Here in the northeast, the only way a VW Thing still exists is if it’s someone’s completed restoration project, or an artist’s exhibit in some soybean sippin’, Birkenstock wearin’ college town. Surprisingly, a batch of Things has popped up for sale in the very swanky community of West Hartford, with the seller offering one from his stash in the pictures but also mentioning he’s got several others on the block. Check out the listing here on Facebook Marketplace wherein he claims the Things are both barn finds and not barn finds, but rather restoration projects.
Literally, the third and fourth words of the listing are “barn find” but the seller later clarifies that some Facebook users have described them as such and that they are incorrect. Follow me yet? Regardless of how you would describe them, they are undoubtedly major undertakings, and despite not yet having crumbled into a pile of salt-stained rust, I’m guessing there’s still a fair amount of bodywork to be undertaken by the next owner. You can see some of the other Things in the background here.
Specifically, the white Thing that is undoubtedly the subject car is offered up for the now-reduced price of $1,599. There are three other Things for sale, including an orange example listed at $2,500 with no pictures (it is visible in the background of one of the photos). The seller notes there’s also a large batch of parts to go along with it, which you’d expect given a collection this linear in focus. There’s no mention of whether any engines still turn over or if transmissions are frozen, but given the scale of restoration needed, it’s probably not a concern.
The seller notes that these Things were put away “many years ago” as future projects which evidently were never started. While I have always rooted for the underdog, I feel this example is likely destined to be a parts rig for one of the other cars – perhaps the orange one – that offer a better starting point. I suppose the good news is here they were actually allowed out of the barn they were in (oops, not a barn find!) in hopes of finding an owner that can salvage and restore the remains of an undoubtedly fun car.
Looks like the retreat from Moscow.
I was thinking North Africa , but yes it does ! lol
Unearthed from beneath the barn.
Overpriced parts cars.
Steve R
Lived in Mazatlan Mx. for several years and these were very desirable for a way cool beach buggy, but also very hard to get and pricey. I often thought, I should try to bring one or even several into the country. Needless to say I go educated on why they were so expensive.
NoThing here…
Almost makes me want to get a Tetanus shot . .
Anyone see an orange one ?
The orange one is in the first picture , way in the background sitting on a trailer . Its missing its 2 front doors
Target practice.
Dr Suess says
Vultures have picked Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3 and Thing 4 clean!
I’m afraid these are all a Thing of the past.
Didn’t these have transporter rearends/axles?
If you could get the lot for a couple of bucks they might be good buggy donor parts…
and I reallllly mean a couple of bucks
I love the guys that are not real car guys.These cars are rare,if the motor has the right # the rest of the car is a freebe . Try to find a top frame or windshield frame good luck.. or a front end that is not rotted out.I forgot the write ins are all about putting a subbie in an air cooled car….
My rule of thumb when I would part out a car was I needed to be able to double my money or it wasn’t worth the time or effort. I don’t know values when it comes to VW Things, but it’s hard to imagine $3,000 to $5,000 worth of parts from any of these cars.
Steve R
This is absurd and the Seller doesn’t understand reality. $1000.00 maybe for the whole nine yards and all the parts with the dogs, if I was willing to spend the rest of my life restoring one of them. No.
Maybe I am just partial here because I have recently finished my 1974 Thing that I purchased as a “survivor” in need of a restoration back in 2005 and it turns heads all the time, and I have a 1969 “stock” Bronco that the previous owner restored and enjoyed for 20 years before I purchased for a fair price in 2010 and in bone stock look it turns heads as well, and the next car I would like to acquire is a 1965-66 “stock looking oh so common” Mustang…but if these Things for sale were all…say…first-gen Mustangs…or first-gen Broncos…people would be paying silly money for these. So to flip that around…maybe all those sick prices people are paying for other classic “projects” and “parts cars” should come back down out of the stratosphere because in the end they are all just…piles of metal that we all need to be able to enjoy and hopefully pass on to the next generations to enjoy as well that was always part of our classic car hobby rather than this current movement that classics are something to get rich off of.
Ad should have started out, “I have a few Things to talk about”.
…and ended with, “…and one more Thing.”
Numbers matching?? Original Miles? Where are all the experts?