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Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:21 am

Hi

Just bought me a 1955 Ghia. Chassis 1043378, body 1091.

Found in a barn i southern Denmark last week. Some gasoline and a new battery, it started right up.

Rebuilt in the 1960´ies with newer Ghia-parts, but a lot of the original parts, also the original interior, came with the car.

Its not rusty and drives very well. Now it has a white paintjob (painted with a vacuum cleaner in the ´60ies), originally L41 black.

I plan a total resto in the next years to original condition.

Enjoy the pictures in the Ghia-gallery!

Tómas

Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:41 am

Beautiful car, congratulations! The condition of those seats is amazing.

Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:00 pm

Looks like an amazing project! Looks like it will be a beautiful car.

Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:37 pm

i love your car.

Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:26 pm

Great find! Hope it turns out to be a fine finished car for you.

What gauge is in the cernter of the dash? It looks like there is a vacuum line from the engine below the carb running to the front.

I like those all vinyle interiors on the earliest cars, they seem to always hold up well. I can still see the healiner material in the glove box.

Again, great find.

Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:58 pm

I guess there are still stones unturned!!!!! Great find!!!! Welcome aboard!!

Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:58 pm

how does one paint a car with a vaccum cleaner>

Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:35 pm

kirbie

Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:05 pm

vwdmc16 wrote: how does one paint a car with a vaccum cleaner?

It's a term for sprayers that use a vacuum instead of compressed air to create a spray, but still uses a suction feed spray gun.

Is that door correct? the mirror and placement looks to be from a later door. Very sweet find, I am jealous have fun with it!

Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:51 am

Hi

You are correct: It is a vacuummeter in the dash. I plan to remove it. It is not correct for that year.

The previus owner told me that the doors and lids are the originals. The car has never been in an accident and has only had 4 owners. The last 3 knows eachother very well. But I am no expert in Ghia-doors. I´ll post a picture in the gallery of the inside of the driver side door. Maybe you can tell me the difference between newer and older doors. The mirror is incorrect, the right swanneckmirror is with the car. Underneath the white paint on the driverside door the paint is black, as original. You can tell that there is holes underneath the paint for the missing cromestrip inside on the door (between window and dorpanel).

Another question: Is that gearlever to short? See picture in gallery.

Thank you for your kind words. I never considered buying a Ghia, until I drove this one. I just love it. It matches my Zwitter perfectly.

Tómas

Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:45 am

Congrats for owning that KG, one of the oldest, that is. Really looking good. Welcome to the Karmann Ghia side of the hobby! Keep us posted.

Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:54 am

verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry nice ghia. congrats from germany for this 55 lowlight and welcome in the lowlight-club :lol: :lol:

Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:02 am

Great car,

Always nice to hear such a early car is found again and will get back to his formal glory.

congratulations with it.

Patrick

Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:04 pm

awesome car!!

Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:10 pm

zwitter53 wrote:
Another question: Is that gearlever to short? See picture in gallery.

The shifter does seem to be alittle short IMO, maybe Retrowagon can fill us all in.

The door is probably a early door since it has a early looking handle W/O the finger dip and would have to accept a early door catch, but that mirror does make it look newer.

Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:31 pm

to say i was jealous would be a drastic understatement.

Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:05 pm

lonotch wrote: zwitter53 wrote:
Another question: Is that gearlever to short? See picture in gallery.

The shifter does seem to be alittle short IMO, maybe Retrowagen can fill us all in.

Looks a little short to me, too. Maybe a previous owner had really long arms and sawed off the lever a bit?

Judging from the photos in the gallery, I strongly suspect the "original" seats (not presently installed in the car) are actually period aftermarket covers over the original seats. The earliest KG's had all-vinyl upholstery, but it was not two-tone. Various aftermarket manufacturers in Germany offered kits to snazz up upholstery, even for the KG. And upholstery, throughout Europe in the period, was an apprenticable trade with very good practitioners, so "factory" quality work could easily be found at a shop in most any large town.

Door mirror seems to be off a post-1965 model.

Tómas, nice find, a December 1955 car! Good luck with it.

Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:12 am

I am curious to see some details of the bumpers.. Are they the original 1-piece and closed overrides?

Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:05 pm

[/quote]

I agree with Retrowagen. I am sure the 1955 Karmann Ghia did not leave the factory with that interior, door panels and carpet set.

Thu Aug 30, 2007 3:45 am

zwitter53 wrote: the original interior came with the car

with, not in