Volkswagen 181 'The Thing'
Overview
| Produced: |
1969-1978 |
|---|---|
| Types: |
An unusual vehicle was the VW 181 built for the German army but also sold to the public. This was a terrain vehicle but with rear-wheel drive only. The body was not unlike that of the Kubelwagen of the war. The first examples had a 1,493 cc engine from the Beetle but after 1 August 1970, the 1,584 cc engine was also available. It produced 44 bhp and when the four-cylinder engine was used, power increased to 54 bhp.
Source: Motorbase
Engines
| Capacity | Config | Model | Bore/Stroke | CR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1584cc | H4 OHV | VW Flat 4 (Type I) | 85mm x 69mm | |
| 1493cc | H4 OHV | VW Flat 4 (Type I) | 83mm x 69mm |
Drivetrain and Suspension
| Drivetrain | Steering | Front Suspension | Rear Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worm | Independent/Torsion bar | Independent/Torsion bar |
Performance
| Top Speed | 0-60 | SQM | MPG | Engine Pwr | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Auction Sales History
| Lot Num |
Description | Auctioneer | Date | Hammer Price | Hammer Price (inc premium) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 711 | Volkswagen Thing | Bonhams & Butterfields | 17 Sep 2011 | $7200.00 | $8424.00 |
| 318 | Volkswagen Type 181 | Bonhams | 25 Jun 2011 | Not sold | |
| 357 | Volkswagen Type 181 The Thing | Bonhams & Butterfields | 5 Jun 2011 | $10000.00 | $11700.00 |
| 428 | Volkswagen Type 181 | Bonhams & Butterfields | 6 Jun 2010 | $21000.00 | $24570.00 |
| 474 | Volkswagen Type 181 | Bonhams | 12 Sep 2009 | £5500.00 | £6325.00 |
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