Description
The Volkswagen Type 181 was a two-wheel drive, four-door, convertible, off-road, military vehicle manufactured by Volkswagen from 1968 to 1983, endearingly known in the American market as the VW ‘Thing’.
The Type 181 shares some of its drivetrain with Volkswagen’s Beetle, some from the Volkswagen Microbus, and all mounted on the floorpan of the Type1 Karmann-Ghia. It was really a successor to the celebrated Kübelwagen (or Dustbin Car in soldiers slang), which had been famous in the hands of the Wehrmacht during World War II.
Civilian 181’s were still produced with a distinctly military look, usually being finished in Olive Green drab, and today’s example is just such a car. It has all its weather equipment and the interior is in uncommonly sound useable condition including the typically simple VW instrumentation. This very late example was produced in West Germany in 1982. These have to be among the ultimate ‘fun cars’ of their era with their reputation for exemplary reliability, ease of use, and easy spares availability, combined with truly enjoyable open air motoring.
