????

[Morpheus XIII]

The original Jeeps might not have been so advanced, but their low cost, ease of multipurpose usage, and light yet sturdy bodies, allowed them to help win the wars. They were also astounding in that as a quick answer to the Kuebelwagons, they were designed and constructed in an amazingly short period of time. Post-war, American soldiers grew such trust for the reliability for they Jeeps that they wanted them for their own cars back home, and that's when the first civilian models were brought out...and their lineage is still evident in Jeep's vehicles today.

[Jay!]

Funny this thread just got revived; I saw a Thing this morning in the Best Buy parking lot.

How is it that I like something so ugly? And still I hate the Aztek. Must be a fine line...

[Cbass]

Well, the Thing is offensive and blocky, whereas the Aztek is offensive and bland. My pet theory of course.

Yeah, but the Kuebelwagen was superior. German cars are the best, IMHO.

[Morpheus XIII]

Originally posted by Cbass
...but the Kuebelwagen was superior. German cars are the best, IMHO.

There's NO false statement there. German engineering rules the planet.

[Mapache]

By the way, the car in the photo above is a Keubelwagen, not a Thing. Things were built in Mexico (where they were called Safaris) from, I think, 1971 through 1977, first with the swing axle suspension and reduction gears from an old Kombi (T2) and then with a beefed up IRS. Only the IRS models were exported to the USA There are lots of them around where I live (Oaxaca, Mexico) and you can find a very nice one for about $2000-$2500. Unfortunately you can't export them to the US for the same reasons you can't export a Beetle (smog and safety rules)
so I got a chassis and grafted on a cut-down 1960 Beetle body which is almost as ugly. If I can ever get my digital camera to work I'll post some pictures. Some of the Safaris around here are very well preserved
and others are junk.

[Morpheus XIII]

Cool information, thanks for this rare data.

[kris]

I saw a mint Thing at the parts store the other day.

[Genesis2]

nice sig Chris

[Chris]

Thanks, and welcome to AF

[Gusto222]

heres some THING - pics...




---

i remember seeing a pic of a THING lowrider a couple of yrs back in a mag.. it was off hta hook!

[ksaile]

Things, which are also reffered to as type 181's were imported into the US in '73 and '74. They are very rugged yet light enough to be able to cross terrain that normally requires 4wd. They were used in Europe by various militaries as staff cars. The original WWII Kubelwagens were designed by Ferdinand Porsche using production Beetle components to keep the vehicles mechanically simple yet durable. They performed well in all aspects, whether being the sands of the Sahara, or the frigid landscape of Russia, they were supremely versatile.

Here's a shot of my '74, circa '86. We used this vehicle for hunting and camping trips and it performed flawlessy.

[73Thing]

I've had my baby around 3.5 years now. Searched 8 years to find her. Things were produced 68-77, but only imported into the states for 73 and 74. Direct descendent of the military Kubelwagen (circa WW2), and forerunner to the Iltis. (Currently? used in the Canadian Army). Utilizes a modified Beetle chassis, shares the same upright 1600CC Dual Port engine and transaxle. Removeable side curtains and doors, folding windshield, removeable hard/soft top. To quote Vw's sales pitch from the early 70's, "The Thing, it can be anyThing!"

[edonis]

Hehe, I must say the Kuebelwagen is an UGLY car, yet very cool.. I'd like to be driven in that to my high school prom.. too bad there aren't any around here...!

[danm22486]

i saw a thing the other day in virginia. the first one ive ever seen here.

[gratefulphish]

CORRECTION!!!! KUBELWAGEN and Thing are two entirely seperate vehicles. Similar yet different.