how much to spend ?

[hotstate]

Hi, I am new to your forum,and am interested in buying a "Thing". What should I expect for spending 4500-5500 for one?? Can the hartop models automatically become verts or if you buy a hardtop that is what you get?? Great forum,I see everyone trys to help one another..great job. I'm sorry one last question,,Is it wrong for a 58 year ol male to want a "Thing" anyone know of any good ones for sale in Arizona?? sorry that was 2 questions..thanks

[bljones]

Welcome aboard.
In answer to your questions:
5500 clams should buy you a decent driver that needs little work and is missing nothing.

Take the hardtop off, and you've got a convertible... but you may not have a convertible top. if you find a model for sale with a hard top, find out if a soft top and frame is included. You can't mount the hardtop with the soft top frame left in place.

It's not wrong to want a Thing, at any age. in fact, it means you show abnormal intelligence and sophistication.
_________________
OG JHC
Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%

[Buckly]

All things will fit a hard top or a soft convertible. For 5500 I'd try to get one with both. Or Spend a little less and buy one or the other after ward. A new soft top with frame goes for a bout $1000 as well as an og hard top or new remanufactured hard top. Good luck, and I agree you must be a "scalar and a gentleman, and there's damn few of us left".
_________________
Cool runnins,
_______________________
Bucky

[Big Jim]

Maybe I was just young and exuberant when I bought my Thing a couple of years ago. I'm now older and wiser at 56 and I'd do it again in a minute. Maybe not the same Thing now that I know more but I have more fun in it than just about anything else I've driven (except maybe the '04 'Vette convertable my wife rented for my birthday last year)

[jackq]

58???? Thats a godd age to go nuts. I'll be 55 in dec, and in five days about two weeks ago bought five very different cars. A few months ago I bought a 74 Thing, built a new engine and was planning on doing a full resto...then I found a few toys. I have many air cooled VWs..bugs, ghias..a 23 window. Also have a few MGs..a B roadster, a BGT, a CGT(6 cyl) a 70 Porsche 911e...and others. Then I found another BGT, a Midget and another type 3. Then I bought a 65 Mustang for my wife(Christmas suprise) she drives a Rodeo and a 78 bug Champagne Edition vert. Last one was for me..just bought a beautiful77 Corvette. White, red leather...built. My wife and grown kids think I've lost it. Nothing is financed, pay cash for eveything so whats wrong with a mid-life crisis??? Buy your Thing. I'll sell mine to make room for something else thats out there looking for me:>)

[hotstate]

Thanks for the support on the age,,,,I feel like I'm 29 again,,,at least on one side....still lookin for a "Thing"...anyone hear of one in Arizona area please let me know...e-mail address [email protected] phone number 480-983-1225....thanks,again,,

[TimGud]

Might want to talk to the people at the Thing Shop in Chandler (480)753-0684. The time I was in there (couple of years ago) they told me of a friend of thiers that was selling one,and maybe there is another for sale they know of. Sure can't hurt to ask. Keep looking in the classifieds here on a regular basis too as a few come up for sale every year in Az. I used to work on a 73 Thing for a 75 year old man a few years back so you are by no means too old to want one. Good luck on your search.