TheSamba.com :: View topic - Ghia body / paint / mechanic shop D.C. / VA / MD area?

Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:03 pm

Can anyone recommend a good reputable allround VW aircooled body / paint / restore / mechanic shop in the D.C. metro area and surroundings.
Am considering getting into an early 60's Ghia Convertible restoration. I live in Fairfax, VA and would like to know my options around here before getting into it.

Thanks a bunch

Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:10 pm

I do not have any personal experience, but I have been asking the same questions, and here is what I have heard.

Northside automotive in Madison, VA http://www.northsiderestorations.com/

Metric Autohaus in Millersville, MD
http://www.metricautohaus.com/

Econo German Auto in Hagerstown, MD
Advertiser here on the Samba

Also - check this thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=275678&highlight=

Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:23 pm

Thanks for the info. Good start. I'll check them out. Thx

Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:34 pm

I believe that I met the owners/staff at Northside when I lived in Virginia and participated in the Volkswagen Bugouts. If this is the same business - and I'm almost certain it is - they are very organized, professional and friendly people. They had a booth and car with brochures and before/after pictures to advertise their business. I would make an appointment and get a quote from them.

I also remember visiting with VW Restoration and Customs in Manassas - that was a great business (I'm assuming it's still up and running). The owner held BBQs the weekend of the Bugouts to celebrate the event. I think that shop is a bit smaller than Northside, but the owner did wonderful work.

I had my headliner put in by Ace German in Stafford. I think they have gone out of business, though. They seemed sort of slow and were not the easiest to get a hold of.

Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:30 am

VW Restorations went out of business a few years ago.

I met Grant, the owner of Northside last month. He gave my wife and a, and a few others a tour of his shop and some of the projects he was working on. They do excellent, but very expensive work.

Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:41 am

About a year ago I purchased a 69 Ghia from a person in DC. She swore by the work done by the Bug & Bunny Clinic Inc. Could not say enough about Mr. Carter's expertise with air cooled engines. I do my own work so I don't have any personal experience with the repair shop but I did do a search on the repair shop a while back and remember being impressed with all the positive feedback concerning the shop.

Don't know if it is still in business but here is the contact info the PO of my Ghia gave me:

Bug & Bunny Clinic Inc
3902 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
(703) 243-2374‎

Legacy

Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:47 am

Legacy wrote: About a year ago I purchased a 69 Ghia from a person in DC. She swore by the work done by the Bug & Bunny Clinic Inc. Could not say enough about Mr. Carter's expertise with air cooled engines. I do my own work so I don't have any personal experience with the repair shop but I did do a search on the repair shop a while back and remember being impressed with all the positive feedback concerning the shop.

Don't know if it is still in business but here is the contact info the PO of my Ghia gave me:

Bug & Bunny Clinic Inc
3902 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
(703) 243-2374‎

Legacy

Bugs and Bunnies is still there. I work about 3 blocks from him and go down there occasionally on my lunch breaks. I have not had any work done there personally but I have heard he does good work.

I know the guys at Northside Automotive and have had work done there and can say for a fact that they do AWESOME work. Grant is the owner and also the Vice President of our club and is a stand up guy. He knows these cars inside and out and only uses the best parts that are available.

http://www.northsiderestorations.com/

Also, there is Murphy's Motorsports in Opal, VA(near Warrenton). I have had work done there and they do good work as well!

Hope this helps.

Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:30 am

As far as body shops I know one of the best around here is Karosserie 2928 Prosperity Ave, Fairfax, VA (703) 876-6300‎ http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3n6qk/karosserieltd/id15.html I like the real 550 restoration on this page. Luis is the manager there. They mostly restore old Porsche 356s but they do other cars. They have done body work on my Ghia and Porsche as I do mechanical work and they are the artists.

You mention "getting into an early 60's Ghia Convertible restoration". Are you going to do some of the work your self? You can sure save a lot of money that way. What year is your ghia?

I am in Fairfax too I have been driving my Ghias around here since the 70s. If you need some advice on how to get started let me know.

Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:56 am

thanks everyone for the outouring of advice and info - great forum

looking forward to asking y'all lots of questions when I get into the project. (I haven't even decided on the exact car I'll be restoring; had a few conversations with West coast sellers, wanted to scope out Ghia community here in DC / NoVa / Md first before I get in over my head :D

I now feel confident that there are the resources around here for me to lean on (selectively) as I get stuck.

