Odd Stablemates

[SBL]

2677826779

Since I moved to Florida, I wanted a car that was open and easy to jump in for a quick errand. Thus the 1974 THING. A lot of contrasts.

[yellowmxwheels23]

My Fiance wants one so bad. Was thinking of getting her one as a wedding present next year

[SBL]

They are not that expensive, about 13K for fully restored. If yu get cold weather, go with the 1973 that has a gas powered heater in the from. It really works well. Th 1974 reverted to the Beetle method of "tying" to get the heat up from the back, without any real fans or good channels. Never really worked.

The contrast in finding parts (and their prices), easy access to everything in engine and everywhere else, is remarkable. But then, these are completely different cars, in build and concept. And the Thing was backed by a HUGE automobile enterprise.

[DashEight]

The VW Thing might be one of the only cars that I like to see "slammed." I have a buddy that has one with air suspension and kitted out like the one in the photo attached. He asked me what I thought when he first had seen it and I told him it was "primitive, in a really good way." They look easy to access and part to work on.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j200/AE86Silver/VWthing_zps22249aa1.jpg (http://s80.photobucket.com/user/AE86Silver/media/VWthing_zps22249aa1.jpg.html)

[Kerichbe]

Not so odd stablemates, both have a very angular design and the engine in the back :biggrin:

[BTTF-1]

She's perfect for Florida. Super dependable compared to a jeep of the same era.

My favorite color Plutonium Green.

Love it!

Ed:angry_whip::angry_whip::elmo3::elmo3::angry_whi p::angry_whip:

[vps3922]

2677826779

Since I moved to Florida, I wanted a car that was open and easy to jump in for a quick errand. Thus the 1974 THING. A lot of contrasts.

Is this an Irish number plate on your Delorean? Did you import it from Europe?

[kenny]

Is this an Irish number plate on your Delorean? Did you import it from Europe?

No, it's not a real irish number plate but a nice idea.
The format shown is what is used on rep. of ireland cars with the letters representing the county.
I'm guessing the "be" is an abbreviation of Belfast.

N.Ireland cars are generally in the format of 3 letters followed by 4 digits with a yellow background on the rear of the car

[SBL]

On the license plea.

I got the European plate bracket from someone in Europe (I will have to check my records).

Then I thought about the plate. Since Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain, their plates would have a GB symbol. So I chose Ireland so I could get that EU license plate symbol. The last I checked, anyway, you could not get a plate that had a "Northern Ireland" EU-type symbol.

The 81 is the year, the BE is for Belfast, and the last four are the VIN.

I thought that it added some euro-mystique to the rear of the car, but it is not really of any historical significance.

[vps3922]

On the license plea.

I got the European plate bracket from someone in Europe (I will have to check my records).

Then I thought about the plate. Since Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain, their plates would have a GB symbol. So I chose Ireland so I could get that EU license plate symbol. The last I checked, anyway, you could not get a plate that had a "Northern Ireland" EU-type symbol.

The 81 is the year, the BE is for Belfast, and the last four are the VIN.

I thought that it added some euro-mystique to the rear of the car, but it is not really of any historical significance.

Yep, correct. Northern Ireland is not part of the EU. It is part of the UK and will therefore not get an EU like license plate. I lived in the Republic of Ireland for a few years and had a plate like that (although no Delorean at that time...shame on me!).

[Dangermouse]

Yep, correct. Northern Ireland is not part of the EU. It is part of the UK and will therefore not get an EU like license plate. I lived in the Republic of Ireland for a few years and had a plate like that (although no Delorean at that time...shame on me!).

Not entirely correct.

NI is part of the UK, which is, in fact, part of the EU. However UK drivers are not required to use the euro-style plate (unlike other European countries), but of they choose to do so, the "official" euro-style plate has the letters GB on the blue background.

Therefore the "official" non-compulsory euro-style plates to be used by residents of NI have the letters GB on them, which ironically NI isn't actually part of. One of the little vagaries of the political world over there. :smackbum: NI residents can also have euro-style plates made up with UK, NI or IRL on them - as license plates are made in Autozone type parts houses and not directly by the DMV. Technically not "official" but I doubt that anyone would get pulled over for them.

RE: SBL's tag, are you able to drive around with that tag on, or is it just for show?

[SBL]

Well, I actually drive it to work once a week. I have the real tag in the car. I have never been pulled over.

In regard to your other information, I am unable to find a custom/novelty European tag maker that offers a "NI" Euro symbol on the classic Euro-type tag. Can you show me an example? I may be able to get them to do it if I show them that it exists. The whole UK system is quite odd with its private tag makers, etc.

[Dangermouse]

Had a quick browse to see what could be found

These guys will do a variation of it

http://www.myshowplates.com/article-a-guide-to-purchasing-number-plates.asp

They seem to be UK based though, and whether they will sell to outside of UK, I don't know

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26858&d=1398866981

I used a B instead of BE as major cities just use the single letter. But that hardly matters. And the font is the UK one, rather than the Irish one, which matters even less :)

These guys may be better

http://www.fancyplates.com/index.html

option 1; The top word is the Irish for Antrim, the county that Belfast is in, only available with the IRL plate

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26860&d=1398866982

or option 2;

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26859&d=1398866981

[vps3922]

NI is part of the UK, which is, in fact, part of the EU.

Oh, yeah, my apologies. I mixed up the "member states of the EU" with "European Currency Zone" (or EURO zone). Of course UK is part of the EU but not member of the EURO zone. And Northern Ireland has always been a political issue and I rather stay out of that discussion. :shocked:

[Dangermouse]

Yes, it is not confusing in the slightest :eek7: