Remember the VW Thing? I am sure you wish you'd never been reminded of this abomination. Thankfully VW only imported them to the U.S. for only 2 years, 1973 and 1974. What the heck were they thinking? Did Volkswagen management really think this would be a huge seller? Just take a look at this ugly piece of ****. Thankfully the few that did sell around here went to an early grave due to the rust worms that loved the fine poorly rustproofed German sheet metal. Just climb into the interior and settle down into those comfy looking seats. I've seen nicer seating sitting out at the curb. Talk about a spartan interior, even the bean counters couldn't have found a way to save a penny here. Look at all of the safety equipment in one of these puppies. Hopefully no one is ever involved in any kind of accident with all of the hard metal edges in this thing(pun intended) . Wait, is that one of those bic pen knock-off windshield wiper stalks we saw in the VW Rabbit? Nuts don't fall far from the tree do they? The robust turn signal stalk must have fallen off already. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this engineering marvel.
10 comments:
I have seen matchbox cars made better than this? What is it?
I heard that it was a screamer too... could probably beat a hot wheels car!
Sorry, but you're way off base here. I've owned my VW Thing for 12 years and love it like a child. They are dependable, versatile, and fun as hell to drive. We got more compliments and excited onlookers from the thing than from our Corvette. Also, if that "ugly piece of ****" looks vaguely familiar its because Hummer essentially supersized it for the H1. True, it's mildly unsafe, but no more so than any other convertible with no roll bar and a gas tank in the front. As fare as the bare bones interior, how is that any different than an old model Jeep or a Land Cruiser? Finally, the stock seats are super comfortable, that photo is of seats that have been poorly rebuilt.
momoney, I invite you to take a second look at the Thing. Ugly? It is unique in its elegant simplicity. Utterly Bauhaus in its form-follows-function design. Spartan? Yes. It imbues all the best qualities of the Spartan. Tough. Reliable. So simple a dyslexic monkey could repair it. Devoid of all the nanny-state embellishments of so-called modern cars that make them no fun to drive. When Ralph Nader succeeded in having the Thing taken off the market, it was one of the first signs of the decline of western civilization.
I recommend you get your hands on a Thing and drive it. If, afterwards, you still can't recognize its plainly obvious virtues, well — enjoy your Volvo. And don't forget your purse. ;-P
I've owned my '74 VW Thing for 2.5yrs now. It is a blast to drive, on road or off. Get's me just about anywhere I want to go. Only complaint I have is that I can't drive it everyday because I have to drive a company vehicle for work.
The Thing is a classic, it's ugly, unsafe, but it's also so so so cool. My favorite is the bright colors and the the complete lack of aerodynamics....
I first saw Safaris (Things) in Mexico during the early seventies. They were a well loved car that would go anywhere a Jeep would go but for much cheaper. When they were imported into the states a few years later I bought one and drove it for better than ten years. It was really a delight to drive. I now own a second one and will probably keep it till my eventual end.
i have found that most that hate.. never have owned one.
it's a pity how many armchair quarterbacks seem to profess to be some sort of authority on something they haven't a clue about.
i challenge the author to own one for a year before you leave such uninformed drivel about something you have not the intelligence or the experience to speak about.
idiot!
I have owned my '73 Thing for nearly 40 years, most of the time as a go anywhere buggy in the pastures of south Texas. It wasn't until my son and I got it running well enough recently for use on public roads in Austin that I realized just how loved these cars are. In the dozens of cars and motorcycles that I have driven over the years, never have any generated as much interest from other drivers and pedestrians. In the past week alone, drivers have pulled up next to me in traffic and made offers to buy it.
It has the original paint, and yes there is some rust, and the car has some operational quirks, but it is an absolute joy to drive. My son and I are currently rebuilding the windows, so that we can put them on, should it ever rain.
The VW Thing is a thing of beauty. I don't know who wrote this blog but I'm sure you have better things to do than talk complete non-sense about vehicles you know nothing about. These vehicles have gotten very valuable, and for good reason. Simplistic in design and user friendly. There is no computer. They will go damn near anywhere you point them,and they are just all around bitchin. You, my friend, are an idiot.
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