Bought VW Thing That Won't Go Over 30, and thats Why It Was Sold

I picked up this 1974 vw thing from a museum that had it donated to them , it was on an island its whole life racking up 29k miles. but then sat for a long time. now we know why.

[@audiogarden21]

Gotta love Mustie, man. Been around for 13 years now, same format, no intro, no product to sell you, just a man in his garage tinkering.

[@emerybryant]

tbf. hes not in his garage anymore. thats the only real difference. but i agree. one of my favs

[@gigantor56]

I do remember him doing product suggestions for lava soap.

[@vhfgamer]

@@gigantor56 and 3 in 1 oil Between those two, it's the only sponsors I recall.

[@TheOtherBill]

@@vhfgamer and WD-40 products.

[@jasondk5127]

Gotta love it!

[@danmyers4667]

I don't think I look forward to anything more than tinkering with Mustie and coffee on Sunday morning, armed with a general knowledge, and sometimes even the proper tools. Thanks Mustie!

[@Ajaxaxxess]

Agreed

[@TheLittlered1961]

Nothing like watching mustie playing with his thing 😮😮😮 😂😂😂

[@dmitchell1713]

You are so right

[@dmitchell1713]

I'm talking motors right? You freak

[@lsj1]

@@TheLittlered1961Oh, stop it lol

[@dougaranda6187]

It’s really a privilege to watch a bonafide expert work on what they’re an expert at. He can figure out anything, but when it comes to Volkswagen’s, there’s nobody better.

[@jackmundo4043]

I’ve decided he’s a shade tree mechanical genius

[@dmitchell1713]

You right

[@NEW_INSITE]

My grandfather had a 70-something Super Beetle and it had the oil bubbler air filter system. It's saved him and my grandmother when they were visiting Mount Saint Helens when it blew. There was Ash piled up a yard high or more on the roads out of there. People were broke down everywhere left and right because of standard radiators and air filter systems getting clogged on their cars. My grandfather just kept putting right through it. People that were stalled on the road asked him how he could keep driving. He told him he just had him a case of oil and he would stop and change it out of his air bubbler system every once in awhile, and he had a whisk broom to clean the motor off so it could cool down.

[@williamjones5468]

Awesome!! I am whisk broom old!😆

[@Paul-FrancisB]

Good afternoon fellow Mustie1 fans everywhere, from a rainy 🌧️ Lincolnshire, UK 🇬🇧

[@johnturner8829]

Good Morning from Alberta Canada.

[@davemorgan2925]

Afternoon from Essex, UK 🇬🇧

[@Jesselovespinball]

Good morning from Massachusetts USA!

[@tarsneyisleestrelas4659]

Morning heat wave here in Tipperary 👍.

[@alvisafford9945]

Hi I’m in Lincolnshire as well

[@guruoo]

I've had couple of these over the years. The last one was a '74 that came with the VW accessory hard top, and roll cage. Found that upgrading to 15" bus wheels, and tires (retreads then) made it handle like a sports car, with a smoother ride and modest gain in MPG. Old ballistic grade aluminum street signs made for perfect flexed skid plates, front, and rear. I sure miss that thang!

[@25Soupy]

I miss Lily the dog at the end of each video. She was such a sweet old girl.

[@SkaterStimm]

I love your Volkswagen videos, although I have done everything you have done on my buses, it is just so nice to see someone with years and years of experience giving us newbies a lesson and we can see you work. You have taught me so much. Thank you Darren!

[@sargentcolon2323]

This is what I came for a few years ago… VW engines… I stayed for everything else… keep up the good work Mustie1. Hello from Lancashire in the UK.

[@jeremyhelton984]

Good morning from Northern Michigan. The best way to start a sunday👍

[@died4us590]

Good afternoon from Southern Michigan.

[@vettekid3326]

Back in the 1970's when I was in high school it used to take about 15 minutes for me and a friend to pull a VW engine. we would jack the rear of the car up high enough to place the rear tires stacked under the engine to drop on and one would work on the top disconnecting the wires and carb cable, fuel iine and remove the tins and the other would be pulling the four engine bolts.

[@greavous93]

I kept thinking Drum Brake Tools! Those goofy spring pliers in particular.

[@TheLittlered1961]

Nothing like waking up to mustie playing with his thing.😯😯😯 😂😂😂

[@13bigerdave]

😮😳😲

[@tomcadero9875]

stop it..

