The Thing. Yes, really that was the name given to a VW vehicle, but you probably already knew that. So, here's some info you probably didn't.

First sold in the USA in 1972 as a 1973 model exported from Mexico to the USA for sale by Volkswagen of America.

They were only sold in the USA in 1973 and 1974 with a total production of 28,930 Things sold in the USA.

The 1975 model was prohibited by the U.S. government as they could not meet crash testing standards for "passenger cars".

The 1973 and 1974 were classified as "Multi-Purpose Vehicles" and were exempt from those tests.

 The Thing included full emissions equipment on the engine, the letter "X" (for export) following the chassis number and a U.S. DOT sticker on the left center door post. The VIN also contains and “E” for export.

 The first "Name" attached to these cars was to the Type-181 that was being built, or at least assembled, in Mexico, starting in late 1970. For purposes of registration, VW wanted all of these cars were to be called "The Safari", as this name had the same general meaning in all of the languages of the Americas. Unfortunately, General Motors had been using the "Safari" name on Pontiac Station wagons as early as 1955 and thereby "owned" the name Safari in the U.S. market.

 Volkswagen of America therefore elected to call all of its type 181 cars "The Thing".

The official name "The Thing" is supported not only in all the VW literature, but in at least 42 states DMV registrations.

 Only 4 states are known to register these cars as "Type-181".

 Those Things that were sold in Canada and a few other countries, that were Volkswagen of America Things.

this orange example recently sold for 18k

http://vwthingregistry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Registry-Type-181-History.pdf
https://www.classiccarratings.com/auction-results/volkswagen-thing-1972-show-bring-a-trailer---week-4-2016-8316
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/07/15/3-off-road-cars-that-would-never-be-made-today