Volkswagen Thing Touch Up Paint (13 OEM Colors)

The Color Breakdown

Volkswagen only officially invited 13 colors to the party for the Type 181, but they certainly didn't play it safe. From the high-visibility Pumpkin Orange to the "it's a lifestyle" Carolina Green, the Thing was built for people who didn't mind being the center of attention at a stoplight. They really went for it with this palette-it's essentially a box of 1970s crayons turned into a car. Whether yours is Sunshine Yellow or Oregon Beige, you're driving a piece of history that refuses to blend in.

What to Watch For

Before you start dabbing, you need to find your "identity" (the paint code). On a Thing, this is usually a paper tag or metal plate tucked away in the front luggage compartment near the spare tire area. If the tag has long since vanished, don't panic-it just requires patience to find the right match by year. Most of these cars were originally finished in a semi-gloss, which is a fancy way of saying they aren't meant to be mirror-shiny. Keep a close eye on the area right above the flat windshield and the bottom corners of the doors; these are the "hot zones" where chips like to turn into tiny rust colonies if they aren't sealed up quickly.

Driveway Repair Tip

When you're using your touch-up brush on these flat, utilitarian panels, remember that gravity is your only enemy. Because the Thing has so many vertical surfaces, a big "blob" of paint will want to slide down the door like a teardrop. Instead of trying to fill a chip in one go, apply two or three very thin "whisker" coats. Give the paint about 15 minutes to get tacky between layers. If you're working with one of the rarer metallic shades like Moisette Metallic, make sure to shake that bottle until your arm is tired-you want all those tiny metallic flakes to wake up and stand at attention before they hit the metal.