SPECTACULAR 1973 VOLKSWAGEN THING FULL RESTORATION ALL ORIGINAL METAL NO RUST

Description

An incredible 1973 Volkswagen Thing with zero rust or damage, and only 41K original miles. It may look like the illegitimate love child of a corrugated shipping container and a dumpster, but the VW Thing was in fact the resurrection of a German military vehicle known as the Kübelwagen. The basic concept behind the VW Thing (Type 181) dated back to the World War II-era. Engineered by the Porsche Design Bureau by demand of the Third Reich, this light, maneuverable all-terrain combat vehicle was considered the German Jeep. As 1 of only 7,819 ever sold in 1973 in the US, this VW Thing exceeds expectations as a collectible piece of appreciating history who's drive provides a thrill like no other.

Upon acquisition of this Volkswagen Thing, our initial steps to prepare it for market were through a visual and mechanical inspection. When it first arrived, we put it on the lift and powerwashed the underside. This frees the vehicle of any grime and debris to reveal any forseeable issues. Common problem areas, especially with cars of this age, are rust in the floors, frame, and suspension. This car having spent a lot of its life in a collection, it shows only minor signs of surface rust. The floor underneath the battery was rusted, so we did a simple metal replacement. As you will see in over 100 photos, the floors are exceptionally straight.

The VW Thing's exterior style is pure function. The fenders bolt on, the simple flat body panels sport strengthening ribs, and the double-walled sills and rear body section improve torsional rigidity. The roofless four-door body is "jeep-like" in its convertibility; the interchangeable doors are easily removed and refitted, the windshield frame can be folded forward onto the hood, and the roof structure can be removed entirely for true open-air motoring. Inclement weather is kept at bay by a brand new vinyl soft top and removable side curtains.

Once you get moving in this VW Thing, you forget the lack of amenities and intensly slow acceleration and just start smiling. Here you are, looking out over this bright-orange hood, driving along at a snail's pace, with the wind in your face and unobstructed visibility on all sides, and it just feels so fun. When you drive it, you know that in spite of all of its objective flaws, you are absolutely having more fun than any person in any modern car.

After our inspection and service, this VW Thing has every bit of that 46hp, and shifts easily from gear to gear. It drives like an absolute dream with no sense of failure. The brakes work well, and it doesn't pull to either side as you putt around town. The seats are comfortable, and it has surprisingly tight and responsive steering compared to other cars of it's era. Seldom will you drive a car that provides you with laughter and fun like this VW Thing. And none of them do it with only 46hp.

The original Pumpkin Orange exterior paint on this VW Thing can be easily defined as attention-grabbing. The easily removable front windows are glass, which is an rare find on most VW Things. They easily slide back and forth properly and snuggly lock in to place. The convertible top is brand new and fully operational, including the latches that attach it to the windshield that are commonly broken. Both bumpers have been repainted. We even repainted "The Thing" along both sides of this car due to faded paint from aging. The wheels are original to the vehicle, with a set of brand new Yokohama Geolander A/T tires. A few areas of paint have been touched up as well.

The interior of the VW Thing is the definition of stripped. The only instrumentation is a speedometer that houses a fuel gauge on its dial, and the glove box is really just a glove hole that usually lacks the optional door that this Thing posesses. Volkswagen boasted that the interior could be hosed out, given its non-carpeted floors covered with perforated rubber mats that allow water to escape through drain holes.

As for this VW Thing, we restored the interior to be as close to original as possible. We had the original seats professionally re-upholstered in Black Vinyl. We installed all new OEM style floormats, the glove box mat, and the trunk mat. Every interior panel was hand-polished in order to restore its shine. The interior floors were refurbished back to black. As you can see from our many photographs, careful attention was taken during the restoration process of this Volkswagen Thing.

Following the undercarriage inspection, the vehicle went through our service department. Our technicians performed a thorough engine inspection. The carburetor had been replaced, but required some fine tuning to get it functioning properly. With the completion of the inspection and standard service, this VW Thing runs and drives flawlessly.

The VW Thing is powered by an Air-cooled flat-four 1,584cc engine that produces 46hp. It is mated to a 4-Speed manual transmission capable of propelling the Thing to a modest top speed of 68mph. The Thing's transmission was a heavy-duty unit, and the differential's ring and pinion were stronger to allow the off-road ability. The engine is similar to a 1973 Beetle's, but it has Thing-exclusive components like the fan housing and rear cover. The Thing axles are 100mm units with heavy-duty CV joints.

