Karmann Ghia

[lm6y]

Just got in a 71 coupe at the shop that had been sitting since around '05. The lady bought it new, and wants to get it up, and roadworthy again. Just a few electrical problems, and clean the carb, adjust the valves, rusted through brake line... yadda yadda. Simple stuff. It's so nice to not have to use a scanner, and actually break out the dwell meter every now and then.

Which member was it here that restored one? I was telling my cousin about it, and I've searched the forum, and can't find pics of it.

I was actually thinking about talking to the lady about selling it, until I had to drive it on the rack. I didn't quite get "into" it, as much as I had to "put it on".

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Very cool. I wouldn't mind picking one up at some point.

I echo your sentiments - OBD2 killed the automobile. I can think of only maybe two or three post-1996 vehicles I really like and would own. They've all become soulless, overly-computerized appliances since.

(I see an early 911 in my future too with this line of thinking - I know I'm being roped into a hopelessly expensive restoration by my own logic...)

[Joe Bob]

Widebody is a Ghia/bug/transporter guy....very knowledgeable.

[masraum]

Widebody (Thom) is the guy that you're thinking about. He's a pretty hardcore VW guy. His thing is actually VW busses. This is his website, VintageBus.Com - 1949 to 1967 VW Buses - 1949 to 1967 VW buses. I suspect you may find pics of his KG here.

[rattlsnak]

RayB on this board has done one also...

[lm6y]

Thom's was the one I was thinking of. Man he does some great work. This '71 isn't that nice, but it's all there, even the sales receipt.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by lm6y

JI was telling my cousin about it, and I've searched the forum, and can't find pics of it.

I almost bought a Karmann Ghia Cab last year for $8K.

[rcooled]

I finished restoring a '67 this last spring and use it to run around town...mostly on the weekends. CA car...no rust ever...all original metal. I've had old VWs in the garage since the '70s.

[imcarthur]

Great memories. My uncle had a pair of his & her convertibles. On my 1st trip there as an adult (1970), they were our transportation around LA. His were both white.

Ian

Edit: And when we crossed the Tijuana border back to the US after a jaunt south, the border patrol bee-lined for the smuggler's box in the passenger footwell.

[H.G.P.]

My first car... 1969 Karmann Ghia Red Coupe

My current ....1969 Porsche 911 E Red Coupe

[widebody911]

I restored a 1956 Karmann Ghia a few years ago. I picked it up on Craigslist for $1500. Luckily it was 98% complete, with a bunch of HTF NOS parts. I probably could have made money by flipping the parts and ditching the carcass.

[T77911S]

that car looks AMAZING!!!

you could put a mercedes badge on that car and most people would not know the difference.

i had a 74 back in high school. picked it up for $800. i dechromed it and painted it red. i had a set of those fake fuchs hubcaps i bought from JC whitney. people always thought it was porsche.
man i miss that car.

[Geary]

Nice '67 convert, rcooled ...

but widebody, your restore takes the prize. That's some beautiful work

[GH85Carrera]

The world's slowest sports car.

My brother had one back in 1975. He built a "hot" engine that was like 80 HP. My 914 could out run him with ease. We could street race stop light to stop light and never break the speed limit.

[porsche4life]

I saw this very nice '72 this weekend in a truck stop in Endee, NM.

[fredmeister]

I restored a 71 convertible about 25 years ago and built a 2017cc monster motor for it. had lots of fun in that car, people thought it was an early Porsche of some sort....probably like a 550 spider.

Great little car but not alot of fun to get body and convertible top parts for since it was expensive at the time to find Ghia stuff.
I remember the 4 speed being indestructible and ripping thru the gears with the engine spinning at 7000rpm was hilarious. First was a stump puller.

Gene Berg supplied the best hot rod pieces for the engine, dont know if he is still in business. Sunk over $2k in 1990's dollars into that air cooled engine when you could get a chevy350 to over 300hp with $300 in parts it seems.

All my buddies had 60's and 70's muscle cars but loved the thing. Not the same treatment once I sold it for my 911.

Fredmeister

[Deschodt]

Thom's car is beautiful but it's an early one... they are prettier and worth $$$... I like those and up to 69 myself... After that they get the big turn signals, bigger tail lights, and canoe bumpers..

I used to have a 65 convertible, restored top to bottom, gorgeous car... then one day I bought a 356 of the same year (65) and I never enjoyed the Ghia again ;-( Pretty car... But it felt really flexible in turns...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by lm6y

I was actually thinking about talking to the lady about selling it, until I had to drive it on the rack. I didn't quite get "into" it, as much as I had to "put it on".

Beautiful little cars...but I agree that vertically challenged people are more comfortable in one than somebody 6'3".

[Jim Richards]

Just vertically challenged?

Great looking cars. Those are some pimped out whitewalls, Thom!

[johnco]

I've had a 74 ghia convertible sitting in my back yard for a decade or two. bought it long time ago, got it running, replaced floor, had it blasted and primed and then parked it behind the house and never messed with it again. I've been trying to give it away for the last couple years or so but it still sits there next to the 74 Thing that's been there just as long. the ghia and thing have been sitting behind the house so long, a 12-15ft tree has grown up thru the rear deck of the Thing. can't find anyone that wants them and rather than sell them for scrap iron I've been thinking..
I have a t bucket frame that's too short for my 28 model A project . I've got a couple 283 and 350 sbc sitting around.. I just might do some cutting and chopping on the ghia body and make myself a new toy. .. kind of like this VW beetle