TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed May 29, 2019 8:21 am

A few month back I was browsing thesamba classifieds thread on Facebook, and somebody had made a post that they were looking for a Ghia to buy, there was over 100 comments with pictures of ghias for sale and through the middle I saw this one posted for sale, I immediately messaged the guy asking how much and where he was located. Car was literally a few miles from me. So I went to check it out and bought it, guy even delivered it. PO stated Ghia belonged to his uncle since mid 70s, he lived in Fontana but worked in the high desert, and would use it for transportation when he would go to the desert. His uncle got sick so it sat since 83. Car is super solid no rust beside small spot under battery the size of a quarter, original 36 horse motor which I have got running now. Drivers fender was replaced at one point but luckily they used lowlight fender. Only thing missing was front bumper, front grill, and nose emblem. Had a type 3 long axle trans in it, but swapped it out for shortaxle full synchro trans I had laying around.

Wed May 29, 2019 8:26 am

Decided to lower the car. Beam, spindles , disc brakes and drop spring plates with repro fuchs

I hated the yellow it was painted and saw that og paint peeking through so we decided to do the tedious job of stripping the paint to reveal the original pelican red/ black roof, I will blend areas with paint I had matched.

Wed May 29, 2019 8:28 am

Was pretty happy the way paint was turning out, still have some details to work out

Got the car running pretty good with the original motor so I will be taking it to the upcoming Prado show

Wed May 29, 2019 8:31 am

Yes!!!!

Nicholas

Wed May 29, 2019 10:02 am

Bravo!!

Wed May 29, 2019 10:08 am

Looks like a good buy, FB has it uses :lol:
Nice job on the paint stripping, looks 100x better!

Wed May 29, 2019 10:14 am

Looks ace. Top job
Strip that black vinyl off those thinbacks too; lets see whats under there

Wed May 29, 2019 11:05 am

Nice. I think I looked at this one last year. The guy selling was a metal polisher in Upland, shop just south of Foothill. He kind of see-saweded on me about wanting/not wanting to sell. Awesome to take it back to original paint. Congrats.

Wed May 29, 2019 11:31 am

Great find! Great job on the paint removal! Looks great! More pics!

Wed May 29, 2019 11:32 am

RockStock wrote: Looks ace. Top job
Strip that black vinyl off those thinbacks too; lets see whats under there

When I took front seats out to clean them I took a peak underneath at and seems like the og material is still there but afraid to see what’s really under there, they covered them for a reason so I’m sure they are torn, I’ll get to them eventually, just want to get the outside all squared away first. rear seat og material is long gone for sure.

Wed May 29, 2019 12:16 pm

Good buy and really well done on getting it to og paint!!👍👍
What did you use/how did you proceed? I am considering doing it to my vanagon single cab (that also got repainted in a weird yellow :lol: )

Antoine

Wed May 29, 2019 1:20 pm

Awesome find man... I have a 57 as well. How’s the interior... I see it has thin back seats.

Wed May 29, 2019 1:39 pm

Beautiful car, shame about the front apron though.

Wed May 29, 2019 9:47 pm

TRS63 wrote: Good buy and really well done on getting it to og paint!!👍👍
What did you use/how did you proceed? I am considering doing it to my vanagon single cab (that also got repainted in a weird yellow :lol: )

Antoine

Thanks guys, as for stripping back the paint, luckily only has 2 layers, primer coat, then mustard color, the top mustard color came off easily with heat gun and scraper/razor. Lower parts of car was a little tougher, the primer were used laquer thinner and 00 steel wool, that part was rather messy and not too much pressure was applied being careful not to dig into the og paint

Thu May 30, 2019 7:27 am

Thu May 30, 2019 8:30 pm

Favorite color combo

Fri May 31, 2019 2:00 pm

Looks awesome, good job on stripping 'er down!

Mon Aug 19, 2019 10:25 am

Any updates on this car?

Mon Aug 19, 2019 10:36 am

It’s been sold and now resides in Las Vegas