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In checking out the pictures that all of you have posted of your "Things", I saw that some have the slotted grills like the military 181 I have, and some have a "scoop" with a hole in front, and some without.

My limited experience with these tells me that they were perhaps added to aid in getting cool air into the fan shroud? Were they a stock item in one or more of the few years imported to the states?

I plan to drive my 181 as much as possible here in Central Florida, once it's done. The summer temperatures get hot here, so, should I add these? If so, who if any has/makes them? With or without a front facing hole? (I noticed that some had a front hole, and some looked like a solid looking box of sorts).

Those scoops were added on the 74? model sold in the US. There isn?t any grill under those scoops just a hole. (For some reason German Things don?t seem to have those scoops at all. I have seen 77? models with the grills and still have the bus tail lights too.) I believe the front scoops were custom done by certain owners. I highly doubt they were a factory item. As for their cooling ability? I don?t know. I doubt Volkswagen put those on just for looks, they didn?t seem to do anything without reason. I have heard a rumor that 74? run cooler but why didn?t they change the NATO cars as well? No idea.

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The muffs are for 181's that have heater boxes instead of a gas heater. They are to keep from getting any exhaust in the cooling air which could cause carbon monoxide poisoning when the heater lever is pulled.

Cool, that would explain why the German Kubels don?t have them. Now can you answer why they have the Bus tail lights but the US ones have Bug lights?

U.S. safety requirements gave us the bigger tail lights.

When I had my 1973 Thing years ago I drove a lot of dirt roads and the engine stayed covers with dirt. At the time you could buy the air inlet ducks from VW for only ten bucks a piece plus a little more for the gasket. By adding these I was able to keep the engine compartment and engine much cleaner. I never had any overheating problems either way, but I would think that there would have been a noticable difference in cooling in the long run from better engine cleanliness.