TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:45 am

My dad and I picked up this car in June of 2005 and we've been working on it ever since. As you can tell, it's a '71 Ghia. When we first got the car we didn't think it would need that much work to get it back on the road given the fact that we were told it was a daily driver when it was parked. Well, that never plays out like you think it will. The truth was that the car had be severely neglected by the previous owner(s) and needed some serious help. On the other hand, it went through some serious changes right before it was parked, some 9-10 years before we came and got it. Not only did the car come with a brand new, awesome '90s scalloped paint job but a brand new 1776 built by Mark Christiansen of Yucaipa, CA that was dyno'd at around 100hp. Not bad for a 1776 with Kadrons. Here are some progress shots.

As it sat the day we picked it up

Dusty ass interior shot

1776 w/ Kadrons on Treuhaft intakes, oh yeah.

Treuhaft intake manifolds

After we knocked the dust off of it

Gotta love those Scallops

Here's the motor before we juiced it up

There's my old fastback on the right, I sold it to fund the Ghia makeover.

Another shot of the interior before it got a major face lift to

I know you're all envious of the Rivieras

Them are some comfy seats

We got it home and tore the whole front end apart and added new everything, including a 3/4" swaybar, CB drop spindles and their 2" narrowed beam.

Here's how she sits

Here's the condition it's in now. New wheels and mostly everything all tore up.

Here's how the motor looks now, new Weber 44s, compufire dis IX, ratio rocker etc.

The new dash cap, cover and gauges installed

New exhaust, bumper to come soon

Insulated everything. It's gonna be a nice quiet ride

No nose jobs here

Nice 8 spokes that my Dad cleaned up. They looked like shit before he got to 'em.

And you can't have a '90s custom without a pair of Vitaloni baby turbo mirrors!

We're hoping to have this thing on the road in full effect by the Bug-In this year. Keep and eye out on the streets of Palm Springs for this bad boy. More pics to come.

Brad

Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:23 pm

Sorry about the small ass pictures. Putfile kinda sicks for picture posting but it's a hell of a lot faster than the galleries here.

Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:36 pm

What's up Brad? When did you drag up from Denver? Hope all is well.

Jonny

Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:07 pm

Not quite gone yet, the Ghia is at my parents house in the desert. I just fly out there to help work on it. Everything is good though. Almost got the '67 going. Working on a turbo setup right now. Here's the link to that thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=245617&highlight=.

Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:29 pm

That thing is RAD, Looks like a solid car. 8)

Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:11 pm

Thanks, it really is. My dad has really put a lot of time and effort (and money) into that car. Should be a really nice car when we're done.

Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:43 pm

Way Rad...loving the scallops and Rivs on the Ghia.

Stu

Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:54 pm

Yeah, we had to hock the Rivs though. I don't think they looked to bad but those 8-spokes really set it off.

Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:55 am

I have a soft spot for scalloped fatchick ghias, can't wait to see what you end up with.

Circa 1990:

Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:11 pm

Now, that's what I call a '90s looker. It's kinda scary how similar they look to.

Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:47 pm

ive got a wink mirror for it with the optional tinted visors that clip and fold on them too ....totally 90's :shock:

Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:20 pm

Hell yeah, I can't have a VW without a wink mirror. I had one on my fastback and I just put one on my '70 cal looker '67. It's nice to be able to see out the quarter windows without having to turn your head at all.

It was a bit of a pain in the ass to mount given the contour of the roof. Can't do without it though.

Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:56 pm

*Update* Shooting to have the car done in time for the Bug-In this year.

Brad