German Motor Works
Thing Show & Swap II
We’d heard that it was quite a success the year before, so when we recieved word that German Motor Works, in nearby Garden Grove, California, was having their second annual Thing Show & Swap, we made it a point to stop by to check it out for ourselves. And what we found was a parking lot full of Type 181’s on display, some 170 to be exact! If you are into VW’s Thing, this was definately the place to be the morning of May 17th. The jam-packed show area featured a wide-variety of different styled Type 181s, from daily drivers to beautiful stock restorations, to trick customs, and even highly-modified off-road machines. There were cars for just about every Thing taste. And, perhaps best of all, admission was free!
To top things off, there was also a free Thing swap meet, plus food, prizes, and plenty of enthusiasts to share similar interests. In short, it was a great, laid-back event – the perfect way to spend a warm, sunny Spring day.
Car show winners included Mamoru Inoue, whose mega-straight red Thing, compete with polished aluminum Centerline wheels, won Best of Show honors. Jeff Anderson won the Stock class, while Roger Williamson took the Off-Road win. Dana Nye drove his beautiful white 181 to the show and won Stock Restored, while the Acapulco class went to the blue and white removable hardtop of Gary Taylor. The light blue, Porsche-alloyed Thing of Gary Clum captured the Custom class win, while Dave Moreland’s terrific tan 181, featured in the February 199 issue of Hot VWs, won the Daily Driver class.
You can bet that with so many nice Things to check out, and the absence of a spectator admission, this is one show that is going to grow in popularity. Big thanks to the crew at German Motor Works, who did a great job hosting this fun family event at their facility. It’s casual events like this, held all over the country, that help keep VW excitement alive and well!
TOP, with 170 cars on hand (such as Bob Goodson’s yellow, and Al Kinsey’s red Type 181), there was something for every “Thing” lover. ABOVE LEFT, Best of show went to Mamoru Inoue’s very nice red ’74. ABOVE RIGHT, Dane Nye’s sharp white stocker had a crowd all day, and captured the Stock Restored class trophy. BELOW LEFT, sano inside and out. Dave Westmoreland’s tan Type 181 was the Daily Driver winner. BELOW RIGHT, a neat off-roader in anyone’s book, Peter Levshin took a second in the Custom class.