[@duncanstone8758]

I owned a '74 Thing from 1976 to 1991. It had the convertible top instead of optional hardtop. Loads of fun to drive and did great in snow with the right tires. Finally got rid of it when the belly pan rusted out.

[@GregsGarage]

The wheel upgrade was the right move! I'm digging it.

[@alanpettibone]

I’ve never had an old air-cooled VW, just a Passat, Phaeton, Alltrack, etc… That being said, I enjoy watching you fix them and appreciate the simplicity of their design. I would also by lying if I said I didn’t enjoy seeing my wife get nervous when she sees me watching this and thinking about the possibility of some old car taking up the garage in pieces.😂

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Good job on getting the Thing back on the road. I always wanted one and when I finally can afford one they have been priced out of my range....again.

[@josephsimanski3192]

I'm on vacation in Jamaica and wouldn't miss my Sunday morning Mustie experience!

[@zanegrey8196]

got me struggling in my seat trying to put that spring on...muscle memory...

[@Charlesb88]

No, Mustie Memory…😄

[@tomcadero9875]

@@Charlesb88 well played.

[@Shagnasty-bo5bj]

WOW... does this ever bring back memories. The late 70's into the early 80's I used to build bug engines and did one van engine. If I had a garage I would love to have come across this "Thing", no pun intended. I loved all of my Beetles after I worked through all the little problems that most bugs had from the factory. The very last bug I built would pull the front wheels off the ground about an inch on take off from stop lights and run quicker quarter miles than stock '79 Camaros.😁

[@anthonyblacker8471]

We are definitely part of a 'phone a friend' community working on old VWs and really any old cars and trucks, motorcycles.. old stuff is great but sometimes you need something that's just unobtainium at the moment. Friends are a good thing!

[@waynecreech]

When Duckman changes the rear seal and or clutch he always changes the o-ring in the flywheel too. They can cause a tough to find leak if you don't change them.. a lot of people don't even know they are there.

[@rupe53]

The later ones didn't always have that o-ring. I used to put a dash of sealant on the end of the flywheel.

[@waynecreech]

I am pretty sure ALL the later ones had an o-ring, some real early ones had a gasket but some hacks used silicone instead.

[@rupe53]

@@waynecreech I never used silicone and always used that brown aviation cement, similar to the OEM stuff. BTW, you are right about the early ones using a gasket. I rebuilt about 400 of these engines but it was over 40 years ago. (memory issues, right?)

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

@@rupe53 The earlier flywheels didn't have the O-rings. Look it up.

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

All the type 1 cases leak oil behind the flywheel, because the cases weren't machined with a drain and vent, like vw did on the later type 4 & Vanagon cases. Look it up.

[@frankgrant4784]

Thank you for keeping this bit of history alive.

[@maakatipa4613]

Colourful language ? I hadn't noticed ! Nice wheels ! Thanks for making my Sunday morning !!

[@Hjerte_Verke]

I notice it all, and at the same time I honor Mustie for running a clean show (more or less) because the world is super nasty and X-rated in 2024. It's people with a limited vocabulary that resort to excessive 'colorful language' you know 😄

[@Cemi_Mhikku]

​@@Hjerte_Verke Studies have shown both that people who use profanity more freely are likely to be more honest and trustworthy, and also that they're likely to be of higher functional (EG not book) intelligence. This is particularly evident when referring to individuals who intermingle polysyllabic verbiage with their expletives.

[@abstract_jeff]

Ahhh, the best part of the week! Morning fellow Mustie fans! 👋

[@rundoetx]

Good Morning back at ya from Texas. I hear thunderstorms this morning.

[@gregbenwell6173]

All of a sudden Sammy Hagar springs to mind EXCEPT in this case it is "I can't drive 35!"!!!!!! LOL

[@discsbydrake2464]

Rainy here in Minnesota also. Love seeing a VW back on the channel. I found this one years ago working on my first vw. Just working on the brakes today while watching this one.

[@clintonroushff7068]

It's good seeing you wrench on a VW again. The Thing was an odd duck.

[@jetrngr430]

Love This! I got a 74 Thing. Putting a new 1600 Empi crate motor in it now. Replaced the entire electrical system. all new heater duct work and cables. New original style exhaust system that a certain delivery company helped dent up for me. So there's that. 🙄 So much fun to drive here in FL! Trying to fit new German, Mexican and Brazilian, aka Chinese parts with 50 year old VW parts is a challenge.

