1958 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, 1973 Volkswagen 181 Thing

It was not a coincidence that these VWs were parked together; turns out it was a family picnic of VW fans. The Karmann Ghia was built virtually unchanged from 1955 to 1974. I think this is the oldest one I've seen. The 181, known as "The Thing" in the US, was only sold in the US in 1973-4 before safety regulations killed it here.

 

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1974 Volkswagen Thing Type 181

This is the second Thing I've spotted for this blog, but unlike the one I posted in January from the Greenwood Car Show, this Thing lives in my neighborhood. It's immaculate.

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1974 Volkswagen Thing Type 181

Sold in the US only in 1973-74, I see these in Seattle from time to time. Designed for the German Army, it looks just like the Kubelwagen of WWII.

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