Acapulco Database

[CraigInPA]

[FJBLF]

[Gene Kisner]

I find it very hard to believe that there were only 400 1974 Acapulco's made for United States sales. I have owned two, and I guarantee they both were authentic Acapulco's, never restored. Both totally original. The first one now lives in the Tampa Florida area. The second one I still have. 30,000 miles and close to being perfect. It was the first Acapulco to receive a HPOF badge from Antique Automobile Club of America. I believe it is still the only Acapulco to receive this award. HPOF means HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF ORIGINAL FEATURES. That means the judges have examined it and found it to be more than 95% showroom original and more than 95% showroom new condition. I have all three tops, Fiberglass, Folding, and Surrey. I am the third owner. The first owner was the head if training at the Terrytown, NY GM assembly plant. The second owner was a retired mechanical engineer. The fourth owner will be my granddaughter. If anyone can actually confirm how many Acapulco's were delivered and sold in the US I would be grateful for the information. I have made one addition to the Thing. A BLAZECUT, photos attached.

[oscarsnapkin]

[Gene Kisner]

The only thing that was standard on an Acapulco was a folding top and a surrey top. All other items were factory supplied, or factory authorized, and dealer installed. Even radio's had to be dealer installed. VW offered AC as a dealer installed item. You can find pictures, and descriptions, of AC under dash systems in the VW literature of 73 and 74. Actually they used several different suppliers of the equipment. Therefore you may find slight differences in appearance. If you cannot furnish documentation to AACA judges showing such items were legit, it negates eligibility for the HPOF award and cost points in other judged classes. The judges approved my change of the compressor due to R-12 refrigerant being replaced by R-134A.

[Hot Rod Harp]

Hi Gene, what size Blazecut did you use? The 20" T050E or the 44" T100E?
Thanks.
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74 Thing 1600DP
76 Westfalia 2.0L FI
69 Beetle 1500SP sold
88 Goldwing GL1500/6 sold


RinTinTin in Waldorf Astoria 1956

[Gene Kisner]

Use the 200 series, which is 2 meters (84 inches) in length.
Come on guys? I post all those great pictures of our SUPER CLEAN Acapulco, showing details of the compressor and the evaporator (fan coil section) and all I get is, "how long a BlazeCut did you use". Not one "atta boy", not one comment about how nice it is? You really know how to hurt a guy. Remember, this Acapulco is driven, never trailered.
Enough of my jokes.
If you want to know more about the BlazeCut installation view my photos and comments in The Samba Forum posted June 19, 2019 and June 20, 2019.

[Hot Rod Harp]

Gene..."atta boy" hahaha...really nice impressive Thing. Thanks much for the reply re: Blazecut, and the photos. I need to install on both VWs.
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74 Thing 1600DP
76 Westfalia 2.0L FI
69 Beetle 1500SP sold
88 Goldwing GL1500/6 sold


RinTinTin in Waldorf Astoria 1956

[oscarsnapkin]

Incredible Thing.
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- 1977 CEI Sunroof Bus 2.0L F.I. Hydraulic Lifters
- 1973 Thing

"It’s so easy to laugh, it’s so easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind."

[yel-mel]

Gene
This has to be the best example of a Thing AC system out there!
The engine bay is very nice as well.
What is your center console and gear shift.. are they 74 dealer installed ?

I love your joking comment on not getting a response. Thing owners are very unique people. You could post a picture of a Thing landing on Mars & you might not get a comment for a few days ( LOL )

[oscarsnapkin]

I always thought the ‘glove box’ doors were a more recent invention and not available when new. In all honesty, you have my dream Thing. I have five year old twins, and only one Thing. Someday I would like to acquire an Acapulco so they can each inherit a 181.
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- 1977 CEI Sunroof Bus 2.0L F.I. Hydraulic Lifters
- 1973 Thing

"It’s so easy to laugh, it’s so easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind."

[Madkel]

Captain Obvious says:
"WOW, that is a super nice and pristine Acapulco."

I know I was kinda blown away by the vehicle and it made me dumbfounded to be able to reply......

Much nicer than my car......
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1973 Type 181 - 2016cc - 091 trans
ITS A FUN RIDE!

[oscarsnapkin]

Does the A/C work, and if so, does it actually do anything? It’d be pretty cool driving around in a Thing in the dead of summer with the windows ‘up.’
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- 1977 CEI Sunroof Bus 2.0L F.I. Hydraulic Lifters
- 1973 Thing

"It’s so easy to laugh, it’s so easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind."

[FJBLF]

[sb001]

If anyone wants a project Acapulco here you go:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/10813155...d433f3b484
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I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[Gene Kisner]

Yes, THE AC WORKS GREAT!!
It maintains a discharge air temperature of 45 degrees F.
With the new compressor in place it only cost me 3 to 4 MPH on an five mile long 8% grade. I live in the West Virginia hills and mountains. Everything is either UP or DOWN. We only have two throttle positions, FULL ON or FULL OFF.
If you go to The Samba, Archives, Thing, All Brochures, 1974, Sales Brochure - English, then select the very bottom page. You will find pictures of the Console, the Shift Lever, and the shift Knob.
Next, go to the 1975 Sales Brochure - English, select the next to the last page on the right, the bottom right photo #18, is a photo of the original AC system offered.
Believe it, or not, you can currently purchase this exact AC system from Gilmore Enterprises, Las Vegas, NV. gilmore-enterprises.net The Karmann=Ghia unit is the identical unit for the THING.
The glove compartment door, in several different variations, has always been available. If you were satisfied with loosing the space you could even get one with a cut out for the radio.
Keep the questions coming.
Do you realize how hard it is to restrain myself from adding or changing anything. I have to remove the quartz headlamps and reinstall the originals for judging. I even have to remove the West Virginia University logo license plate for judging, since the "Flying WV" logo didn't exist until 1980.

[califblue]

Hello, I just sold one that I owned her for 32 years, It was on the SAMBA Board for 3 months...

[bobbylast]

I have a mystery but my vin # is in the ballpark. Has running boards and the hard ware is right. Problem is someone sand blasted the entire car and primered everything with dtm. No hints of oem paint. No door stickers or even any wiring. All stamped #s match and motor and transmission are correct although they were out when I got it. Any help is appreciated.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/77B49vV3QVKwP3R1A
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IF YOU USED TO BE, THEN I GUESS YOU NEVER WERE...

[germansupplyscott]

Bobbylast: do the mounting nuts that are part of the rocker, for attaching the running boards, look factory? They are a blind female nut welded into the inside of the rocker. If so it's highly likely your car is an Acapulco.
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SL

[bobbylast]