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Amount of filler used at factory for Thing?
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gfulcher
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Joined: July 10, 2004
Posts: 56
Location: Orinda, CA
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:56 am    Post subject: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? Reply with quote

[img]Hey everyone - it's been a long time since I've been on the Samba, after selling my '73 Thing and '72 914 after my second child was born (and living in the city at the time).

I've had two Things, and am very intimately familiar with all aspects of them. I'm considering purchasing another '73, and found one that is overall very solid, but has cracked filler & paint on the right side of the front apron, where it curves back towards the filler neck. See photo below. This car has been repainted in whole or part.

My question: How much filler was generally used from the factory? I haven't personally encountered any original filler in my Thing ownership, but that doesn't mean it wasn't used. I'm perplexed, because inspecting the inside of the trunk area, there is no deflection or damage visible. It'd be unusual for factory filler to crack in this way - at least in my experience.

Thoughts? Thanks!

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wbailey2112
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Joined: October 02, 2015
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Location: Grove City, OH
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:42 am    Post subject: Re: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? Reply with quote

My guess is not much filler was used if any at all. Looking at the photo you included I would say that this particular Thing has been hit and repaired. The paint on the right fender and the paint on the right side and front apron/hood don't seem to really match. The fender seems to be more of an original matt finish but the side, apron and hood appear to be gloss or semi-gloss. The shade of orange seems to be slightly different too.
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gfulcher
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Joined: July 10, 2004
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Location: Orinda, CA
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:45 am    Post subject: Re: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? Reply with quote

What is confusing to me, @wbailey2112, is the complete lack of any malformation inside the trunk in the same area. In fact, it's mostly original paint in there, as best I can tell. And, if the car was hit on that side, the fender wouldn't be original. That doesn't rule out the possibility the fender was replaced with a like-colored one, but things just aren't adding up.
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77kafer
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? Reply with quote

gfulcher, that seam to the left of the vertical rib has been filled in halfway also, it doesn't look like that on the driverside does it?
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Supposed to be 77kδfer, but there are no umlauts on an american keyboard

Overheard on 27 June 07, one lady to another when they saw my Harli in a parking lot at West Point, "maybe he found it on the clearance aisle at the Volkswagen dealer"
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gfulcher
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Joined: July 10, 2004
Posts: 56
Location: Orinda, CA
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? Reply with quote

It's uniform on both sides.. I looked specifically at that yesterday.
Update: the seller just sent me photos. He discovered an area tucked up under the top apron crossmember (for lack of a better term) that shows holes with filler oozing through, where the dent was pulled.

I looked in there yesterday, but apparently didn't stick my head in there far enough and look up.. He's check the other side for me.

Thanks, guys... I have always found it best to go back for a second visit before buying, which i might do on Weds.
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ach60 Premium Member
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Joined: May 14, 2001
Posts: 4139
Location: Santa Maria
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? Reply with quote

Seams get sealer applied before prime & and painting.
Nearly every photo I've seen, the seams looks like below,
but these things weren't to built that carefully that the excess isn't OEM Original Equipment Mexican sealer.
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Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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

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

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