TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:08 pm

First Pics of our Roadster project, I purchased this ghia in 1997, had an engine fire in '99 and it has been awaiting resurrection ever since. Today is the day! It has a 12 volt conversion and runs an 1835 which sparked up nicely after ten years. The top was off when I bought it so don't blame me for this sacrilage.

All the future bodywork has been paid for and we have 16 in. Boxster wheels with discs all around. Any comments and help would be greatly appreciated as this is the first resto of this extent we have attempted.

Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:45 pm

Very nice.... good luck on the project!

Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:04 pm

Those wheels will work well.

Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:19 pm

just a diamond in the rough now 8) but after a make over she will be looking good. it will be along road but happy one in the end. 8)

Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:12 am

Thanks, about those wheels, we were looking at 17 " but after talking to Corwin (sorry for the double post) I decided on the 16's so we would have less worry about fit and focus on everything else this car needs.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:53 am

You are going to need to add some type of support in the car to keep it from buckling. The roof provided structural support, and the standard verts have reinforcements added.

Back in high school we purchased a ghia that someone added a convertible top to. We bought the car for the engine primarily, but I drove it for a year. Anyhow, the doors began having a harder and harder time latching. Essentially the car was trying to make itself into a U shape. I would look at what the convertibles do and try to mimic that .

Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:39 am

thanks Werka, it had a roll bar in it that helped but you are right, I think we will do something similar to Scott Sain's roadster as far as support goes, it was already buckling a bit from the lift, you can see the passenger door in one of the pics.

Sains reinforcement at http://www.kustomcoachwerks.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=17040

Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:54 am

Is that an old school Holley Bug Spray?

Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:20 am

It is a Holley, the rebuild kit was harder to get because of its age I guess. My 17 year old rebuilt it before starting it up but he says he doesn't know the pros or cons of that carb... Anyone care to explain?

Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:26 pm

cool project, i often think of doing that with my ghia. the more bondo and fiberglass i find on it the more likely the idea becomes :)

Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:29 pm

The one I had also had a roll bar in it. Even so, if you are starting I would recommend a little extra, or go overkill on the roll bar.

The roll bar I had didn't go to far in front of the seats. It was basically behind the front seats. Nothing tying it to the front of the car to add some rigidity.

*Edit
The link you posted is looks much better than what I had.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:36 pm

Yeah, mine was the same as yours, did you check out the reinforcement on the roadster URL I posted earlier? It looks pretty solid without getting in the way much. Also plan on reinforcing along the pan near the rockers. I really apreciate the info, this site is killer.ok I see your edit

Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:09 pm

ok i might get flamed for this, but what about welding/bolting the doors shut? I always kinda liked that smooth look in speedsters with no seams or handles. This could also add strength.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:20 pm

Shok, I am planning on shaving everything on this ghia, welding the window openings closed and am still thinking about welding the passenger door shut. I am putting the front turn signals inside the air vents. The cleaner the better I think for this project and as a bonus I save a fortune on replacement parts. without all the "trappings" it will have to be ultra straight as far as body goes and that is going to be the tough part with all the damage and rust but nothing about three months of long blocking wont solve!

Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:08 pm

yeh think of the money you will save on rebuild hinges :)

I'm really on the fence whether to do mine up like that or not. I know it will never be correctly restored and with the bondo and stuff it might actually gain value if its turned into something cool and head turning, right now its not worth much period.
that link you posted really got my wheels turning and thinking about how much fun that would be to drive.
luckily for the car its raining right now which helps it keep its roof!

Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:14 pm

this car also add to the temptation
http://bringatrailer.com/2007/11/26/cool-custom-vw-1967-karmann-ghia-speedster/

Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:47 pm

ok, I get it shok you have the same bug (pun not intended) i do, here are a few builds I have been drooling over.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:50 pm

shok wrote: I know it will never be correctly restored and with the bondo and stuff it might actually gain value if its turned into something cool and head turning, ...

I would doubt that it would be worth more than a restored ghia. No offense to this thread, but a lot of these don't end up being completed, and trying to sell a ghia that has been "hacked" you won't get your money out of it. There are a lot of purist on this forum, who don't like these. I think a lot due to them not being done properly (like my old one was that should have had additional supports).

Sat Jan 24, 2009 9:18 am

Hi Slafa,

The flat black roadster was mine, before a rear bumper and a paint job. Let me know if you want any advice on welding the doors up. There are several ways to do it. If the car is lowered you can climb in pretty easily over the door. A great way to stiffen up the car and give the stock body lines some emphasis.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:29 am

Thanks werka, I totally understand that for most people here this thread is bull****. that being said, I didnt pay Everett $25 to get a fancy star next to my moniker, I paid because I appreciate what is available here and the fact that there are people who are willing to spend time helping a complete stranger just because he has also been smitten by the air cooled bug.

Obviously many here speak a language neither I nor my son are familiar with...YET but if the purists don't want newbies then they are very short sighted because unless I am mistaken none of them came out of the womb with a Hemmings in one hand and a wrench in the other.

As for our project and the ability to finish, my family owns 4 auto body shops, I painted cars for eight years and managed one for 3 years. As a kid I purchased, refurbished and sold 4 ghias, it's how I saved up for the down payment on my first house. My 17 year old knows more now about engines, suspensions and transmissions than I ever will and is a voracious reader of the forums on this site and mallcrawler the jeep site (he is also building a wicked 4x4)

From the photos on this thread it should be obvious to anyone that we not only have the tools, shop and money to complete this project but that we are dead serious about having a blast while doing it. :twisted:

Thanks for the post John I would love to take you up on that offer