1974 Volkswagen Thing

This 1974 Volkswagen Thing was refurbished and modified with an electric drivetrain under previous ownership in 2022. It is powered by a HyPer 9 electric motor paired with a four-speed manual transaxle and is finished in Cream White over red vinyl upholstery. Equipment includes a HyPer-Drive X1 controller, Tesla battery modules, an Orion BMS 2 battery management system, EMPI Race-Trim 15″ wheels, BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain tires, lap belts, and a RetroSound radio with Bluetooth connectivity. Acquired by the seller in the fall of 2023, this EV-powered Type 181 is now offered with a clean New York title in the seller’s name. Per the seller, the body was refinished in Cream White (L90H) under previous ownership and features a black convertible soft top, side curtains, and trim. Additional exterior details include a fold-down windshield, LED headlights, and removable doors. EMPI Race-Trim 15″ aluminum wheels are finished in black and mounted with 215/75 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 white letter tires. An adjustable axle beam has been fitted and the front brakes have been converted to disc. The front bucket seats and folding rear seats are trimmed in red marine-grade vinyl with diamond stitch inserts. Interior elements include perforated rubber floor mats, lap belts, and a RetroSound radio with Bluetooth connectivity linked to Infinity speakers in the front kick panels. An Orion BMS 2 battery management system is mounted beneath the dashboard along with a Watercool HEATKILLER Tube. The four-spoke steering wheel features a Wolfsburg crest center cap and fronts instrumentation including a 100-mph speedometer with an inoperable inset fuel-level readout and a battery charge level gauge. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 11k miles, a handful of which were added under current ownership. True mileage is unknown. Power comes from a HyPer 9 Synchronous Reluctance Internal Permanent Magnet (SRIPM) Motor that is cooled by a Watercool HEATKILLER Tube and features a HyPer-Drive X1 controller powered by five Tesla battery modules. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle that was reportedly rebuilt and fitted with replacement axles at the time of the conversion. Filed under: vw