[@jayinmi3706]

When I pulled my first VW engine, I couldn't find anything like that S wrench anywhere. The guy I talked to at Sears sold me a wrench. Told me to cut it in half, put the open end on the engine bolt and slide the box end over tthe shaft and do it that way. Then he said to come back and swap it for a new wrench. lol An S wrench or ratcheting wrench would have made it SOOOOOO much easier. lol

[@rupe53]

I worked in a specialty shop and never owned one of those S wrenches. I usually used a universal socket. If I was replacing the exhaust, I would spray everything with penetrating oil and use an air chisel to cut the pipes, then you could use a deep socket.

[@vincentshelpfulhints4085]

A sawsall is such a nice tool, It is a tool that for most of us is not needed everyday but sure is handy when you need one

[@crapalator]

Rims and tires look really good Mustie!! I always loved the Thing.

[@Greg_Watchorn]

Hi Darren- I just wanted to send you something small to put towards tools or a yard sale purchase or whatever. Im not a mechanic, but grew up on a farm and always enjoyed time spent with my Dad - I nicknamed him MacGyver as he was always tinkering with something or other. I really enjoy your videos, particularly the variety of things that you work on. Thank you very much for all you do.

[@jeffvallentine913]

That's a wicked cool ride! VW Thing finally in the right hands, what a find.

[@markbrown6236]

Gone all weekend, catching up on my favorite channel. Your collection was missing a Thing, so now that spot is filled.

[@larryd.214]

Coffee & Mr. Mustie - great way to start a Sunday morning! I've never been much of a VW guy, but for some reason I really enjoy the videos where Mr. Mustie tackles another Volkswagen!

[@pinwizz69]

I like to wait till evening after my ball and chain has gone to be so It's nice and quite no interuptions while I watch a new Mustie1 episode. Always fascinating watching him working on pretty much anything.

[@echobeefpv8530]

Good morning from Winnipeg, Canada. Best start to my Sunday, Mustie 1 and coffee !!

[@shanebruce8349]

Starting my Birthday off with a Mustie video!! ❤

[@DREWSLENS]

Happy birthday brother

[@steveperyer4850]

Good morning from very northern NY State, I see Quebec, Canada, to the north, and Vermont to the east. Woke up at 5:30 on this Sunday morning to thunder showers until nearly 7am. Have a great week, and enjoy the clutch work with Dr. Volkswagon😊

[@joepiker]

You are really in your element with this one!

[@hodwooker5584]

I have owned a VW bug, van and a thing. I have ridden in 3 brand new VW bugs. And i can say that the one absolute common denominator of all of them, all of them, is no heat what so ever. The new ones had no heat, the old ones had no heat. The ones i owned had no heat. On the ones i owned i made sure that the thermostat was working i made sure that the cooling fan was ok. The hoses from the fan to the heater boxes were good, the heater boxes were replaced on both sides of all 3 VW’s. The connection from the heater boxes was good. all of the heater ducts and controls were good. The end result was, NO DAMN HEAT. There was just enough air flow to keep a small clear spot open on the windshield. Mind you it wasn’t hot, not even warm air. It was just moving air. If it was really cold, you were walking or driving with your head out of the window. The brand new bugs were exactly the same. VW’s fun to drive ,cheap to run absolutely the worst possible cold weather cars to own. Truly hitler’s revenge! Lack of upper case was deliberate.

[@davidclemdis4796]

Oh man, that thing is so cool, I haven’t seen one of them in so long, that really brings back memories of the 70s I really miss those days✌️ Time goes by like a blink of an eye🥴

[@WesleyNixon]

I'm super jealous of this! This is my dream car (I'm a humble man with simple tastes) and would gladly pay too much for a non-working example and fix it up.

[@a1andy374]

I have literally never cared about any VW from any era until I watched Mustie. Now, I find it fascinating watching him fiddle with everything. Great video as always!

[@Clearanceman2]

The top of that engine is the cleanest VW engine I've seen you work on. They usually look like they've been in a lake for 10 years. That one look great.

[@happydazza1]

Great to see you are back on the old vw's. Bring on Crusty for some annual TLC. I miss seeing that masterpiece.

[@Inisfad]

LOL…at about 1:17:30 when Mustie puts the car in gear and lets off the clutch, I freaked, thinking it was going to go flying off the lift! I didn’t realize the tires were still off the car….lol

[@CoolBlue87GT]

Yeah, same thought !

[@burtonstest6943]

I never could decide whether I liked the Things or the microbus or the elusive truck better -- they are all cool.

