TheSamba.com :: View topic - The Idiot's Guide to Original Karmann Ghia Interiors

Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:04 am

That vinyl grain is very similar to the one used on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint and Spider. 56-65
It's called "stipple" grain. Or hair follicle grain.

Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:52 pm

Hello, Im restoring a 63 ghia vert for a customer of mine. He wants the seats to look exactly like it would have come from the factory. I have seen many different styles of seats. Some with a 12" insert sewn in and some with a 10" insert sewn in with what seems to be a 2" pleat. Some of the early ghia seats come with what appears to be 5 2" lines sewn in and seperated by a solid piece up front.
So, my question is what would be correct for the year of this car.
Thanks,Brian.

Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:35 pm

ghiaguy682002 wrote: Hello, Im restoring a 63 ghia vert for a customer of mine. He wants the seats to look exactly like it would have come from the factory. I have seen many different styles of seats. Some with a 12" insert sewn in and some with a 10" insert sewn in with what seems to be a 2" pleat. Some of the early ghia seats come with what appears to be 5 2" lines sewn in and seperated by a solid piece up front.
So, my question is what would be correct for the year of this car.
Thanks,Brian.

6 x 2” back sewn hand stuffed Flutes/Pleats (depending on where you were trained ) 12” insert no piping. Pulled down, at the leg roll on the cushion and at the ¾ way of the backrest.

Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:21 pm

Thank you very much! Nice work by the way.

Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:41 am

I know where i'll be going when the time comes ,for once i wont have to buy parts from the USA :!:

Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:22 am

captainvw wrote: I know where i'll be going when the time comes ,for once i wont have to buy parts from the USA :!:

Yep, Kev's work is as good as it gets...there are a lot of forum users here that will tell you that.

Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:21 am

8)
Nicholas

Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:26 am

In speaking to Kevin at Trimtec (theaussietrimmer) I've found out there is no stock left anywhere of the BROWN corduroy that I'd need for my 56 antelope brown lowlight ghia... does anyone know otherwise?

Seems like the other colours are about in cord, but not mine. Typical!

Cheers

Matt

Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:52 am

downlowmatt wrote: In speaking to Kevin at Trimtec (theaussietrimmer) I've found out there is no stock left anywhere of the BROWN corduroy that I'd need for my 56 antelope brown lowlight ghia... does anyone know otherwise?

Seems like the other colours are about in cord, but not mine. Typical!

Cheers

Matt

Is there a neutral coloured cord that can be dyed Matt. There must be a company who could offer a colour-fast dyeing service.

Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:41 pm

downlowmatt wrote: In speaking to Kevin at Trimtec (theaussietrimmer) I've found out there is no stock left anywhere of the BROWN corduroy that I'd need for my 56 antelope brown lowlight ghia... does anyone know otherwise?

Seems like the other colours are about in cord, but not mine. Typical!

Cheers

Matt

I have some brown cord left from my old '57 which you have seen. Any good to you?

Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:23 pm

quick question for y'all.

Im getting new seat covers made for my '58 ghia, and need to come up with some old patterns for the upholstery guy to copy. I have a complete set of old thin back covers, and just the top section from my '58 frames.

my question is this: are the bottom covers from thin backs frames the same as the later 58-59 ones? I know the backs are different, but are the bottoms the same?

Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:31 pm

captainvw wrote: I know where i'll be going when the time comes ,for once i wont have to buy parts from the USA :!:

Would you prefer China?

Fri Feb 24, 2012 1:17 pm

VERY interesting post!

I have a 64 Karmann Sea Blue and as soon as I found the correct seats I will go in that direction;

Quick question for the carpet, Blue (dark) or Gray or Salt&Pepper?

The doors panels are chalk white

Tx for the help

William

Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:01 pm

xilly wrote: VERY interesting post!

I have a 64 Karmann Sea Blue and as soon as I found the correct seats I will go in that direction;

Quick question for the carpet, Blue (dark) or Gray or Salt&Pepper?

The doors panels are chalk white

Tx for the help

William

My records don't go much passed the 60 year but would think that the carpet would be T116 Grey Blue. Door panels would be ice blue to match the seats.

Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:28 pm

Knock yourself out, Aussie Paul!
Some original Bernina interiors (& esp later 1959, with the waffle sunvisors)
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

From the RHD Bernina Cab VIN 2257305...

Beige or grey carpet?
Look at the protected top area. Looks grey.

'Beige' floormat, converted to rhd! 'Beige' actually is a khaki green.
Bulkhead mat was this beige, floor & sill mats were grey...which was switched?

Visors are thought to be a replacement set from Patrick
Should they be grey or beige or even light blue?

The original pair?

smooth vinyl on reverse of hinge covers

Beige or grey headlining?
The original owner smoked....

Sun Feb 26, 2012 3:11 am

Great pics Chris
Thank you
Amazing what happens to material colours over time. That blue waffle hinge cover material has turned to beige. Same with the carpet. Amazing if that headlining was once light grey. The original owner must have used it as a smoke house :lol: .
That smooth vinyl material behind the hinge cover looks a definite grey. Can anyone confirm if their original material in that area matched the vinyl header and parcel shelf area.
Paul

Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:18 am

I know that interior from somewhere!! :lol:

The sunvisors are actually the original ones, the one's that previous owner got from Patrick are actually for another cabrio.

I'd say that the bulkhead mat has been replaced as there are patches of grey rubber still stuck to the bulkhead underneath my 'beige/green' mat.

Here's the stop side of the sunvisor that was covered by a stuck on mirror, the lighting is terrible but it does actually show blue.....

These are some other pics that I've sent over to Paul to sort out colour issues....

As Chris mention's, the original owner was a heavy smoker so it has stained everything in there but there are areas were it is clear to see blue.

Hope this helps you Paul, keep up the good work.

Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:38 am

Thanks Gareth your a champion mate. I agree with the bulkhead mat being not original. Light blue padded waffle visors have got me stumped though. :?
Paul

Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:46 am

Well I know it's hard to see on the pictures and the issues with smoke and age, you won't find another original interior like this one but if you're unsure about the blue visors then go with the grey.......it would suit the headliner and carpets.

However, there's also the issue of the other blue waffle material in the car like on the door cards, hinge covers, small trim sections that lead behind the back seat, etc. Why would they put grey waffle visors in when all the other waffle is blue? :wink:

Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:53 am

so for a late 59 Bernina Cab (say Jan 59 on) we have

headlining: light grey woven wool
header bow vinyl: light grey smooth vinyl
rear parcel shelf: light grey smooth vinyl
waffle sunvisors: light blue waffle!
rear parcel shelf small lower triangular support sections: light blue waffle
hood hinge covers: light blue waffle
hood bag: navy blue, white piping (similar to seats)
carpet: grey, with grey edging
rubber mats: grey

the only difference from the earlier (plastic visor) Bernina Cab being the colour of the visors (were grey).
bonkers having matching waffle visors! previously only thought to be beige or grey?

what about other waffle sunvisor Cab colours?

Following door panel waffle colours, this would mean 'waffle visor cabs' would have:
L87 Pearl White: GreenGrey visors
L428 Graphite Silver: BrownGrey
L417 Amazon: GreenGrey
L243 Diamond Grey: GreenGrey
L431 Bernina: Light Blue
L41 Black: BlueGrey
L356 Colorado: Light Beige

'Hard plastic visor lowlight cabs' were:
L87 Pearl White: Light Beige visors
L428 Graphite Silver: Light Beige
L417 Amazon: Light Beige
L243 Diamond Grey: Light Beige
L431 Bernina: Light Grey
L41 Black: Light Grey
L356 Colorado: Light Beige