Kubelwagen

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blue" class="small">( Isn't that what the "Thing" was based on back in the '70s?

A far cry from our current military scooter, the Hummer eh?

)</font>

Yes Rob,
And wernt they all bright orange ??? or is my memory bad ?

)</font>
Orange certainly seems to be the most common color, but the Things were available in a variety of colors -- I've seen red, yellow, black, lime green and white ones...

The Things actually were in production in Mexico and Brazil for many years, but were only imported to the US for a few years. The first ones imported had the VW bus (Transporter or Kombi) swing-axle rear end with reduction boxes (same as "drop axles and final drives" on tractors). This gave them something like a 5.38:1 gear ratios. Later models used the IRS rear suspension and were geared much higher. The earlier versions with reduction boxes were actually pretty serious off-road vehicles, even if only two wheel drive.

VW dune buggies, Baja bugs and full-bodied Beetles -- all two-wheel drive -- still compete quite well in off-road races such as the Baja run...

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blue" class="small">( Isn't that what the "Thing" was based on back in the '70s?

A far cry from our current military scooter, the Hummer eh?

)</font>

Yes Rob,
And wernt they all bright orange ??? or is my memory bad ?

)</font>
Orange certainly seems to be the most common color, but the Things were available in a variety of colors -- I've seen red, yellow, black, lime green and white ones...

The Things actually were in production in Mexico and Brazil for many years, but were only imported to the US for a few years. The first ones imported had the VW bus (Transporter or Kombi) swing-axle rear end with reduction boxes (same as "drop axles and final drives" on tractors). This gave them something like a 5.38:1 gear ratios. Later models used the IRS rear suspension and were geared much higher. The earlier versions with reduction boxes were actually pretty serious off-road vehicles, even if only two wheel drive.

VW dune buggies, Baja bugs and full-bodied Beetles -- all two-wheel drive -- still compete quite well in off-road races such as the Baja run...

 

[scott_vt]

Thanks for the update Kent, once again the memory is not good /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[scott_vt]

Thanks for the update Kent, once again the memory is not good /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[AndyM]

Most of the Volkswagen Things I remember seeing were orange, but I remember my aunt and uncle had a white one that they bought brand new in the mid 1970's. Of course I wasn't old enough to drive at that time, but I remember my father complaining that it was geared too low.

 

[AndyM]

Most of the Volkswagen Things I remember seeing were orange, but I remember my aunt and uncle had a white one that they bought brand new in the mid 1970's. Of course I wasn't old enough to drive at that time, but I remember my father complaining that it was geared too low.

 

[MossRoad]

Swapping in the VW bus rear end was a very popular thing to do to a VW baja bug. Remember riding behind them and the wheels looked like they were slanted outward at the tops?

 

[MossRoad]

Swapping in the VW bus rear end was a very popular thing to do to a VW baja bug. Remember riding behind them and the wheels looked like they were slanted outward at the tops?

 

[ultrarunner]

Mine is Orange... will look to see if I have a picture to Post.

 

[ultrarunner]

Mine is Orange... will look to see if I have a picture to Post.