Thanks again

Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:11 am

brent bousman wrote: As far as body shops I know one of the best around here is Karosserie 2928 Prosperity Ave, Fairfax, VA (703) 876-6300‎ http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3n6qk/karosserieltd/id15.html I like the real 550 restoration on this page. Luis is the manager there. They mostly restore old Porsche 356s but they do other cars. They have done body work on my Ghia and Porsche as I do mechanical work and they are the artists.

You mention "getting into an early 60's Ghia Convertible restoration". Are you going to do some of the work your self? You can sure save a lot of money that way. What year is your ghia?

I am in Fairfax too I have been driving my Ghias around here since the 70s. If you need some advice on how to get started let me know.

Brent,
Thanks for the tips. I haven't decided yet on the exact car. I'd like to find a '64 (simply since I was born in 64 in Germany... go figure... and seeing an old rusted car from my birth year and place being restored to beauty might be cathardic :D ). But in reality anyting 61 - 64 would be fine.
Your next question 'will I do some of the work myself?' Well, trying to decide that right now... I am tempted to say "yes". I am definitely mechanically inclined and enjoy that kind of work. My big fear is over committing and then running out of time and steam. Then again I am a perfectionist and don't have the $$$ to pay some A1 shop $50k to do a teardown / rebuild for me. So I think my long-winded answer to you is "probably, yes, I will probably get into lots of the work myself".
I will definitely take you up on advice on how to get started. My 1st challenge is to find the "right" car to begin with and getting it to FFX into my Garage - not too far gone - lots of potential - reasonably priced.
Let's stay in touch. I am near Rt 123 and 66. Drop me an e-mail.

Ralf

Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:06 pm

I recently got my 74 Ghia convertible back from Northside after a very thorough going over. Very pleased with their work. I highly recommend them.

Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:14 pm

Grant from Northside recently bought a car from me. Very nice to deal with!! Knows his stuff and was very professional.

Rich

Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:55 pm

Wouldn't happen to be a 56 lowlight would it?

Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:57 pm

yes!!

Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:55 am

Saw it a few weekends ago. He's going to cut it to use the front clip on a 59 vert. I'm trying to talk him out of it. Car is very savable.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:57 pm

Car is super solid!! I am hoping that he does not cut it up! I was very aprehensive about selling him the car. But to save a vert will make it worth it I think :(

Rich

Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:05 pm

I'm bringing my grandmother's Ghia to Arlington this fall, and had read so many good things about the Bug & Bunny Clinic I wanted to check the place out. I drove by there this evening but alas, the guys at the (non VW) garage next door said the old guy there finally retired...too good to be true, I guess.

Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:50 am

May be a little far, but considering it's the only guy I've used so far, it's worth the bit of a trip to me:

Dick Potter at Dick's Autohaus
210 Centreville Rd, Queenstown, MD 21658
(410) 827-6501

It's about 15 minutes over the Bay Bridge just off 50. Had to get my KG towed there after the idle cutoff and choke on a brand new carb failed on the DE shore. He swapped out that, another carb top, burned points, changed trans oil, and welded in an air cleaner stand that went missing in the previous 41 years.. decent price, solid work.

Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:45 pm

KarmannVolo wrote: I'm bringing my grandmother's Ghia to Arlington this fall, and had read so many good things about the Bug & Bunny Clinic I wanted to check the place out. I drove by there this evening but alas, the guys at the (non VW) garage next door said the old guy there finally retired...too good to be true, I guess.

Exactly what does it need done?

Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:59 am

swhitcomb wrote: KarmannVolo wrote: I'm bringing my grandmother's Ghia to Arlington this fall, and had read so many good things about the Bug & Bunny Clinic I wanted to check the place out. I drove by there this evening but alas, the guys at the (non VW) garage next door said the old guy there finally retired...too good to be true, I guess.

Exactly what does it need done?

Hiya, haven't been on the board for a while, while I was waiting for all the arrangements to get the car out here. But...ta da!...it's finally being delivered this weekend. For now, I just want someone to look at the belts and hoses and replace them if necessary. That ought to get me started! Do i have to go to an air-cooled specialist for that? I'm sure the guy mike70kg recommended in Queenstown would do good work, but that's a little far for me (I'm in Arlington).