# What kind of car was it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 29, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-was-it/231692 "2004-02-29T01:45:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-was-it/231692/1 "2004-02-29T01:45:34Z")
I’ve seen only bits and pieces of the film _50 First Dates_, but I like that yellow car – the strange looking convertible. What was it and is it available on the market new? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-was-it/231692/2 "2004-02-29T01:49:17Z")
It’s a [VW Thing](http://members.aol.com/MPB181/ring.html), which is the civilian version of the German Kubelwagen, AKA the German Army Jeep. At least I think that’s the car you’re asking about. ---
**Author:** ![Gern\_Blanston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gern\_Blanston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gern_Blanston)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-was-it/231692/3 "2004-02-29T01:56:16Z")
The Volkswagen Thing was based on the “Typ 82 Kübelwagen,” Germany’s equivalent to the Jeep during World War II. In 1969, a slightly modified form dubbed the “Kubelwagen Model 181” was manufactured in and sold to Americans as the “Thing”. Though exceedingly rare, there are still thousands of Things out there. Before 1969, the cars were built in Germany, and then production was moved to Mexico from 1973 until 1980. Production estimates range from 70,000 to 140,000 Things built. Owners tend to be a fiercely proud breed, and naturally they have their own web ring. I doubt that you could find a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-was-it/231692/4 "2004-02-29T02:04:32Z")
I’ve heard these referred to also as a VW “Safari.” Also since I’m not at work now, I’m posting this from a browser called “Safari.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-was-it/231692/5 "2004-02-29T02:15:39Z")
Thanks! I used to have a Jeep Safari. It all sounds so inbred that the VW Thing is sort of like a Jeep and is sometimes called a Safari. 🙂 Cool cars! ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-was-it/231692/6 "2004-02-29T22:30:50Z")
I had one of those many moons ago, until my first wife wrecked it. She wrecked a lot of things, but that’s another story. I loved it. They were only sold in this country for 3 years - '73, '74, and, IIRC, '72. I had a yellow '74. You could fold the windshield down and take the doors off if you wanted to. They had a regular VW bug engine, so parts weren’t a problem. You could get a fiberglass hardtop for it. The rear seats folded flat and you had a metal floor behind the front seats you could walk around on. I had a full rollbar in mine, and with the rear seats folded down, a person could stand in the back and clamp a camera mount or what have you to the roll bar and play photographer. They’d go almost anywhere. One time I drove 40 miles through the snow to deliver someone to the airport when nothing much else was able to move. The only bad thing about them was the heater. It totally sucked. It was the exhaust shroud type heater the bugs had. Someone who had a '73 said that that year came with a gasoline powered heater that worked a little better. I paid $1750.00 for mine in, IIRC, 1980. They go for $10-15k around here now, if you can find one. I loved that car. _sniff_