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The Volkswagen Thing was based on the "Typ 82 Kübelwagen," Germany's equivalent to the Jeep during World War II. In 1969, a slightly modified form dubbed the "Kubelwagen Model 181" was manufactured in and sold to Americans as the Thing. The VW 181 Facts and Figures site features an informative history page about this unusual vehicle. Though exceedingly rare, there are still thousands of Things out there. Before 1969, the cars were built in Germany, and then production was moved to Mexico from 1973 until 1980. Production estimates range from 70,000 to 140,000 Things built. Owners tend to be a fiercely proud breed, and naturally they have their own web ring.
The Volkswagen Thing category in the Yahoo! Directory pointed us to The Internet 181 Club, a major resource for all things Thing. You'll find all manner of fan pages, discussion boards, photographs, and this fantastic advertisement from the July 1973 issue of Playboy. Believe it or not, "The Thing" isn't a nickname, but the original product name. It was marketed as an early ancestor of the SUV. How's this for an ad slogan? Volkswagen Presents "The Thing."
It can be anything!
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