My new 1971 Safari

jeremyrockjock · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:33 pm Post subject: My new 1971 Safari

I am now the new owner of a 71 Safari (Thing). It is in fair shape but has a few issues. One thing that is confusing is trying to figure out the original color. After sanding through the many many layers of paint the upper outer part of the dash is and olive color while the inside is a beige color. Does anyone know if here was a two tone model is 71?

Here are some pictures of it the day I got it.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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Semper_Dad · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:31 pm Post subject:

Congrats and welcome to this side of the form. Judging from some of the pictures in your gallery this will be a walk in the park. Where did you find a 71? Is it a Mexico or a German built 181?

I don't know of any two-tone configurations coming from the factory but once it left the factory anything can (and did) happen.

Some other questions.
Does it have swing/RGBs or IRS axles?
Still have a gas heater in the trunk?
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oasis · Samba Member Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2168

I saw it in the classifieds ... I was wondering about the origin of the taillights.
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jeremyrockjock · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:43 am Post subject:

It is from Mexico. The previous owner bought and drove it from Mexico in 2003. He went throught the pains of getting it legal in the US. It has the reduction boxes but no gas heater. I have a heater that will be going in it. The front and rear has been hit in its distant past and I a currently fixing that. I have a rear clip that will be going in the rear because the body work is just too bad. The rollcage and bumpers are made from exhaust pipe and will be removed. The floor pans are not bad at all. It has the rare rack hartop. The seat uphostery was redone with some unflattering material but that will work for now. The taillights are tralier lights someone installed and have already been removed. My plan for now is to finish going through the mechanicals and drive it while I scrape the 7 layers of paint off and spray bomb it with a flat light olive. It still has the 15" wheels but one has a nasty rust hole in it which I will try to fix. it is pretty cool being so different from the 73-74 Things that are at all the shows. I am digging it.
_________________
Why buy what you can build.
Step away from the fiberglass and no one gets hurt!!

el_safari · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:26 am Post subject:

Congrats for your buy .
I have also a 1971 but military model .
I don't think that they came in two tone paint .
The 15'' wheels came from the type 2 till 1963 .
Wink

jeremyrockjock · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:49 am Post subject:

Are they the same wheels? Same offset and all?
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Why buy what you can build.
Step away from the fiberglass and no one gets hurt!!

el_safari · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:34 am Post subject:

Yes

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:54 am Post subject:

I thought of buying it for the top and then selling the car.

Nice ride to re-do.
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Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

[email protected] · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:22 am Post subject:

never seen a hardtop like that, looks like a built in luggage rack...
Fiberjet>?
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Semper_Dad · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:15 pm Post subject:

Doc*181 · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:17 pm Post subject:

Looks like it has the fenders for small indicators but with (later) large indicators mounted on them?
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[email protected] · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:54 pm Post subject:

Pretty sure thats a fiberjet.
see how they poked a hole for the top frame clips.
That usually indicates a non VW hardtop
also it doesnt have the aluminum runners either.
Sometimes there is a tag on the back above or below the window outside
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jeremyrockjock · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:22 pm Post subject:

blakeck2 · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:28 pm Post subject:

My girlfriend thing has the same style top, dont think its VW but looks almost identical but lacks the side supports and rear also its much thinner.
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jeremyrockjock · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:28 am Post subject:

It has one rear drum with 12mm lugs and the other is 14mm so I am thinking the 14mm one is a bus drum.
_________________
Why buy what you can build.
Step away from the fiberglass and no one gets hurt!!

el_safari · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:29 pm Post subject:

exact

Van-go108 · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:02 pm Post subject:

[email protected] · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject:

Later fiberjets had ridges I have seen many and own a Fiberjet with ridges
None of the VW of America ones have that funny looking abuttment this one has.. unless it was altered after.
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http://www.thingparts.com
New and Used VW Thing Parts Free advice
CALL 518 630 0173

jeremyrockjock · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:59 pm Post subject:

Here is one in the classifieds.

So are there drums availible for the swing axle things? 12mm lugs?
_________________
Why buy what you can build.
Step away from the fiberglass and no one gets hurt!!

j.pickens · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:28 pm Post subject:

Congrats, Jeremy.
Are the reduction boxes small nut?
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