Volkswagen Thing

The Volkswagen Type 181 or Thing was a small military vehicle produced by Volkswagen from 1969 to 1980 for the German army, as an updated version of the earlier Kübelwagen. The Thing, as it was commonly called, was also sold in the civilian market and enjoyed brief popularity in the United States in the mid-1970s. The vehicle was also referred to as the Safari, the Mehrzweckwagen, the Kübelwagen, and the Trekker. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 440 KB) Beschreibung: VW 181 Quelle: selbst fotografiert Fotograf: Sven Storbeck File links The following pages link to this file: Volkswagen Thing Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 440 KB) Beschreibung: VW 181 Quelle: selbst fotografiert Fotograf: Sven Storbeck File links The following pages link to this file: Volkswagen Thing Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or... Volkswagen [literally: peoples car] (also known as VW) is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... A 1951 VW Kübelwagen (LIM 111). ... The 1970s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1970 and 1979. ...

The rated payload of the Type 181 for military use was 400 kg, and being a general utility vehicle, acted as a command, patrol, dispatch, or radio vehicle. Standard military equipment included an axe, headlamp blackout covers, military lighting system, map light, radio suppression ingition wires, first aid kit, four rifle mounts, front skid plate, a spade, a starting handle, towing eye, towing hook, and a wheel chock.

For civilian use, the Thing was marketed as a recreational vehicle. Attractive features included the convertible top, removable doors, and a collapsible windshield. The vehicle was offered in orange, yellow, avocado green, or white. The convertible top was offered in black, tan, white or army green. Like its cousin the Volkswagen Beetle, the Thing featured rear wheel drive with a stock 1600cc dual port air-cooled engine in the rear. Saab 900 Convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible is an automobile with a folding or retracting roof. ... The VW Type 1, which was called the Beetle or Bug or Käfer (in German), is a small family car, the best known car of Volkswagen, one of the best known cars from Germany, and one of the most recognisable and distinctive cars in the world. ... Rear wheel drive was a common form of engine/transmission layout used in automobiles throughout the 20th century. ... Engine cooling is the process of cooling an engine by using either air or liquid. ... An engine is something that produces some effect from a given input. ...

Type 181s were built using the Karmann Ghia floorpan incorporating the reduction gearing from the VW Bus until 1973 when full independent rear suspension replaced the swing axle version. Many of the stampings were lifted from existing models to save on costs. The Karmann Ghia is a two-seater sports car marketed by Volkswagen, designed by the Italian firm Ghia, and built by German coach builder Karmann. ... Volkswagen Transporter may be a reference to: T1 Volkswagen Type 2, generation T1 T2 Volkswagen Type 2, generation T2 T3/Vanagon/T25 Volkswagen Type 2, generation T3/Vanagon/T25 T4 Volkswagen Eurovan, generation T4 T5 Volkswagen Eurovan, generation T5 This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with...

The Type 181 was sold as the Thing in the United States in 1973 and 1974 and as the Safari in Mexico from 1972 through 1977. A right hand drive version, the Trekker (Type 182), was built for the UK market. After 1973, Type 181s abandoned the Eberspacher gasoline heater in the US in favor of a engine/exhaust heat exchange similar to the Beetle. Military versions kept the original statonary heater for the production run. 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... This article concerns rules of the road regarding land vehicles; for sea-going vehicles, see International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. ... Gasoline, as it is known in North America, or petrol (abbreviated from petroleum spirit), in many Commonwealth countries (sometimes also called motor spirit) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ...

The Acapulco Thing, originally designed for the Las Brisas Hotel in Acapulco, came with running boards, special upholstery and paint schemes, and a surrey top. Acapulcos are identified by their striped paint scheme and were offered in orange and white, yellow and white, green and white, or blue and white. Acapulco (formally: Acapulco de Juárez) is a city and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, 300 km (190 miles) SSW of Mexico City, at 16. ... Surrey is the name of several places: Canada: Surrey, British Columbia United Kingdom: Surrey, England United States of America: Surrey, North Dakota Surrey, Maine Surrey is also shorthand for Surrey County Cricket Club or the University of Surrey This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages...

Between 1969 and 1982 the Type 181 was produced in Germany. From 1973 until 1980 production took place in Mexico. Total production numbers are vague, and range from 70,495 to almost double that at 140,768. 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

In North America, the Thing was criticized for failure to comply with federal safety standards for passenger cars. Rather than redesign the vehicle, Volkswagen abandoned the US market altogether and the last Things were sold in the United States in 1974. They continued to produce vehicles for NATO and Civilian Defence in Germany until 1983.

The myth that Things are amphibious vehicles probably comes from their resemblance to the Schwimmwagen, a vehicle tested by the German military during World War II. An amphibian or amphibious vehicle, is a vehicle that, like an amphibian, can move on land as well as on water. ... Schwimmwagen from the December 1944 issue of the Intelligence Bulletin. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb. ...

Pop Culture

VW 181-themed art sculpture

Salvaged VW 181 hood panels (from former West German military 181s) were used in a Christmas tree sculpture in Houston, Texas. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (480x640, 33 KB)Art sculpture based on VW 181 hood panels (on display in front of the Wortham Center in Houston, Texas) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (480x640, 33 KB)Art sculpture based on VW 181 hood panels (on display in front of the Wortham Center in Houston, Texas) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old...

Reference

• Schreier, Konrad F. Jr., ed. VW Kubelwagen Military Portfolio 1940-1990. ISBN 1855202182
• FAQs from The Thing Shop
• Thing discussion group