The Thing was built on the same chassis as the pre-1968 Microbus and was propelled by VW's air-cooled, 46-hp, 1,600-cc flat four-cylinder engine; in this case with a four-speed manual transmission. The only instrumentation was a speedometer that housed a fuel gauge on its dial, and a glovebox. The windshield folded and the detachable doors were interchangeable from front to rear. Volkswagen boasted that the Thing's cabin could be hosed out after hard usage. Naturally, America's youth loved the Thing. Sadly, it was only available in the United States for two years, from 1973 through 1974.

This yellow Thing has experienced a repaint and is fitted with dual sideview mirrors, a spare, aftermarket and underdash radio, VW hubcaps on steel wheels plus Kumho Cientra Plus tires. The Thing was said to be a car that could do everything. “Good for fun and good for work. Good for the city and good for the country. Good off-the-road and good-on-the-road. For shopping, the chauffeuring, the hauling – all the things you need a good passenger car for.”