1973 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing
The quirky Type 181 Thing originated from Volkswagen’s exploration of military vehicle concepts, drawing inspiration from the wartime Kübelwagen.
Although VW did not compete for the “Europa Jeep” contract, management recognized potential for a recreational utility vehicle in the civilian market.
The unconventional design prioritized function over form, featuring removable doors, a fold-down windshield, and a basic canvas top. Its boxy, utilitarian appearance stood apart from typical automotive styling of the era.
Built on a reinforced Beetle chassis with front suspension from the Karmann Ghia, the Thing used Volkswagen’s dependable air-cooled flat-four engines in 1.5 and 1.6-liter configurations.
Production began in Germany in 1968 for military use, with civilian sales starting in 1971. Mexican manufacturing followed, supplying many export markets including the United States.
The model achieved modest success with over 90,000 units produced through 1983, though civilian sales ended in most markets by 1980. In the U.S., availability was limited to the 1973 and 1974 model years due to increasingly stringent safety regulations that the utilitarian design could not meet.
Source