[@muskokamike127]

My neighbour JUST scored an unmolested 1962 beetle that is in pretty damn near perfect condition. A little bit of surface rust underneath and literally no rust on top. Nothing in the rain gutters, fenders, around the windshield, nothing. rear bumper was a little crusty and oxidization on the turn signals etc. I was crawling over it and closed the driver's door. A solid "clunk" what? opened it again, hinges are perfect, latching mechanism, perfect. Seals a little crusty but intact. Door cards, perfect. I couldn't stop saying "wow" wow look, WOW. What about under the battery? WOW no rust. I crawled underneath to look for the heater channels along the rockers, PERFECT wow. We were going over that he needed to do to the engine etc and he says "what's the throw out bearing like"? I looked, still could read the part number on it. Me: it's brand spanking new. Everything I know about bugs I learned from Mustie videos. What a car I tell you.

[@ronburns268]

Back in college my father warned me that what it would be like when the throttle cable would break... it did!!! I used two coins to get it loose... walked about 1/2 miles to the shop and bought a new one. Got it is as tight as I could and drove it home. so easy to work on.

[@gigantor56]

Thanks Mustie1 for taking the time to educate us about all the parts, the clutch, the flywheel, the main seal. Really fun to watch your expertise. I do remember my Dad warning us kids when learning how to drive about “riding” the clutch.😊

[@bobcarry4820]

I had three Volkswagen bugs in my earlier days. Loved them. I did have to remove an engine or two. No shop jack or hoist. Have veh on jack stands, put old tire underneath motor and once disconnected pull the motor and let it drop onto old tire. It was a little more difficult to get it back in. Thanks for video, brought back a lot of memories.

[@perrymattes4285]

I had a 70 square back with fuel injection. My cousin set her purse on the floor by the heat inlet port. It melted all her credit cards 😂

[@DirkDwipple]

My boy asked me "why do you watch him working on cars"? I told him my dad was a car mechanic. So it's hanging out with my dad in the garage. Passing tools and beer.

[@o.c.smithiii2626]

The 36mm is also needed for replacing the rear wheel bearing hub assembly on 2000’s Honda Odysseys, and the front hub rotor assembly on a 2008 4x2 F150, as well as the hub bearing assembly for a 2011 Chevy Suburban 2500 4x4… or so I’ve been told 😉

[@Traderjoe]

Even though there’s never going to be a time when I would even foresee myself even sitting in one of these, it’s still immensely satisfying watching it get put back together and being driven. Another eagle rises.

[@gpower]

Always loved the 'Thing' and, wanted one. Just one of those really unique cars that doesn't need to go fast or anything. Good goin' Darren!

[@ni_wink84]

Mustie, today I realized I’ve been watching and subscribed to your channel for like 10 years lol, you were the first channel I ever subscribed to, here’s to 10, and 10 more, thanks for all the amazing videos!

[@johnturner8829]

Good Morning everyone.

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

Your hydraulic pallet jack table is how you should be R&Ring the engine. Waayyy more secure than a floor jack.

[@user-hf9gn8vc6y]

Hi D. Love seeing you work on a V Dub again. I remember those coming out. Very cool vehicle. Love the tires and rims. They really set it off!! It’s in really great shape to be 50 years old. I’m 60 and don’t look anywhere that good,lol 😊 Thanks for the awesome video!! Darren

[@garysoykin2783]

It brings back so many memories I used to pull engines and Transmissions out of Volkswagen bugs and have them back running in an hour and a half I was a wild young man LOL I'm an old man now

[@jrp1531]

I'm not a VW guy. I like them just never had a chance to buy one. This one is sooo awesome!! I live by the beach and would love this for the summers!! Mustie I really love your videos brother!! Been watching for years and they never disappoint!! Thank you for always looking forward for sundays!! I think a lot of us look forward to Sundays haha!!

[@brad2685]

Hello from Tennessee, watching Mustie1 has become a Sunday tradition for years. Thanks!

[@taurota1554]

Awesome and outstanding as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along

[@tvsnake7841]

I am a fan of long time, i really like your videos they do inspire me every day of my teenage life. Thank you Sir.

[@user-ji7qb6ek7h]

Yup Mustie is the man. Bringing me back to my youth when i worked on Volkswagens, a 66 with a 6 volt electrical system. Loved that car!!!!

[@Win52D]

Isn't it amazing that German engineers came up with this basic, solid design that is easy to work on and troubleshoot back in the 1930's yet today when you look at a German engineered car (BMW and to some degree Porsche) and they are the most complicated and convoluted pieces of engineering on the road.

