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Few cars of the 1970s were as honest about what they were as the Volkswagen Thing, and a green 1974 example now listed on Hagerty Marketplace shows that plainly. It's offered with no reserve out of Davis, California, and bidding stood at $6,100 after three bids with about six days left. That's a small number for a car Hagerty's price guide values far higher in good condition, so this one is worth a closer look.
A Beetle in Work Clothes
Volkswagen called it the Type 181 at home. American buyers knew it as the Thing when it arrived here for 1973. Its roots go back to the company's military vehicles, including the wartime Kübelwagen. If you've seen the restored 1943 Kübelwagen we covered, the family resemblance is hard to miss. The flat, bolt-on body panels, fold-down windshield, and removable top were built for utility, not style, and that's a big part of why people love them today.
Under the skin, the Thing is basically a Beetle. It has a rear-mounted, air-cooled flat-four and a four-speed manual driving the rear wheels, and it shares plenty of parts with the classic Beetle convertible. U.S.-market cars were assembled in Puebla, Mexico. The Thing only sold here for a brief window in the early '70s, and that short run helps explain why clean ones draw a crowd whenever they surface.
What This 1974 Thing Brings
The seller bought this Thing in 2011 and has kept it registered in California since. It wears green paint over a black vinyl interior, with a replacement black soft top that includes sliding-window door inserts. The inserts come with the car.
The odometer shows 87,550 miles, but the listing calls that total mileage unknown. The original engine has been replaced with another 1,600cc flat-four fed by a single downdraft carburetor, still paired with the four-speed manual. Other changes include an aftermarket shifter, an aftermarket rear spotlight, and General Grabber tires on 14-inch steel wheels with dog-dish hubcaps. The bumperettes have been removed.
The seller is upfront about the flaws. The listing notes paint imperfections, paint runs inside the cabin, wear on interior surfaces, a missing heater hose, and corrosion on the underside. A careful buyer will want to study the 97-photo gallery closely, especially the underside shots, before bidding. The car does come with a clean California title in the seller's name.
What Hagerty's Value Tools Say About the Market
According to Hagerty Valuation Tools, a 1974 Volkswagen 181 Thing in #3 (Good) condition was worth about $21,000 as of July 2026, with a range of roughly $18,000 to $24,000. That value rose 5% over the last quarter and 1% over the past year, but it's still down 15% from three years ago. In other words, the market has cooled from its peak and now looks steady.
Recent sales back that up. Hagerty's data shows 1974 Things selling for $17,588 in early September, $16,800 and $19,425 in August, and a standout $45,150 at the end of July. Over the last three years, 336 examples of the 1974 model sold at public auction, ranging from a low of $3,800 to a high of $65,625. Across all 1971–1975 Type 181 models, 39 cars changed hands in the past 12 months with an average price of about $18,700, though sales volume fell 22%.
Hagerty notes that condition and color matter more than model year. The top of the pecking order is the Acapulco Edition with its blue-and-white striped top. A 1974 Acapulco Edition in #3 condition is valued around $31,500, and that version is up 15% over three years while standard cars slipped.
Where This One Fits
With a replacement engine, a non-original top, and some rust and cosmetic issues, this Thing is realistically a driver-quality car rather than a #3 show piece. That means it probably won't reach the $21,000 benchmark. Still, the current $6,100 bid leaves plenty of room, and no-reserve auctions often pick up speed in the final hours. The shared Beetle parts make repairs simple and affordable, which is one reason Hagerty calls these approachable classics.
For anyone who wants a fun, parts-friendly beach cruiser, this is an interesting chance. It's the same kind of easy-going classic as the 1974 Volkswagen Type 2 camper we featured, and it's far less of a gamble than the Thing that came out of barn storage after 50 years. Bidding closes Thursday, October 1, at 2:30 p.m. EDT. You can see the full listing on Hagerty Marketplace.