Finally, our preparations come to an end with cosmetic and driver-experience items. These items are a crucial component when it comes to our restoration process due to the nature of the market. We pay close attention to originality. The entire interior on this VW Thing was reupholstered in OEM style with black leather seats. Every metal interior panel was hand polished to perfection. The floor was stripped and restored to black. The latches that hold the brand new convertible top to the windshield were replaced. We purchased OEM floor mats and a mat for the glove box. Both the headlight lenses and taillight lenses were replaced, along with their gaskets.

This Volkswagen Thing seperates itself from others by its rust and damage free body. With only minor dents, it is in excellent condition. Everything works properly and it runs and drives like new. Take your time and sift through ALL of our photographs of this incredible 1973 Volkswagen Thing to truly appreciate its value.

Cheers

Doug Williams

Owner/Enthusiast

702-353-7500

I am a “used car dealer” but before that, I’m an automobile enthusiast. I love original, rare and high quality modified vintage and modern cars. Over the past 15 years I’ve been in business, I have come to appreciate an expanding selection of high-demand, high value vehicles as well. I specialize in and I am always on the lookout for cars and trucks that were cherished by their previous owners.
I have an experienced eye for quality and I’ve discovered that my preferred buyers can instantly discern such a vehicle and I have therefore, built my business and reputation around finding these kinds of cars for this type of customer. Super low miles and/or gentle ownership are strict requirements but a car must do something for me on a personal level if there is any hope of convincing you, the buyer, that this is an above average, exceptional vehicle. If nothing about the car excites me, it probably won’t do much for you either and I would soon be out of business.

With just four employees and no sales people, I realize how unusual a “dealership” like mine may be at a first glance. It has taken great care and effort to create such an organization and often, an unusually high investment in a particular car we are about to list. To sell the best it is critical to have a trusted expert in my corner. First we do an exhaustive 130 point inspection on each and every vehicle and hope nothing escapes our methodical investigation. Experience has shown that everything I spend making a car truly “right” will come back to me not only with a higher selling price, but a happy customer that says good things about Collector's Dream Cars. Moreover, it allows us to describe the car with ease and confidence, something that simply is not possible unless we think it is true. If major issues are found or the cost of fixing the car the way it should be makes it too expensive to sell, my choice is an easy one. I simply absorb a few hundred dollars loss for my trouble and sell it at auction so you don’t get a headache over the vehicle.

After the vehicle is fully checked over and made whole at any level it needs to be, we researches its history, documents, documenting originality and authenticity. Historical significance, rarity, special features, possible modifications, and much more are used to accurately describe the vehicle with integrity and honesty. Most important for the potential buyer are the 100 to 200 high resolution pictures that I take myself. The pricey equipment I use would be right at home in the hands of the very best professional photographers and I’ve developed a logical format that walks you around the entire vehicle with close-up shots of every square inch. I provide detailed views of the interior, under the hood and then put it on a lift to show the undercarriage and confirm that the beauty of the car you are considering is not merely skin deep. Even our detailers are enthusiastic about the cars they meticulously clean. Reconditioning can sometimes take several days as we do all that we can within reason to get our vehicles in tip top condition visually and cosmetically. We do Way more than just a cheap detail. Our details are more like refurbishing to as close to new as we can possibly get our vehicles.

Usually, I’ll also include a high definition video that shows the car doing its thing. If it’s a fast car, we film it going fast. If it’s a 4x4 you’ll see it crawling up a hill. In every case you will hear things like a rumbling exhaust, working sound system and watch gauges operation as well.

No “dealer,” on-line or in the real world, takes it to this level. No other seller or organization provides you, the buyer, with so much information. I do this because it is the only way I can convince a person; often a world away, unable to touch or feel their purchase that my vehicle is for real and what I say is an honest assessment. All the above is necessary for me to stay in business while keeping integrity intact. I want every buyer to be happy and I need glowing feedback on eBay. To accomplish that I need satisfied customers that are as thrilled with their purchase as I was when I bought it.

If you have any questions at all, please call me on my cell at: 702-353-7500. If your inquiry is sincere and your offer is serious, you’ll find me the most accommodating business partner you’ve ever dealt with. If you call or e-mail asking for my reserve or “what is my bottom line” I will be looking for ways to politely end the conversation. Until you are ready to actually make an offer, I will happily quote you a liberal suggested retail price – a number we both know will not buy the car so, don’t waste your time, or mine. I am after all, a “used car dealer.”​​​​​​​

Collector's Dream Cars Terms of Sale...

