1974 THING TYPE 181 SAFARI PESCACCIA PATINA NEW PANS QUAD DISC DROP BEAM 125 PIC

WE HAVE FANTASTIC FINANCING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR ALL CREDIT TYPES!

CALL J.J. TODAY TO APPLY!!!

941-286-0889

After owning and cruising this awesome THING all over Florida in the past year and half, putting over 3,500 miles on it, and letting people take a picture by it every time it got parked, it is time to reluctantly part ways with it!

This one of a kind custom 1974 VW THING has it all, from incredible patina all the way to a fresh, fully coated custom pan with fresh mechanical's and power train!

1974 VW THING FOR SALE - YouTube

Video will open in a new window

Starting with a solid running and driving Arizona VW THING donor, this project was started to create something that looked like a Kubelwagen that was dug out from the deserts of Africa after being abandoned in WWII, yet with all the reliability and upgrades to make it daily-driver capable.

The body, believe it or not, is in really good, solid shape, and you can take a 4 inch square felt-covered refrigerator magnet and stick it anywhere on the car. The patina was carefully planned and executed, and the body, both inside and out, is amazing solid.

It looks AMAZING, and gets people taking pictures of it and commenting on it every single time you stop.

It was lightly worked over with chains, sticks, and other assorted tools of destruction while in the process of getting the patina, to give it that appropriate aged look, and snaps necks like a chicken farmer when you drive past.

The whole thing was expertly dabbed with a mix of acid and water, carefully sanded and lightly airbrushed, and after 4 weeks was artfully aged as though Mother Nature had done it herself.

It is NOT cleared, and the finish has not changed in the year and half we've been driving it.

Before anything was done to the body, it was pulled completely off the chassis and the entire pan was completely blasted, cleaned, restored, and then coated to a like-new finish.

During that time, a disc brake set up was installed with drop spindles, new lines, and all new shocks to maintain a quality ride while still getting it down to the ground.

The engine was pulled out, completely disassembled, and put back together as close to stock as possible to make sure it was reliable, efficient, and easy to maintain down the road. Same with the 4-speed transmission, which also received new clutches, axles, and linkage in the rebuilding phase.

Everything was put back together, and the driving results are GREAT! It starts, idles, and runs like a good VW should, has plenty of power to cruise the highway at 55-60mph, stays cool and doesn’t smoke, and weeps the typical few drips like they all do to let everyone know they were here.

I have driven it over 4,000 miles, and wouldn't hesitate to cruise it around anywhere.

I tried to take some undersides shots of the pan but I couldn’t fit it on my lift because my lift arms are too high, so I couldn’t wipe the dirt off of it. It is clean, and if you pressure washed it and wiped it off, it would look as new as the pans do in the interior shots with the wood floor mats removed.

It is a great cruiser for in town and rural roads, but if you want to do 80 on the freeway you will need a different gearing, as it is happiest at 55-60.

Headlights work, parking lamps work, tail lamps work, and the brake lights work.

The cool looking side spot lamp has wiring but it is not connected. The safety light mounted to the back of the car with the JERRY CAN holder is not hooked up either, but is a pretty rare and cool find. The Jerry can itself is cool looking, but I have not tried to store any liquids in it.

The front mounted tow bar is fully functional, and I have towed it about a mile with my truck just to make sure it worked, and it does.

Windshield folds down and latches up like it should, and the car is a blast to drive in either position! I have spent many a mile with goggles on and the windshield down catching stares like I was in a Mad Max flick!

The top is exceptionally clean and solid, with no seam pulls, holes, rips or issues. It latches correctly, and even comes with both the covers to install on the framework when the top is down.

A recent battery is in the factory location, and keeps things charged up and working.

Heater was not installed and is non-functional, but I am sure you could hook something or other up if you desired to drive it on cold winter days.

Seats are solid and comfortable, and have light wear and patina to make them fit in with the rest of the car.

All of the doors open and close like they should, and inside of the doors are solid and true.

Wood floor mats are solid and in very good condition, and have protected the freshly coated floor pans from any issues.

Dash is weathered on purpose, and the factory radio was left intact but is not functional at this time, and I have no idea why.

Pedals are all functional and the roller gas pedal is easy to use in close quarters.

The fender mounted mirrors are super cool military looking things and are actually really easy to see out of once you get them adjusted.

The winch is for show, although I am sure you could probably hook it up and get it to work if you wanted to.

Vintage front plate comes with it.

Chrome wheels with vintage VW black caps are in very good condition, and have purposefully been treated to a light patina in spots to make them belong on the car.

Tires are in very good condition, and have an estimated 65% of the useable tread left on them. They are size 165-R15 on the rear, and 135-R15 up front. The way the car is lowered, there is no weird camber or anything, so wear is even and tracking is clean on the road.

Engine bay is clean and neat, and was mildly treated to the patina look for continuity.

Patina was also done with the finish under the hood up front. Fuel tank and lines are new, as is the vent and fill neck.

It is all solid underneath, and the rubber seal is in great shape just the one on the back engine cover.

The car is a blast to drive, and will command ALL the attention at any car show or cruise night you take it to.

It is currently in great running, driving, stopping, and performing order, and to my knowledge needs nothing to drive and enjoy.

THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS:
WORKING HEADLIGHTS
WORKING TAIL LIGHTS
WORKING PARKING LIGHTS
WORKING FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNALS
WORKING DASH LIGHTS
THE HORN IS NOT FUNCTIONING
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING

The vehicle is located in our Fort Myers, FL warehouse, and is just 20 minutes away from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) if you want to fly in and see it.

