The Volkswagen Thing is one of those military vehicles that somehow made it into production, and it shows.
The Thing was manufactured in many countries under different names, but in Germany it was known as the Type 181. It shared some of its mechanics with the Type 1 (the Beetle) and the Type 2 (Bus), but unlike the other two, it was originally developed for the German army, and it’s the direct descendant of the Kübelwagen.
Civilian variants of the vehicles were sold from 1971 to 1980, but the model was dropped from the U.S. lineup in 1975, after failing to meet the country’s stricter safety standards. Being a military vehicle, the Thing was conceived to be as reliable and as easy to mend as possible, that’s why it seems a bit crude and doesn’t offer any creature comforts.
The Thing is as basic as a car can be, making the Beetle look like a luxurious machine by comparison. With its flat-four delivering 46 hp, and the aerodynamics of a brick, the automobile makes perfect sense for a fun Sunday drive; and that’s about it.
But we’ll let Doug DeMuro explain why does this slow, old, and unsafe automobile can put a huge grin on your face.