This vehicle is safely stored in our beautiful climate controlled showroom in Boulder City, Nevada. We are just 25 minutes from Las Vegas International Airport (McCarran) and welcome the opportunity to meet the winning bidder there and drive them to our facility for vehicle delivery. We have years of experience with vehicle shipping, nationwide and across the globe. We stand ready to help with whatever arrangements are necessary at the buyers request and expense. This vehicle will not be delivered or released for shipment until complete payment is received and all funds have cleared.

Third party, pre-purchase vehicle inspections are welcome BEFORE the auction ends. We are happy to answer questions about this vehicle and resolve any concerns you may have BEFORE YOU BID and BEFORE THE AUCTION ENDS . . . THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. If you are in the Las Vegas area, we invite you to stop by for a demonstration.

A $1000 non-refundable partial payment must be received 24 hours from the end of this auction. NO Exceptions! We prefer bank to bank wire transfers for all funds including deposits but we may accept credit cards or PayPal if necessary.

Full payment must be received within four (4) business days of the end of auction. Cashiers-check, direct deposit or cash in person are acceptable but BANK to BANK WIRE TRANSFER IS PREFERRED for US winners and required for all winning bidders outside the United States. Loan checks can be accepted only after prior approval from the owner, Doug Williams. M/Os will NEVER be accepted. CHECKS IN ANY FORM MUST BE CLEARED as CASHABLE FUNDS before delivery of any item.

Free and clear title is in seller's possession and will be transferred upon payment in full and accepted delivery of the automobile. By Nevada State Law, Dealers have up to 30 days to delivery titles due to auction and floorline title housing.

Important: Winning bidders for automobile transactions are not obligated to purchase nor is the seller obligated to sell to any winning bidder according to eBay's policies, see (pages.ebay.com/help/policies/non-binding-bid.html). Bidders that win an auction and then do not pay, spoil the integrity of the eBay experience and cause sellers to incur additional costs and losses due to the non-paying bidders negligence and disregard for honest dealings. If you win this auction and we collect your non-refundable deposit via credit card, Paypal or any other means, you agree to waive your right to claim your deposit back with any arbitration to your bank, credit card issuer or PayPal.

If you do not intend to complete this purchase, DO NOT BID.

If your User ID contact information is not up to date on eBay, DO NOT BID until you correct it. We cancel bids when we find contact information invalid.

If you bid just to see what a reserve is then cancel your bid, we will immediately cancel your ability bid on any of our auctions in the future.

We want to have a very positive experience on eBay, just like you do. Don't use eBay as your playground to bid without responsibility or commitment. eBay's auction system promotes irresponsible bidders because there is no accountability whatsoever as there is for sellers. Most bidders never have any real intention to complete any transaction but we do as responsible sellers, so don't play irresponsibly online, we don't.

We will happily do whatever is required to assist a legitimate bidder that intends to purchase the vehicle with their transaction.

This vehicle is sold AS-IS, with no warranty. This is not a new vehicle, it is used. A used vehicle will have normal wear and tear congruent to its age and/or mileage. This vehicle may have dings, scratches or other indications of use because it has been used. Terms such as "perfection," "flawless" or "mint" may not be subjective but all other descriptions are.

When you bid, you understand and agree to these terms.

Please call Doug @ 702-353-7500 with ANY questions. Email: Doug@VivaLasVegasAutos.com

Research for this ad was done with all due diligence toward an accurate presentation of the facts. All information herein represents our sincere effort to be correct. If we have made any obvious errors or provided information later found to be inaccurate, it is still your responsibility to inspect the pictures for verification. Descriptive words like "perfect" or "flawless" are subjective opinions because nothing is perfect; flaws are inevitable. If you question what you see, feel free to inspect our vehicles in person or by a professional inspection service strictly prior to the close of this auction. Post auction inspections are unacceptable and we reserve the right to sell to the follow up bidder immediately.

Collector's Dream Cars
707 Yucca St.
Boulder City, Nevada 89005
Office Line - 702-889-8482
Fax Line - 702-889-8486
Dlr # 26850
Doug Williams
Owner
Direct Line - 702-353-7500
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A Note for Potential Victims
Please let us know if you see our vehicles under listings of obvious question or if you receive a "Second Chance Offer" with any e-mail other than ours. You can easily recognize the crooks with the stupid low "Buy it Now" price and the direct e-mails off the eBay system. They'll never disclose a telephone number or address either. If they won't talk to you, return a call or can't send you a copy of a title to the vehicle... DON'T SEND THEM MONEY or fall for their sneaky e-mails and redirects attempting to get your seller ID and password.

Be Sure to ask about our Available Warranties
&
Some vehicles may qualify for the Premier Warranties of AUL.