Volkswagen 181
Andy cures his ‘Transitional Classic Syndrome’ by selling The Thing to a Californian buyer
The Italian VW 181 ‘ bucket car’ achieved its MoT this summer. A couple of advisories were fair and duly sorted, namely the track rod ends on the nearside and a poorly bearing on the same wheel. The parts I bought online were fitted at my trusted garage in Heskin, Lancashire. Comments made by passers-by at the garage after parking next to a skip reminded me that the design of the VW 181 isn’t a natural crowd-pleaser, but hey, my paint finish was better.
It was at this stage in my short ownership of the car that I decided to move it on to a new owner mainly because it was my ‘transitional classic’. Maybe it had something to do with me turning 50? I’d owned them before and was probably trying to relive previous ownership of a VW 181.
That said, the whine of the reduction box rear end on these earlier pre-1973 181s and the lack of comfort was annoying and compromised how much I used it. So, it was time to kick the ‘ bucket car’ into touch. It was a fine example, but life’s too short – too many classics and too little time to own them all.
About the same time as the 181 was passing its MoT, the new vinyl top and fitting kit arrived from New Jersey, so I continued with my plan to fit it, thinking that it would make it a more attractive purchase for a new buyer and allow me to break even with my asking price. I’d also managed to find an excellent replacement hood frame with a rust-free header bow being offered by a guy called Tristan in Norfolk. A quick spray of rattle can satin black later and armed with a hammer and an installation kit, I conscripted my wife to help manipulate the vinyl top and header bow in order to knock in the rivets and install the top. It was a manageable job with about 12 rivets where the top meets the windscreen, and a series of eyes and fabric loops at the rear.
The original trashed tatty top was a sandy light beige colour, however I had decided on a black replacement with matching side screens. Why?
Ordering a new beige top to match the weathered beige side screens would have been too much of a challenge of colour matching!
I solved the issue of having to change the colour of the side screens by using a generic flexible vinyl paint from a big chain motoring shop. Two rattle cans were enough to cover four screens after careful masking of the clear parts. The finish was excellent, though occasional touching up may be needed in the long-term to extend its longevity.
As autumn drew in, I found a buyer through the VW 181/Thing Registry Facebook group; rather unexpectedly, the Italian-market VW 181 Pescaccia left St Helens, Merseyside for the rather sunnier climes of Los Angeles, California.
Like a petrolhead’s version of Tinder, this was a proper swipe left and my ‘transitional classic’ syndrome was finally cured.
But what will I be replacing it with? Watch the skip-shaped space on my driveway…