The real Thing is coming!
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The real Thing is coming!

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By Shannons - 24 June 2015

• Rare ‘no reserve’ VW off-roader

• Substantially upgraded example

• Uber cult car collectability

Forget the latest Ferrari, Lambo, or McLaren. If you want to make a real automotive style statement, you need a real ‘Thing’ – ideally an outrageously camouflaged one like the example going under the hammer at Shannons Melbourne Winter Auction on July 13.

This very rare in Australia VW ‘Thing’ being offered with ‘no reserve’ at Shannons Melbourne winter Auction is the ultimate attention grabber.

Properly known in its native Germany as the Volkswagen Type 181 Kurierwagen, but irreverently dubbed ‘The Thing’ in the United States, where it was a hit with trendy types in early 1970s. Today it remains a cult car, with restored examples advertised for up to $35,000.

When released in 1968, the Thing was the younger, cooler cousin of the Kübelwagen, (‘bucket car’) light military utilitarian vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by VW during the Second World War, but this time conceived as a lightweight off-road vehicle for European NATO forces.

Initially built as a military vehicle, the VW Type 81 ‘Thing’ has become a symbol of street ‘cool’.

It was offered with a 1.5-litre engine – later upgraded to a 1.6-litre – and shared mechanicals with the Beetle and the pre-1968 Microbus, while its floorpan was a slightly-wider version of that used for the Type 1 Karmann-Ghia.

It came with a four-speed manual gearbox and the heavy-duty off-road tyres gave the Thing good ground clearance.

The interior too was also uber-Spartan, with the centrally-mounted speedo the only thing distinguishing the interior from the inside of a metal filing cabinet and it was designed to be cleaned inside and out with a hose.

The Thing today is a rare beast in Australia and the refurbished and upgraded original left hand drive example being auctioned by Shannons on July 13 is a real head turner in its ‘Friesian cow’-like camouflage paintwork.

Described as having all the comfort and style of a metal filing cabinet, the VW 'Thing' being auctioned by Shannons on July 13 is low on comfort but high on 'cool'.

Fitted with a 6-inch lift kit and sitting on custom-made 16-inch steel rims, this funky VW has Golf seats, a sports steering wheel and a Kombi sports-shifter, while its exterior accessories including a bull bar, side steps and an engine cage.

Because of its almost unparalleled ‘Urban Cred’ This Type 181 has great potential as a unique promotional vehicle or as a super cool beach cruiser, or bush basher.

Currently unregistered, the Volkswagen comes with a roof frame and side windows included although no hood is currently fitted.

Even more appealingly, it will be offered with ‘no reserve’, with Shannons conservatively predicting a selling range of $8,000-$12,000, whereas when new it cost a shade more in the US than a 1973 Mustang Mach 1.

View all July 13 auction lots

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