why do we love our ghias...?

[ghiagirl]

As the proud owner of a '63 ghia - that doesn't run, inconveniences my friends and families with garages and VW skills, demands all my money and much of my attention - I often wonder to myself "Why do I love my ghia?" Sadly, I've never gotten to drive it (or any other ghia)- yet when I look at that car I can't stop smiling! I often peruse the ghia aisles at VW shows, listening to other ghias owners saying, "Next year- Mine will be here next year!" and with hopeful intentions I think, "Me too!" So why do we love our ghias... or more importantly, why do you love your ghia? I thought I'd open the door for ghia owners to express their gratitude, stories, thoughts, and dreams.... so...

[Buggeroff]

Stick with your project brother, it will take shape must faster than you think.
Think the girl you first in love with, then the girl you married.
The first was the fantasy, the second the reality.
Ghia's like women, bloom slowly but surely, and are to be revered.
Chris.
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"Chris of the Ozarks"

Headlinerless 57 Ghia
Thread deleter extrordinaire.

[lonotch]

Two words,

The lines.
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It's not about the window, it's about the people.

German Folks

[Gary]

Hell, I have a 59 project (to be customized) that might not roll until 2010.
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West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

[MatB]

My main car is in utter dis-repair, can't even pass inspection, my wifes car has a strut blowing through its tower, and yet I spend an entire weekend under my ghia fixing up things that aren't really broken, but need "preventative" maintinence. Only to be putting the thing away for 6 months.
We are all nuts.

CRTCLFF, I like your comparison, but did you notice the poster is ghiagirl?
I realize I am now making assumptions too, but at least based in some sort of probability.
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1970 KG Coupe
1835cc engine
Dual Kads

[garyrowland]

[74Ghia]

I've been rebuilding my Ghia for 3 1/2 years. It's a labor of love. And her name says it all..."SEDUCTRESS" because of her sexy lines.
_________________
Allen C.

2012 Silverado
53 FiberFab MG TD Replica (VW)

Life is hard and its harder if you're stupid.

[gatorjos]

Out of the three years I've owned my Ghia, she's only been in working condition six months, but God, the anticipation of driving her -- the rumble of the aircooled boxer -- the smells...

This weekend was the first time I was able to drive since I hauled out my tired 1600DP. Now with the same motor slightly enlarged (1776 with CB 044 heads, and Dual Kads) it's an even more bitchin car.

I LOVE GHIAs!!!!!
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1977 Westfalia Weekender Berlin "The Kitebus" aka " Colonel Mustard"

Previous romances:
1972 Ghia cabriolet (full body-off restoration -- stolen after five years of ownership)
2004 Passat 1.8T (manual)

http://21stcenturyhobo.com

[wmfamily]

Love at first sight. I had an old VW friend who had a couple for his sons. He loved them and I know I had to have one but at the time I could not spend the money needed to keep one happy (the Ghia). I lived with my old Bug ('68) for over 10 years and swore that some day I would have one. Over 10 years after I sold my '68 I bought a Ghia as a replacment for a '85 Golf I lost in a flood. My wife may have thought I had lost my mind at first but when she was able to drive it she also fell in love. That's even with a POS 009 and a carb with a worn throttle plate shaft. It ran like crap but once going did OK. Even my son is hooked. He thinks its cool to cruise the neighborhood in it. But of course the money and time I spend on it are worth every dime since its now as much a member of the family as anything.

So right now I am taking it apart to get it media blasted and start the rebuild process. Fortunately, I got one with only minot rust and only a little molestation from the previous owners. Hope to have it together in a year or two.

[gatorjos]

I don't know if I'm supposed to post twice on this thread but......

I think I was destined to own a Ghia. There are two cars I have loved since I was a little kid back in Belgium:

- The Citroen DS
- The VW Karmann Ghia

I have never owned a DS (or ridden in one), but hope to one day. When I saw an add in Jacksonville, FL for a "Carmen Ghia Convertibel $1000.00" (you should have seen her) I felt a tingle. Now, $12k and counting into it (and nowhere near done) I don't regret my decision at all.

To all you folks halfway through your project with welding burns on your arms, and primer in your hair: keep at it -- it's well worth the effort!