I welcome outside inspection services BEFORE YOU BUY OR BID.

ALL SALES, RETAIL OR WHOLESALE, ARE SUBJECT TO A $299 DEALER DOCUMENTARY FEE. THIS FEE IS BEING DISCLOSED PER STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. PLEASE BID ACCORDINGLY, AS THIS $299 WILL BE CHARGED OVER AND ABOVE YOUR WINNING BID AMOUNT.

PLEASE be prepared to pay the initial NON REFUNDABLE $250.00 deposit via PAYPAL within 24 hours of winning the auction, and pay the balance in full within 7 days of auction end date.

The ONLY acceptable forms of payment are:
*CASH IN PERSON
*BANK WIRE TRANSFER
(BANK WIRE IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE OPTION FOR SALES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES)
*BANK DRAFT/CASHIER CHECK
*JJBEST BANK OR LIGHTSTREAM LOAN

The vehicle and title will NOT leave our possession until any check/draft/loan has been verified and cleared OUR account.

WINNING BIDDER WILL GET A BILL OF SALE AND CLEAN AND CLEAR TITLE, AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING SALES TAX, TITLE, REGISTRATION, ETC. IN THEIR HOME STATE, WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION:

WE ARE REQUIRED TO COLLECT TAX, TAG, TITLE FEES ON VEHICLES BEING TITLED AND REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA!

LICENSED MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERS IN ALL STATES CAN PURCHASE ON A WHOLESALE ORDER WITH A VALID DEALER LICENSE AND TAX I.D. CERTIFICATE.

THIS VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR RETAIL SALE AT OUR FORT MYERS, FL LOCATION, AND I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO END THE AUCTION AT ANY TIME SHOULD THE VEHICLE BE SOLD.

THE VEHICLE IS SOLD IN AS-IS / WHERE-IS CONDITION WITH FULL RIGHT TO INSPECT PRIOR TO BIDDING ON THE AUCTION.

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, HONESTLY, AND OBJECTIVELY.

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE LISTING IS CULLED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: VISUAL INSPECTION, PRIVATE PARTY INSPECTION, RECEIPTS OR RECORDS INCLUDED WITH THE VEHICLE, INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE PRIOR OWNER, AND PERSONAL DRIVE TIME WITH THE VEHICLE. IF GEAR RATIOS, ENGINE INTERNAL SPECIFICS, TRANSMISSION INTERNAL SPECIFICS, AND ANY OTHER DETAILS THAT ARE NOT APPARENT IN THE PHOTOS SHOWN ARE LISTED, THAT IS BASED ON THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY PRIOR OWNER, AS WE DO NOT BREAK OPEN ENGINES, TRANSMISSIONS, REAR ENDS, ETC., SO WE ARE SIMPLY OFFERING IT TO YOU IN THE SAME GOOD FAITH THAT IT WAS OFFERED TO US. WHEN IN DOUBT, COME HERE AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF, OR HIRE AN INSPECTION SERVICE.

MILEAGE STATED IN LISTING IS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LISTING, BUT CAN INCREASE DUE TO TEST DRIVES, TAKING THE VEHICLES TO CAR SHOWS, AND MOVING THEM BETWEEN OUR WAREHOUSES. MILEAGE WILL NO EXCEED THE AMOUNT STATED BY MORE THAN 400 MILES.

IF A VEHICLE WAS A TRADE-IN AT OUR DEALERSHIP AND HAD A LOAN/LEASE PAYOFF, THERE MAY BE A TITLE DELAY AS THE TITLE COULD BE IN TRANSIT FROM THE LENDER. WE AGREE TO SUPPLY CLEAN, CLEAR, AND VALID TITLE TO THE VEHICLE WITHIN 25 DAYS OF YOUR PURCHASE.

PURCHASER AGREE'S THAT ANY AN ALL ARBITRATION, LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, OR UNRESOLVED COMPLAINTS SURROUNDING THE VEHICLE, THIS AUCTION, OR OUR DEALERSHIP, WILL BE PURSUED THROUGH LEE COUNTY, FL SMALL CLAIMS COURT AND NO OTHER STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, OR FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM.

PURCHASER FURTHER AGREES THAT BY BIDDING ON THIS AUCTION, HE AGREES TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION AS STATED IN THE LISTING/. IF FOR ANY REASON AT ALL THE PURCHASER ELECTS TO NOT COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION, PURCHASER WILL REMIT $500.00 usd TO COVER DAMAGES ACCRUED BY THE SELLER. IN THE EVENT THAT THE $500.00 usd IS NOT PAID WITHIN 10 DAYS OF AUCTION END, WINNING BIDDER AGREES TO ALSO REIMBURSE THE SELLER FOR ANY AND ALL REASONABLE FEE'S IN COLLECTING THE DEBT INCURRED, INCLUDING COURT COSTS, COLLECTION FEES, and WAGES LOST IN SEEKING FULFILLMENT OF THE SAID OBLIGATION.

FERRARIBUYERONLINE has been my eBay seller name for the multiple dealerships associated with me Worldwide, including CALI MOTORS, EVERY LITTLE DETAIL, ROCKABILLYJ RODS and CHOPPERS, and more!

Based in Fort Myers, FL, I have been buying and selling Specialty cars and trucks, as well as Harley-Davidson motorcycles, since 2005.

J.J. ARMSTRONG

CALI MOTORS
941-286-0889