The Thing In The Barn sounds like a low-budget horror flick. And I remember saying, “What was THAT?” when I passed one in the granny lane back in 1973. It looked like Dr. Frankenstein had crossed my dad’s ‘72 Super Beetle with a Jeep and a dune buggy. If you’ve ever had an itch to restore one of these 70’s oddities (they only sold 25,000 of them here in the States in 1973 and 1974), here’s your chance. The seller, who states that he’s “thinning out my collection and this VW is an easy fix” doesn’t offer any of the vehicle’s history. It is listed as a “1973 VW Thing sitting in barn for over 30 years in solid condition with all of its sheet metal” Based on the photographs, it’s not perfect but it appears pretty solid (VW Things are notorious rust buckets) and comes with a bunch of new parts still in boxes, including an exhaust system and a brand-new convertible top. You can find this Pumpkin Orange Thing in the hamlet of Wallkill, NY and listed for sale here on eBay.
VW’s “convertible breadbox” brought utility – and the term “spartan” – to a whole new level (although the previous owner added two aftermarket radios; one under the dash and in the glove box). The only instruments on its simple dash were a speedometer that also housed a fuel gauge and a huge glove box with no door. The windshield folds down and the four doors are detachable and can be swapped front to rear. And, oh yes, the cabin had rubber mats and drain holes so it could be hosed out for quick cleaning. The seller states they will include new floorboards because the photos show some areas of rust, and all the seats are included along with new seat covers still in the box.
The seller doesn’t share any information about the engine or the overall mechanical condition of the car other than “it starts and moved freely to another location after being removed from barn”. The Volkswagen Thing was built on the same chassis as the pre-1968 Microbus and used VW’s air-cooled 46-hp, 1600-cc flat-four engine. A four-speed manual was the only transmission available. And acceleration was painfully slow – going from 0 to 60 took more than 23 seconds. The engine compartment looks solid but is also looking its age.
If you look up the term “odd-ball,” you’ll probably find a photo of the Volkswagen Thing. As goofy and charming today as it was when it first came ashore nearly 50 years ago. We wish the seller could’ve provided more of the car’s history (including where it was barn sleeping for 30 years), but if this “Thing In The Barn” is as solid as it appears, and the price is right (Hagerty values a ’73 Thing in #4 condition at $11,200), it could make an interesting restoration project. And just think about the long list of things you wouldn’t have to restore or replace: chrome, brightwork, carpet, A/C, and a slew of creature comforts.
Best feature of the 73 was the gas heater. The only heater in a VW that really worked and kept you warm. Especially in a Thing.
I like very much and finding one this solid is amazing. Good cheap fun and mechanical parts are everywhere. While you can swap the doors front to rear it does funky things with the mirrors. (Experience talking) There is still a Thing project in my garage.
Had a ’73 through the ’80s with the gas heater. Rebuilt the engine, put in a roll bar kit, trimmed the bumpers, fixed up the paint as required and drove it 56K miles. Good shop car and weekend toy and it towed a single axle trailer with our race car on it. Pure fun.
Bob, my dad found a orange 73 when I was in high school. I was totally against driving one because they weren’t cool with the high school crowd. I ended up getting a 72 Super Beetle in clementine orange. Hindsight is 20/20 but I wish I would have gotten the thing.
Built on a KarmanGhia pan with much stronger suspension components and more ground clearance.
My Dad called my brother in law “meathead” (like Archie Bunker) and one reason was because in ’73 he bought one of these brand new for his “family car”. They are great dune buggies and fun cars, but they are not a family car.
really ? crush it at a vfw hall
Back in 1987 I traded my trusty ’75 Suzuki GT550 for a non running Thing. It was blue and white and had the removable hard top. In those days I vended during summer at weekend flea markets in Sioux Falls. No trailer so I mounted a tow bar to the thing, threw my junk inside and off to the flea market I went. I can’t for the life of me recall what ever happened to it. I assume I got my investment of around $400 back. Hey, I just wanted to be able to say I had owned yet another oddball vehicle.
Kevin, sounds like the rare VW Thing Acapulco edition you had. White with blue strips and seats that did the same.
Yeah, I was a babe in the woods back then. That Thing had a nice interior and no visible body rust. There was also little to no interest in it at that time in SE South Dakota. “Just think if I had kept it” is something I’ve said time and again about all the oddballs I’ve let go that now are worth a lot. Oh well, at least I have the memories.
It was Labor Day weekend, 1973. 1320 AM, or 13Q here in Pittsburgh, was running a contest: count all of the Elton John songs played over the three days, be the first to come to the station with the right number, and drive home in a new Thing. I worked 16 hours pumping gas all three days and kept count. My dad said don’t bother, it’s rigged, they’ll play a song in the middle of the night when nobody is listening.
Turned out I had the right count and he was wrong. I could have driven off to DeVry in a new Thing, but noooo…!
Just sold mine – a non-runner to a father/son pair. It was a bucket list for me as I was in High School when it came out and we were running around in cheap VW’s – but found another bucket list car so it went down the road.. This looks like a good one – and it has some spirted bidding ! If you’ve ever watched some WWII movies’ in Europe – these were as good as our Jeeps were back then.
If it were a WWII Kubelwagen you’d have to add a zero onto the end of the price.
Id take a willy’s with 4 x4 on the snow ❄️ covered-streets of Bastogne over one of these….i owned both.
But in your defense still runneres, yes, the thing was a reliable vehicle, and years of fun with it.
I’d stay away from that thing as the VIN listed in the add is not for a VW thing. A 1973 thing VIN should start with 1 for the type, 8 for the model and 3 for the year.
That seems like a lot of money to pay for a restore able car.
If they go for that in that condition, I can buy nice ones for much less in Mexico and send them north.