Confused about years of Things

[Air-Cooled Head]

I’ve owned every type of ACVW; T1, (dozen or so bugs, couple/few KGs), T2, (68 Single cab) currently a 68 Square (after selling my 63 Notch), but never a 181. So I’ve been casually, sorta, half-a$$ looking for a reasonably priced Thing, off and on for a few months.

I’ve seen ads for everything from 1970 -1978 Things, but I always thought Things were only made in 73-74. What’s that about? Am I mistaken about the years they were mfg’d?
It seems that 73 Things are generally more expensive. It’s not like the diff between a split vs. bay window bus, but it seems that way. Why?
In the same vein, is there something that makes one more desirable than the other?
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[wbailey2112]

Things (aka type181's) were only officially imported into the US from Mexico in '73 and '74. They were manufactured and available elsewhere before '73 and after '74. I think that I read recently that the last year of manufacture was 1980.

The difference between a '73 and a '74 is that the '73's had a gas fired heater under the hood whereas the '74 had the usual heater boxes on the exhaust like other type 1's.

In '74 you could also buy the Acapulco version and the avocado green color.

Hope this helps...I'm sure there's more to add but these are some of the basic differences.

[Shoyrtt]

Here is a good write up on the differences: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=562365&highlight=hamster

For me, the 73 is better looking due to the rear vents. This is sexy

The 74, not so much

So there is always surgery

[Joe 20]

181's (aka Safari, Thing Trekker, etc) were a "stop-gap" military vehicle made from 1968 to I think 1980. Some were made in Germany and most in Mexico. They were heavily used by NATO countries through the 90's. There probably were some made elsewhere too. A "demilled" (civilian) model was generally imported to the US in 73 and 74 to the tune of about 24,000 units brought in. Kinda the first SUV if you will, because dune buggys were so popular. There were some 75's but I've heard they are left over 74's. After 74 they were declared "unsafe" by the Feds...I think Ralph Nader was involved, sort of like the Corvair. As to desirability, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[AngelDeVille]

[Air-Cooled Head]

[mondshine]

When Things were sold new in 1973-4, they were a little expensive; about 3000 bucks. That was close to a grand more than a Beetle, or about the same price as a low end Mustang, or an F-150 pickup truck.

1973 Things were better equipped than the '74's with the BN-4 gas heater. Sales of '73 Things underperformed VW's sales expectations, so they looked for ways to lower the retail price.
Deleting the expensive BN-4 heater in favor of heat exchangers is an example.

When converting Things to use the heat exchanger heating and defrost system similar to that on Beetles, the VW engineers found the necessity to reduce the amount of dust drawn into the engine compartment (and therefore blown into the cabin through the heat exchangers) by the cooling fan.
That is the purpose of the air intake boxes with their top oriented vents.

Are the intake boxes sexy? You bet they are (even in stock form)!

Another obvious change was to re-locate the mirrors to the body, rather than to the front doors. Mounting the mirrors to the doors seems a little silly on a vehicle with removable doors, but go figure.

As to the Thing's demise, it was the strange bedfellows Ralph Nader and Lee Iococca who's political pressure caused the Thing to be re-classified as a passenger car, subjecting it to safety regulations that could never be met.
Good luck, Mondshine

[citroen]

I guess it is a matter of what you like here is my 73 that I added the 74 air intakes

[hitest]

I think the '73s may be to some more desirable than the '74s for one reason- they're older. With some exceptions of course- real VW people tend to be drawn to the earliest example of their target model.
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[Semper_Dad]

[AngelDeVille]

[Wildthings]

When I got my first '73 I lived on a long dirt road and the engine got plain filthy from all the dust being kicked up by the tires and drawn into the engine compartment, so for $25 I bought a set of '74 intake air ducts and gaskets from VW and installed them. This kept the engine compartment much cleaner. I later installed Beetle heater boxes and added my own custom heater ducting. The result was I had double the amount of cabin heat as most other Thing owners did.

[vwwestyman]

When I bought my Thing, I didn't have a super strong preference between '73 and '74 and would have certainly purchased a '74 if a rust-free example for a similar price had shown up.

But I was hopeful for a '73 primarily because I liked the idea of a gas heater, and I'm very glad I have it!
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Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[Wildthings]

[Air-Cooled Head]

Thanks all for the comments, links & tips. All very enlightening (I didn’t know how much I didn’t know! ), and makes me want one even more.
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Everything known to man has been written.
Readers are Leaders!

[Shoyrtt]

[AngelDeVille]

[oasis]

I have read online in unsubstantiated reports the Type 181 was made through 1983. I don't remember if that was supposedly at the German factory or the Mexican factory. Since I have never seen a Type 181 in person or in a pic with its VIN newer than 1980, I am tending to disbelieve it.

The Type 181 was originally made for NATO. It was replaced for NATO by the Iltis (Type 183) in 1978, but the German factory would have a run of Type 181's from time to time until at least 1980. When they did, they sometimes made some civilian examples as well -- with trailing arms and Type 2 tail lights.

NATO discontinued purchasing the Iltis in 1981. Bombardier of Canada got the go-ahead to make the Iltis after that. VW still had small runs of the Iltis 1986-88, even including a diesel engine towards the end.

The newest Type 181 I ever saw was a 1980 on the German eBay. It was one-owner, black with white top and interior, and pristine. The front seats either had head rests or were highbacks (don't remember), totally factory. There was no mention of a heater and no pic of the front trunk. I made a bid on it as high as I could go, but I was beat soundly.

I see far more Mexican 181's newer than a '74 but the newest I ever saw was a '78 (a few of those).

As for preference between the '73 and the '74 ... I like the '73 for the slats (no muffs) and the gas heater; I like the '74 for the side mirror placement and the Avocado Green. I ended up getting an Acapulco
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Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[eifelknipser]

Correct, the VW 181 was built up to 1980 - that´s what even the Volkswagen Classic web page states -> http://www.volkswagen-classic.de/modelle/181 (sorry as it´s in german).

[Eric Goodman]

Interesting information... The VW Thing (Type 181) Registry has been tracking production numbers and VIN's. We have Type 181's starting in 1969-1980 on our list. We have VIN's through 1982 (and sales through 1983). Production stopped in 1980 at the factory but the VIN'S indicate that Type 181's were still assembled after 1980 from Kits. We know Kits were used to assemble Type 181's in other countries and by the Military. Type 181's were made in Mexico in the later years and shipped to Europe in Kits. We have also heard that Type 181's were made from all the "parts" left after the factory closed and issued VINS. All of the Type 181 sold after 1980 were to the Military. You can see the Registry list on our website and the VIN's for each Year.

VIN's for 1980 started with 18Axxxxxxx, 1981 was 18Bxxxxxxx and 1982 was 18Cxxxxxxx. Its believed that VW stated sales through 1983, because some of the 1982 Type 181's were sold in 1983.

Here is a link to our webiste with the Registry List: www.vwthingregistry.com
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1973 Thing
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