Roll bar

[VWest77]

Is this a factory roll bar? I have the opportunity to buy it... but am unsure of what it is exactly.

These are the only photos I have.

Thanks for your help

_________________
1973 Thing 1600 T181
1963 Double Cab

[74 Thing]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=343913

Kind of looks like it-how is it mounted to the body?

[emersonbiggins]

I don't think so. Looks like the rear mounts are where the funky brackets usually are.

[wbailey2112]

I have one of the dealer-installed, VWoA, 5-point roll bars in my Thing and it looks nothing like this one. The original bolts to the body and the pan and is not welded to it like the one in the photos. I think what you are looking at is something that was fabricated by a previous owner.

For the record there was no such thing as a "factory" roll bar for the Thing. They were a dealer-installed option.
_________________
'74 Thing
'83 Westfalia

[Captain Spalding]

I believe VWoA offered two roll bars. One of them is configured like the one in the OP's photo: two hoops, with two straight members connecting them that run lengthwise. The link that 74 Thing posted shows an unmolested VWoA roll bar, and the curves of the hoops are more gentle than the ones in the OP's photos.

The other VWoA roll bar has only three members. A hoop over the front seat backs, and then two lengthwise members that go to the rear and then curve down to the package shelf.

Edited to add:

[wbailey2112]

The difference between The Thing Shop's 5-point roll bar and the VWoA is that the tubing diameter is different sizes and The Thing Shop's version has a slight bend in the front "hoop" legs so that the crossbar of the front "hoop" sits just behind the heads of the front seat passengers. The front legs of the VWoA version are straight with no bend.
_________________
'74 Thing
'83 Westfalia

[74 Thing]

This ad indicates that the roll bar is modeled after the original
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2177407

I remember that there was both a 4 point and a 5 point (with an "x" cross in the back). There were original VW accessory listings for these as well as other options such as the rear tow hitch and wheel carrier but I cannot locate them on the site.

[hitest]

[74 Thing]

I didn't say I would buy it, but the shape may resemble the original bar.

[Wildthings]

Any roll bar needs to be well padded. The chance of spilling your brains when you hit your head against the unforgiving steel of the roll bar is a much bigger threat than experiencing a roll over.