Looking for a Thing

Blackfoot · « **on:** June 25, 2011, 06:28:37 PM »

http://nwga.craigslist.org/cto/2437971992.html
Found this one in Lafayette but I almost thought it might be to good to be true. anybody know about it?

Zen · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2011, 07:10:37 PM »

There was a white one for sale in LaFayette a while back . . . I haven't seen this one.

Russ · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2011, 11:03:18 PM »

Someone at work asked me if $3500 is a good price and that there was one for sale nearby. I think this is what they were talking about. Probably worth checking out at that price.

Zen · « **Reply #3 on:** June 26, 2011, 08:48:16 AM »

Things were only brought into the US in 73 and 74 . . . they weren't a big hit at the time, so there were never that many around to begin with. Almost 40 years later they are a lot more popular and only a small percentage of them survive. The law of supply and demand kicks in . . . even the junk ones aren't cheap any more. If it's fairly solid and roadworthy, you won't find one much cheaper than $3500. Just keep in mind that any parts that are "Thing Only" are probably going to be 2 or 3 times more expensive than their Beetle counterparts . . . if you can find them.

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2011, 11:49:53 AM »

Not a bad deal. Even better if it still has a "working" gas heater.
Zen, Roughly about 25,000 brought into the USA I was told. I had the first "Thing" in Chattanooga. I was working at the dealer at that time and saw that they were going to be imported to the USA sometime in 1973. I put a deposit on one and that was in 1968. Cost was $2,700. They were still called Safari's at that time.

Zen · « **Reply #5 on:** June 26, 2011, 03:39:19 PM »

If half of the 25,000 are still around, which I doubt, that leaves 12,250 in the entire country. The US has about 3,537,620 square miles of dry land . . . that works out to an average of about 1 Thing for every 288.79 square miles. And again, that's if half of them are still around.

Blackfoot · « **Reply #6 on:** June 26, 2011, 08:25:03 PM »

that's not very encouraging Zen! I really wanna find one but I hate to pay what some of these people want for them. What engine do they usually have in them? 1600cc? Cause if an engine and tranny wouldn't be that expensive I might have a chance at finding a solid body to work with.

travisyoung · « **Reply #7 on:** June 26, 2011, 09:29:32 PM »

I will check with someone i know that has a few, just went and looked at a 200 dollar parts car, it was sold with in hours of posting on craigslist, i would not sell mine for less than 6500

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #8 on:** June 26, 2011, 10:38:41 PM »

Quote from: Blackfoot on June 26, 2011, 08:25:03 PM

that's not very encouraging Zen! I really wanna find one but I hate to pay what some of these people want for them. What engine do they usually have in them? 1600cc? Cause if an engine and tranny wouldn't be that expensive I might have a chance at finding a solid body to work with.

The engines were 1600cc duel port (USA spec's) . The transmissions were I.R.S. just like the later bug's except the Thing had a ring/pinion set from a VW auto-stick to lower the final drive ratio. These car's weight about 50 lbs more than a Jeep CJ with a inline 6 cyl. engine.

Zen · « **Reply #9 on:** June 26, 2011, 11:55:57 PM »

I'm not trying to be discouraging . . . just trying to explain why folks ask for (and get) more than these things seem like they should be worth. Bargins still come out of the woodwork from time to time, but you gott'a jump on 'em quick or they will be gone!

xdavid · « **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2011, 09:04:21 AM »

I have never had problems getting parts - most are "standard" vw parts and other parts can be purchased from the Thing Shop in Arizona - even body panels. so I wouldn't worry too much about parts

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #11 on:** June 27, 2011, 09:22:13 AM »

Quote from: xdavid on June 27, 2011, 09:04:21 AM

I have never had problems getting parts - most are "standard" vw parts and other parts can be purchased from the Thing Shop in Arizona - even body panels. so I wouldn't worry too much about parts

I worked on a restored '73 a while back . One of the best thing I saw was repo. side curtains from the Thing Shop. They were either Glass or Lexan(?) and were excellent. Very well made and far better than the original. I would think body and top "stuff" would be a little harder to come by but the Thing Shop must have a "pile" of these parts. They are not cheap, but you pay a little more for a good bottle of wine.

Blackfoot · « **Reply #12 on:** June 27, 2011, 11:07:36 AM »

Yeah I found "the Thing Shop" from the website for that thing show in hiwassee. they seemed to have everthing I could ever think of to put on a Thing.

Blackfoot · « **Reply #13 on:** June 27, 2011, 01:41:00 PM »

I've seen a yellow Thing down on rossville blvd at a wrecker lot. body looks good no top and their letting it just sit out without a cover. anybody know about this one? Dad tried to talk to them about it but they were adamant about that it wasn't for sale. I hate to see it sit there and rot.

volksnick · « **Reply #14 on:** June 27, 2011, 02:27:59 PM »

Quote from: Blackfoot on June 27, 2011, 01:41:00 PM

I've seen a yellow Thing down on rossville blvd at a wrecker lot. body looks good no top and their letting it just sit out without a cover. anybody know about this one? Dad tried to talk to them about it but they were adamant about that it wasn't for sale. I hate to see it sit there and rot.

How long ago was that? I've seen that one and I thought it was for sale...

I work on the Southside so I might run by there one day and strike up a conversation if they'll let me.

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Topic: Looking for a Thing (Read 9131 times)

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Looking for a Thing

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