I need to scan that picture of my first find and put it in the gallery...all right -- back to my Molson.
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1977 Westfalia Weekender Berlin "The Kitebus" aka " Colonel Mustard"

Previous romances:
1972 Ghia cabriolet (full body-off restoration -- stolen after five years of ownership)
2004 Passat 1.8T (manual)

http://21stcenturyhobo.com

[execk2]

SO SEXY BABY!!!
_________________
Mike

www.mikeandjosee.com

[Nessal]

Damn, I'm sorry that you haven't even driven your Ghia yet. It's an experience all in itself. Right now mine is taken off the road for a pan off restoration. It's slow but it's coming along good. I'm going to prime and paint the doors and hood soon....then I'm going to start rust proofing the pan and paint the body. Other smalls bugs will be worked out but I just can't wait till it's done. I miss driving my Ghia.

[1964 Ghia]

I love my Ghia because she is beautiful. She has the clasic lines of a 50's sports car, but the simple mechanicals of a VW type 1. Karmann Ghias are almost as nice as 356's, and they cost a hell of a lot less.

I have had a 1964 Ghia for about 6 months now. I bought her for my 33rd birthday. i've owned several other VW's, but I've always wanted a Ghia! She was absolutely original, right down to the 6V 36 HP motor. I have just begun a quest to replace her little old motor with a big fat type 4 motor.

It's proving to be a lttle more difficult than I thought it would be, but I love LUCY that much that the skinned knuckles, cuts and grease don't upset me at all.

[peterericb]

My ghia is my own personal sanctuary. I used it to escape the wrath of my parents when I was in high school. I used it to escape the hopelessness of being dirt poor when I was trying to go to college; when you can have something this nice, it all seems ok. I used it to keep me from losing sight of my goals. I used it to meet girls who were like-minded. I drove away from my wedding in it. I used it to convince my wife that a 3 car garage was a priority in buying a house. I will use it to teach my son how to work on cars and get him excited about the hobby.

Working on cars is my therapy. And the Ghia is part of my family. I have had it for 8 years and in that time it has gone from a shell with bullet holes with no engine to a drivable scrapheap to a work of beauty to a daily driver to storage to racing to dissassembled in my garage right now. I almost can't have it be stock because if I "restored" it, then there would be a stopping point and I don't know if my life would be complete without some wild future goal to obtain.
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I love it when a guy covered in tattoos tells me I should keep my Ghia "All Original"

[kingkarmann]

Karmann Ghia's have always been a constant in my life. I have owned and sold three beginning in 1975. I bought my 4th, a 67 coupe in May of 97. After picking it up and driving it home I had intentions of using it as my daily driver and making repairs as needed. It soon became apparent that she deserved more than stopgap repairs and superficial cosmetic surgury. We live in the rustbelt and this Ghia was a California native, much more solid than I had ever seen locally. So, after one more drive I parked her in the garage and began a pan off restoration. It has been going on for 8 years and I am one of those guys that go to the shows thinking, next year mine will be here.
This thread is especially relevant to me because my body guy called me this morning letting me know that I can pick up the Ghia on Oct 22. Now I can get her back in the garage and start the reassembly. Maybe 2006 will really be the year. I am hoping to bring her out to the Michigan show in Ypsilanti in May.

[Steve22]

My friend and I used to fix up VW's back in the late 70's for extra money. My first car was a 68 bug, but I knew then that someday I'd own a ghia. Well a little over a year and a half ago, my wife bought me one-- on her birthday! Its been a long time in coming, but this past weekend I finally broke ground on my new garage and ghia home. Now at last, I can finally start work in earnest on restoring my 64. Why do I love ghias? might as well ask why a particular flower is the color it is... there's a reason, but I can't explain it.
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'65 Karmann Ghia 'vert
'73 Super Beetle
'59 Beetle ragtop
'73 Sunroof Transporter

[ghiagirl]

i love my ghia for the story it tells....
I found my ghia waiting for me in the front lawn of a Mexican family, who owned the Taco truck across the street. They had recently moved in, found the ghia in their garage, and pushed it out on their lawn toting a "FREE/GRATIS" sign.... (My lucky day!)
It's previous owner was a VW collector in Bellingham, who was detained for robbing a bank with his son. Needless to say, all his possessions were sold... and my ghia found a new home.
Where it roamed before that is yet to be known, but I'm sure it blessed the streets with its sweet lines and two-tone paint for the better part of its 42 years...
And after a nearly complete body-off restoration, it will soon be on the road, telling new stories...

thank you for your contribution to this post...

[turboghia]

Turbo.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=67653

[iowegian]

[72Coupe]