This 1973 Volkswagen Thing was purchased out of Arizona by the seller in 2014, and it has been modified with a repaint in green, yellow John Deere graphics and aftermarket 15″ wheels, and seating upholstered in alligator-look vinyl. Power is provided by a 1.6-liter flat-four linked to a four-speed manual transaxle, and the car is further equipped with a black convertible soft top, a roll bar, a front brush bar, an aftermarket exhaust system, and a dual CD stereo. Showing 65k miles, this Type 181 is offered with an owner’s manual, accessories, and a clean California title in the seller’s name.
The car has been refinished in green with yellow John Deere decals. Exterior details include a black convertible soft top that has some taped repairs as well as a front brush guard, a fold-down windshield, dual mirrors, removable doors, black bumpers, and fender-mounted turn signals. The seller notes some spots of rust on the convertible-top frame.
Yellow-finished 15″ five-spoke wheels are mounted with 215/65 Cooper CS3 Touring tires produced in 2014. KYB shock absorbers have been fitted, and braking is provided by a drum at each corner.
The front bucket seats and the folding rear bench are upholstered in yellow vinyl with black alligator-look inserts. Other interior appointments include a roll bar, a dash-mounted storage compartment, front and rear seat belts, and a John Deere-logo shift knob as well as a Dual CD stereo that has poor radio reception.
Instrumentation ahead of the four-spoke steering wheel includes a 100-mph speedometer with an inset fuel-level gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 65k miles, approximately 4k of which were added under current ownership. The windshield wipers do not work.
The air-cooled 1.6-liter flat-four is fed by a Solex-style carburetor. A switch has reportedly been installed to optionally bypass the ignition switch, and the seller states that the car runs best on higher-octane fuel.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle. An aftermarket exhaust system has been fitted.
A set of removable windows is included in the sale, as is the tow bar pictured in the gallery.