1973 VW Thing

[Sizzle Chest]

1973 VW Type 181 - Thing
Mileage unknown
Avocado Green
1500cc/46 HP



A client of mine has this cool VW Thing. He is planning on selling it soon and wanted it to look as good as it could prior to selling.

The paint was very cloudy, hazy, and full of swirls. It has been repainted and it had plenty of material to work with…it would have been the perfect candidate for some wet sanding, but he did not want to go that far. The top was ridiculously faded/sun burnt and needed a little attention. He stated it needed to be replaced, but I wanted to see what I could do!

I killed one of my Flex 3401’s on this and it will be getting sent back to Flex for repair!



Process/tools/chemicals/etc:
McKee’s37 914 rinseless wash.
Clayed via Griot’s medium mitt.
Clay lube DoDo born slippery.
DeFelkso PTG.
Scangrip lighting.
Misc. MF towels.
Flex 3401.
Rupes iBrid.
Misc. wool and foam pads.
Beta test heavy cut compound.
Beta test polish.
Beta test spray wax for LSP.
Beta test hybrid spray sealant for LSP.
(I wanted to try both of these products on this vehicle so each one got a section of the vehicle. Spray wax on the front end and the rest received a dose of the spray sealant.)
SCG Pro tire dressing.
Adam’s glass cleaner.
Metro vacuum.
The top received a healthy application of Auto Finesse Revive trim restorer and came out great!

Thanks for looking!



Before shots:

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-SV3VgWC/0/7298f5e0/XL/DSCN1074-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-SV3VgWC/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-WFJTrpK/0/17a283e1/XL/DSCN1075-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-WFJTrpK/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-XNPtZgx/0/b1592264/XL/DSCN1076-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-XNPtZgx/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-qq9B3z3/0/4846fcf1/XL/DSCN1077-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-qq9B3z3/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-Lsf5cWp/0/b0064588/XL/DSCN1078-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-Lsf5cWp/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-VLSPPvm/0/d251498f/XL/DSCN1079-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-VLSPPvm/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-Q278L5x/0/cd62952d/XL/DSCN1080-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-Q278L5x/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-tDs2GZ9/0/7f605208/XL/DSCN1082-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-tDs2GZ9/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-HxZnqpj/0/a94ae335/XL/DSCN1089-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-HxZnqpj/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-DZBJpDb/0/9593129a/XL/DSCN1092-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-DZBJpDb/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-HkG3Qfs/0/a77d6f8d/XL/DSCN1083-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-HkG3Qfs/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-47WwfNR/0/2c81ef26/XL/DSCN1084-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-47WwfNR/A)


After the first hit:

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-HChJS7j/0/9598b911/XL/DSCN1085-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-HChJS7j/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-LS7XMsZ/0/23bf662b/XL/DSCN1087-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-LS7XMsZ/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-zLkMcWH/0/800485a0/XL/DSCN1090-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-zLkMcWH/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-pHWZb6k/0/a5bdc2bb/XL/DSCN1093-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-pHWZb6k/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-jtkxKFq/0/e1572709/XL/DSCN1094-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-jtkxKFq/A)

[Sizzle Chest]

Top before:

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-S4HdPMC/0/82c22290/XL/DSCN1095-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-S4HdPMC/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-hCcQ8Rd/0/a6f9134a/XL/DSCN1096-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-hCcQ8Rd/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-hCcQ8Rd/0/a6f9134a/XL/DSCN1096-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-hCcQ8Rd/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-x9sP3cN/0/d615c213/XL/DSCN1099-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-x9sP3cN/A)
Left side started:

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-czzWz7m/0/585f5e52/XL/DSCN1098-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-czzWz7m/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-M2jrT5s/0/104fb795/XL/DSCN1100-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-M2jrT5s/A)

50/50:

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-cbcVhRd/0/32e47ddb/XL/DSCN1102-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-cbcVhRd/A)


Interior:

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-6mzZxQW/0/bf67a4ba/XL/DSCN1104-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-6mzZxQW/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-qdWRJSX/0/4b3765b2/XL/DSCN1106-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-qdWRJSX/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-jcX3hkG/0/6ea5ebcf/XL/DSCN1108-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-jcX3hkG/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-7GFFPmJ/0/90a584ab/XL/DSCN1110-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-7GFFPmJ/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-4LNHkxQ/0/15268e23/XL/DSCN1111-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-4LNHkxQ/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-NLTVr66/0/8c909dc1/XL/DSCN1112-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-NLTVr66/A)

[Sizzle Chest]

Final shots:

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-xk8GjWW/0/34dbea1b/XL/DSCN1113-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-xk8GjWW/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-nq6m5W5/0/1a18da04/XL/DSCN1114-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-nq6m5W5/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-hNg54PD/0/8d1027b2/XL/DSCN1115-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-hNg54PD/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-QVPwjWG/0/a2da4cf7/XL/DSCN1116-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-QVPwjWG/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-7pRkttK/0/66771503/XL/DSCN1117-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-7pRkttK/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-3hDrf8f/0/ffe070f6/XL/DSCN1118-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-3hDrf8f/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-wQ3F3ZB/0/12664449/XL/DSCN1119-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-wQ3F3ZB/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-qcFwdkv/0/179ed8bd/XL/DSCN1120-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-qcFwdkv/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-QtnnCQW/0/79d8dfb7/XL/DSCN1121-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-QtnnCQW/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-K35nMMT/0/ec8436f6/XL/DSCN1122-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-K35nMMT/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-4W2nfKJ/0/135e16e9/XL/DSCN1123-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-4W2nfKJ/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-92B9WHZ/0/24dffae3/XL/DSCN1124-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-92B9WHZ/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-MdxHr7Q/0/1e8db052/XL/DSCN1125-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-MdxHr7Q/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-46BPCqm/0/b92e46f0/XL/DSCN1126-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-46BPCqm/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-fpw6S3C/0/4c17502a/XL/DSCN1128-XL.jpg (https://autodermatology.smugmug.com/1972-VW-Thing/i-fpw6S3C/A)

[Saskquatch]

I'm just a lurker here but must say great job as you always do.

That's one cool vehicle.

[Sizzle Chest]

I'm just a lurker here but must say great job as you always do.

That's one cool vehicle.


Thank you! I appreciate the feedback!

[TMQ]

Awesome as always...

So in order to get the results---you had to hit it with a flex and wool pad?

And what did you do after the flex was down??

Tom

[DaveT435]

My wife drive one of those for a couple years before we met. She has always said she loved that car. Said it would go anywhere.

[Sizzle Chest]

Awesome as always...

So in order to get the results---you had to hit it with a flex and wool pad?

And what did you do after the flex was down??

Tom

Yep. MF/foam pads weren't giving me the initial results I was looking for so I had to step up to wool pads. Finished down nicely with MF pads. When that 3401 died, I grabbed my other 3401!!



My wife drive one of those for a couple years before we met. She has always said she loved that car. Said it would go anywhere.

Very cool!!! I heard they are very good at pretty much everything...except speed! LOL

[SWETM]

Awesome car :) Great work and write up and pictures as always! The top came out great when you look at what you started with. And the paint cleared up beutieful.

/Tony

[Aaryn NZ]

Usually I'm biased towards a VW anyway but as we all know the standard of work you do Scott is first class every time & no exception here with this sweet 181. :props:

Superb work my friend, it looks incredible . . . slow yes but it looks incredible. A shame to have a 3401 call it quits & I thought the Germans would've stuck together a bit better - hope/doubt its nothing serious. :buffing:

These fetch good coin down here if they ever pop up for sale, what is this on the market for over there mate?

Brilliant results, a fantastic write up, superb pictures - thanks for sharing. :props:


Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:

[Justin at Final Inspection]

Very cool and unique ride. Well done on the correction!

[Pats300zx]

Such a cool car !!!! AWESOME job !!!

[Farmallluvr]

I'm a big fan of older VW's as well and that Thing rocks!!,,looks great sizzlechest.

Up here in the rust belt a lot of those have rusted into the ground and even those that haven't don't look 1/2 that good

[LSNAutoDetailing]

Wow, that's a cool "Thing!" Nice work Scott!