Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 11, 2025
VW's Quirky 'Thing' Steals Spotlight at DFW Car & Toy Museum
TLDR
- The VW Thing offers a unique collector advantage with its military origins, limited US production, and standout orange color that commands attention at car shows.
- Built on Beetle and Karmann Ghia components, the 1973 VW Type 181 features a 1,600cc air-cooled flat-four engine with four-speed manual transmission.
- The VW Thing brings joy to drivers and spectators alike, preserving automotive history while creating memorable experiences at the DFW Car & Toy Museum.
- This brilliant orange 1973 VW Thing combines military utility with civilian fun, delivering smiles with its quirky design and smooth-shifting ride above 60 mph.
Impact - Why it Matters
This story matters because it highlights the enduring appeal of automotive design that prioritizes personality and functionality over conventional aesthetics. The Volkswagen Type 181 represents a unique chapter in automotive history where military utility met civilian enjoyment, demonstrating how vehicles can transcend their practical origins to become cultural icons. For collectors and enthusiasts, it underscores the value of preserving unconventional automotive heritage, while for the general public, it serves as a reminder that joy and character in transportation often come from unexpected designs. The museum's preservation efforts ensure that future generations can experience these automotive treasures firsthand.
Summary
The 1973 Volkswagen Type 181, affectionately known as "The Thing," continues to captivate automotive enthusiasts with its distinctive boxy silhouette and military heritage. This brilliant orange example showcased at the DFW Car & Toy Museum represents one of Volkswagen's most unconventional creations, built on rugged Beetle and Karmann Ghia components. Originally developed as a military utility vehicle for the German Army in the late 1960s, the Type 181 entered civilian production and became available to U.S. customers by 1972, featuring VW's air-cooled 1,600cc flat-four engine and four-speed manual transmission.
Ron Sturgeon, founder of the DFW Car & Toy Museum and a dedicated car collector for over 30 years, emphasizes the vehicle's unique personality, stating: "Few cars have as much personality per square inch as the VW Thing. It's quirky, it's capable, and it's impossible not to smile when you see one drive by—especially in orange." Despite ending U.S. civilian sales in 1974 due to evolving safety standards, the Type 181 continued international production until 1983, with over 90,000 units produced. The vehicle combines utilitarian simplicity with undeniable charisma, capable of cruising above 60 mph and perfect for weekend drives and vacation escapes.
The DFW Car & Toy Museum, formerly known as DFW Elite Toy Museum, now occupies a 150,000-square-foot facility in North Fort Worth at 2550 McMillan Parkway, offering free parking and admission. The museum displays over 200 classic and collector vehicles alongside automobile toys, providing secure climate-controlled storage and event facilities while maintaining its status as a go-to source for toy and car lovers worldwide through its website at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, VW's Quirky 'Thing' Steals Spotlight at DFW Car & Toy Museum