[@JeffBreyer]

I love watching you work on the VWs. Your knowledge makes everything look so easy.

[@suelynch]

Hi Mustie1 from Adelaide, South Australia. Love watching your videos. When I was young I learned how to fix my own car. I wasn't going to be one of those people who got ripped off for car repairs. I had to replace the clutch in two of my cars. One of them was mechanical/cable type and the other was hydraulic. The hydraulic system was the easiest to work on. No need for adjustments. PS: That was back in the early 1970's when cars were simpler. A friend of mine worked on VW for over 30 years.. He created a tool for that spring on that clutch arm. He used one of those push bike puncher repair kit tyre irons. He modded it by putting a V notch in one end and a side V notch in the other end. It worked slicker than snot.

[@skipstein744]

A great find! Thanks for bring back your VW thing

[@wp9409]

Nice! Appreciate all the recent follow-up videos!

[@richardstone5241]

I had a 1974 in yellow, loved it but it was cold as a witches t*t in the winter.......lol

[@ChrisLuffman]

Yet another informative show love all this detail thank you taking the time really enjoy your shows! 😊

[@shaneharrison4775]

8k not a bad score for a thing and for 56k miles definitely in the win category sweet ride Mustie1

[@jeffaulik3980]

Boy, these rusted out fast in northern IL.

[@pkzanc]

Thanks Mustie, always something to learn.

[@Claes_Isacson]

Awesome! The wheels turned out great too! 👏

[@simonscott1121]

Mustie bought new tyres? OK, WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO MUSTIE

[@samuraidriver4x4]

Dont forget to mention that everything just came apart without a fight😮

[@rupe53]

@@samuraidriver4x4 a low mileage Thing tends to be like that because they never got driven in the winter. I have one with 14K showing on the odometer.

[@samuraidriver4x4]

@@rupe53 it was a joke 😉

[@SammyFIN]

Thanks for the wrenching once again! Awesome car! Greetings from Finland.🇫🇮

[@dre2992]

I wish I could give all of your videos more than just a thumbs up. I have been with your channel for over 10 years I love everything you do. Keep it up !!!

[@mickeyfilmer5551]

What a lovely bit of history. I just loce those old 70's fun type beach buggies. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon watching you do some Wrenching

[@edkennard72]

Another awesome video that brought back a lot of memories for me. Darren, working with my dad on all of the VW bugs that he had. It seems like everybody that had one had crapped out on him. They'd bring it by and he'd buy it for next to nothing and he was like you. He had a hoard of parts when he passed away. All of his friends through the years started calling. Trying to buy all them parts because they're so hard to come by. Thank you for an awesome video!

[@michaelpence468]

Great video! Thanks for sharing!

[@terrywalker9904]

Watch start to finish, great job, brought back memories.

[@maxbialystock254]

I do believe you could find a rusty VW hubcap and by the end of the video it would a complete running car

[@bjjnut5777]

Really enjoyed the part with the drive through NH. Thanks for sharing that.

[@JohnRoberts321]

@Mustie1 - I can't thank you enough for all your time and energy you put into these videos. They are perhaps the highlight of my week. Your energy, your kindness and of course your skills are really what make your videos truly special. Thank you. Your videos make my world a better place to live. I've been watching for years and I never miss a video.

[@npvj5687]

Love them vw things, and the good old vw engine sound . Awesome job again 👍🏻

[@Code_Monkey]

Darren - great vid! Love the VeeDub stuff, and this Thing is looking spectacular..!

[@curtisking2962]

Great video Mustie, a real trip down memory lane. Have a good week. See you next Sunday.

[@Philc231]

Very cool build , he always makes everything look easy .

[@paulcooper9135]

Love the VW Thing! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@1010LouMary]

It's great to see someone work who really knows what they're doing!

[@daviddamico4288]

Nice work Darren looks great and sounds good…

[@matttaylor373]

thats a pretty cool score!!! you are definitely the man with the hoard to fix things up!!! thanks for the videos!!

[@user-jp7bu7mp5g]

Mustie1..Another AWESOME VIDEO!!❤

[@tokyogentleman]

love your custom tools, like the cart that you put the engine on!

[@pyrojason]

Man, you are a VW master! Don't know why they'd design it with the bolt hidden back there but there's a lot of questions when it comes to come of the vw stuff, haha. Mixed bag it seems. Also, nice "END PEED ONE" sign. Those wheels look great!