The Thing, as it was known in the United States, was a military vehicle manufactured by Volkswagen. The Type 181 was created as a military vehicle for the West German Army, yet soon went into civilian production in 1971 under various names around the world. The Type 181 was known as the Thing in the United States, the Safari in Mexico, the Trekker in the UK, and as the Kurierwagen in West Germany. Popular for its utilitarian nature, these cars were simply designed, giving them durability and allowing them to be repaired easily. Featuring the same mechanical underpinnings as the Beetle, the civilian Type 181 would be in production until 1980, yet production years for the US market were only 1973-1974.