second trany replacement or something like that. Very Happy
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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
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

///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?
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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
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 12:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

///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?
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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
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 2:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

crofty wrote:


So you're over-nighting?


Oh, hell no. I did that once...never again. You?
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crofty
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

///Mink wrote:
crofty wrote:


So you're over-nighting?


Oh, hell no. I did that once...never again. You?


Always!
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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
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 7:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2010 8:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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