You have to remember you have to over inflate the spare tire by 5 lb to compensate for your window pressure so that you don't have a flat tire to replace your flat tire a very smart car for a very smart person
I never should have clicked on this video.😩 _Gawd, how I miss my _*_Thing!_* Mine was a '74 (with the flare in back, which I prefer). It was initially a pale sun bleached yellow, so I had it repainted a brilliant sunburst yellow, similar to this one. I had all the chrome points powder coated black as an accent. I invested in the same sort of glass windows from *The Thing Shop* in Arizona. Only the front windows would slide open. I also ordered a cover for the top when it's down. I really regret selling it. At the time I was living in an apartment and could not have two cars. I simply had to give up the one that was less practical. I had to keep the one that was going to get me to work everyday. Of course, it's been 20 years since I sold it, I think about it all the time. I would always say that _it was the best antidepressant in the world._ I was always happiest when I drove that car.
The reason for the wood slate floors, which I was told: This is allow for hot bullet casings to go through so they don’t burn the soldier’s feet when firing an automatic weapon, from the vehicle. Sounded plausible.
This is correct. The military versions had these slat floors and that was the reason, to capture casings and prevent them from rolling around on the floor. Some were mounted with a machine gun in place of a rear seat. They were marketed more as dune buggies in the US so not offered here with them from the factory. I have two Things, super interesting cars and true to the nature of the original Kübelwagen in many ways but faster and more modern... relatively speaking.
The gas heaters work fine and are not dangerous as long as they are in good condition. I’ve had many and never had a fire. Another rumor started and spread by people who don’t have any actual experience with it.
I had a '74 Acapulco with the fiberglass top. I would've loved to have that preheater during the winter. I had to scrape ice from my windshield from the inside!
The WW2 Kublewagen also has a fold down windshield. The piece you keep referring to as an auxiliary fuel tank is the charcoal canister. It is an emissions part that scrubs off fuel vapor instead of just venting gas fumes into the air and also into the car. All emission equipped cars have them. The Gasoline heater is just that. Not a preheater. It's how the 73 Thing had heat. It was available as an option on all other air cooled VW's. The 1974 Thing had heater boxes like a beetle.
scott kauffman ... Good catch on the under hood items but going around back I'm not sure about that "numbers matching" engine. Obviously the wrong muffler and going from memory I do believe the 73 had an alternator, not a generator.
Actually the small canister is simply an expansion tank. Charcoal canistor is tucked underneath the right rear fender. All 181s (Thing) has generators. Common upgrade is to switch to alternator.
The floor is for shell casings so that they don't get caught under your foot remember this was a military vehicle guns were being fired out of it you cannot have shells rolling around on the floor
A few more techie items on the vehicle... The air in the spare did indeed pressurize the window washer but before people jump to conclusions on the tire going flat, the idea was you filled the spare to 32 psi and there was a safety valve built in that stopped the air flow around 22 psi. (half way between the rear / 26 and front / 18 recommended pressure) Most all of the cars had that hole in the reap bumper (for the hand crank) but most of them did NOT have the crank handle or the special nut on the crankshaft where it would engage... at least not in the USA. Like the Jeep, both the windows and doors came off if you liked. The wooden floorboards were an option. The idea was if you tracked mud into the vehicle it would fall through and you could sweep it up later. It also kept your feet out of any water / ice that collected. Regular rubber mats were also a common dealer option. The HP ratings mentioned are based on a best guess. Depending on where the vehicle was purchased it could be from 46 HP to 63 HP. Much of that depended on local emissions and tuning to meet local fuel octane availability.
Modern Greaser Maybe because I’m 8 or 9 years older than him and I remember cars with no a/c or “climate control” as he always calls it, even if it’s manual.
Simplicity at it's FINEST 😎
You have to remember you have to over inflate the spare tire by 5 lb to compensate for your window pressure so that you don't have a flat tire to replace your flat tire a very smart car for a very smart person
I never should have clicked on this video.😩 _Gawd, how I miss my _*_Thing!_* Mine was a '74 (with the flare in back, which I prefer). It was initially a pale sun bleached yellow, so I had it repainted a brilliant sunburst yellow, similar to this one. I had all the chrome points powder coated black as an accent. I invested in the same sort of glass windows from *The Thing Shop* in Arizona. Only the front windows would slide open. I also ordered a cover for the top when it's down.
I really regret selling it. At the time I was living in an apartment and could not have two cars. I simply had to give up the one that was less practical. I had to keep the one that was going to get me to work everyday. Of course, it's been 20 years since I sold it, I think about it all the time. I would always say that _it was the best antidepressant in the world._ I was always happiest when I drove that car.
The reason for the wood slate floors, which I was told: This is allow for hot bullet casings to go through so they don’t burn the soldier’s feet when firing an automatic weapon, from the vehicle. Sounded plausible.
Nice! Thanks for sharing
The Thing never had wooden floor boards from new....they had rubber mats with perforations.
This is correct. The military versions had these slat floors and that was the reason, to capture casings and prevent them from rolling around on the floor. Some were mounted with a machine gun in place of a rear seat. They were marketed more as dune buggies in the US so not offered here with them from the factory. I have two Things, super interesting cars and true to the nature of the original Kübelwagen in many ways but faster and more modern... relatively speaking.
The gas heaters work fine and are not dangerous as long as they are in good condition. I’ve had many and never had a fire. Another rumor started and spread by people who don’t have any actual experience with it.
I had a '74 Acapulco with the fiberglass top. I would've loved to have that preheater during the winter. I had to scrape ice from my windshield from the inside!
I have owns type 1 type 2 type 3 and type 4 all restored
The WW2 Kublewagen also has a fold down windshield. The piece you keep referring to as an auxiliary fuel tank is the charcoal canister. It is an emissions part that scrubs off fuel vapor instead of just venting gas fumes into the air and also into the car. All emission equipped cars have them. The Gasoline heater is just that. Not a preheater. It's how the 73 Thing had heat. It was available as an option on all other air cooled VW's. The 1974 Thing had heater boxes like a beetle.
scott kauffman
... Good catch on the under hood items but going around back I'm not sure about that "numbers matching" engine. Obviously the wrong muffler and going from memory I do believe the 73 had an alternator, not a generator.
Actually the small canister is simply an expansion tank. Charcoal canistor is tucked underneath the right rear fender. All 181s (Thing) has generators. Common upgrade is to switch to alternator.
The floor is for shell casings so that they don't get caught under your foot remember this was a military vehicle guns were being fired out of it you cannot have shells rolling around on the floor
A few more techie items on the vehicle... The air in the spare did indeed pressurize the window washer but before people jump to conclusions on the tire going flat, the idea was you filled the spare to 32 psi and there was a safety valve built in that stopped the air flow around 22 psi. (half way between the rear / 26 and front / 18 recommended pressure) Most all of the cars had that hole in the reap bumper (for the hand crank) but most of them did NOT have the crank handle or the special nut on the crankshaft where it would engage... at least not in the USA. Like the Jeep, both the windows and doors came off if you liked. The wooden floorboards were an option. The idea was if you tracked mud into the vehicle it would fall through and you could sweep it up later. It also kept your feet out of any water / ice that collected. Regular rubber mats were also a common dealer option. The HP ratings mentioned are based on a best guess. Depending on where the vehicle was purchased it could be from 46 HP to 63 HP. Much of that depended on local emissions and tuning to meet local fuel octane availability.
Amazing video
FAVORITE ONE!
Delaney Penn good to hear! I can TOTALLY see you driving this!!!!
What is the deal with the back seat? Definitely not stock.
thats dope
Thanks homeslice! It belongs to one of your fellow MHS students
😎
Doug always forgets the age of vehicles he tests.
Hahah glad it's not just me
Modern Greaser Maybe because I’m 8 or 9 years older than him and I remember cars with no a/c or “climate control” as he always calls it, even if it’s manual.
How much you want for it ? Real talk
"isn't it like a war Jeep"