TheSamba.com :: View topic - 68 Regatta Blue Karmann Ghia Vert 22,350 Original Miles

Fri Jul 19, 2024 7:16 pm

Great Ghia with great scenary!

Sun Jul 21, 2024 4:23 pm

Era Vulgaris wrote: Marcdeb wrote:

This is a fantastic photo. I could imagine stopping into a kiosk anywhere in Europe and seeing this as a postcard.
Thank you.
I pulled over for this photo because I liked the range of mountains in the distance, but my wife works very hard at her beautiful flower gardens and I knew she would appreciate the flowers.

Thu Jul 25, 2024 5:57 pm

So far the longest drive I've done in one trip was 51 miles. Today was a new record, 56. I know that's not much :oops: Regatta is running really well and I'm finding that I'm not worrying about breaking down any more.

I'm having a great time driving Regatta to visit special places in Vermont. Since last fall, we had been planning to take Regatta for a drive to Tunbridge Vermont, the home of "The Tunbridge World's Fair" which has been held there every September since 1867. The road to get there is very winding and narrow though with no break down lane so it would be a terrible place to break down.

The Fair is mostly a historical and agricultural fair that is hugely popular in Vermont but it also brings in lots of people from all over the country. I first attended the fair when I was 6 or 7 years old and I even worked at the fair for 20years demonstrating violin making.

I also had been wanting some pictures of Regatta with a Vermont covered bridge which there are many in this state, but this one, built in 1883, happens to be near the Fair grounds.

Tue Sep 17, 2024 9:01 am

Have really been enjoying lots of rides with Regatta. I've added over 700 miles so far this summer and she's been running great until a few weeks ago when I had to turn around and come back home after a few miles. It was stumbling and had no power going up hill. First time having this issue. It seemed like it was starving for fuel. I had done a full tune up 500 miles before with all new parts after which it had improved mpg and had gained a little power.

I checked the points and they were fine. Checked the plugs and all 4 new plugs were black and sooty. Other than #3, even the centers were black? Seemed to be running rich, right? Yet the car was running great and the last fill up was the best mpg since I've had it. Cleaned them up and went for a test drive. No difference, I still had the same issue.

Turned out that the choke was not completely opening??? I adjusted the choke to so it would fully open when warmed up and that took care of the problem. I understand how that would mess up the fuel/air mixture, but why all of a sudden? It had been running great all summer?

I also adjusted the carb to reduce the fuel a bit.
Might there be more going on here? I plan to check the plugs again in a few weeks to see if they are still getting black.

Wed Sep 18, 2024 3:06 am

Marc, on our cars we get fairly uneven fuel distribution so the differences you are seeing I'd call typical. If you want to have a go a more accurate plug reading you need to make a full throttle blast and cut the ignition, coast to a stop and pull a plug. I like a bit of a hill to load up the engine a bit.
If you leave the engine running when you get off the gas the plugs will soot up too quickly to get a decent reading, though it will tell you what you idle fuel mixture is up to.
Plug reading is a great tool to improve performance/economy at very little cost :) here's a good video for an overview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MecCoercp-s
to get a reasonable idea you can look down the plug with a torch and a 10x ocular rather than cut it open.

Tue Oct 15, 2024 7:27 am

Getting in a few late summer rides. I once had a remote control model of a Piper Cub as I think they are a beautiful plane. I met a local who has one of similar vintage to Regatta which he equipped with pontoons for water landings.

A chilly 45 degree ride with the top down. Wasn't the best day for a ride with the top down, but Regatta had not been out for 2 weeks so I dressed up for the weather and took her out. I'll have to put the top up for the rest of the season.

Tue Oct 15, 2024 9:02 am

Nice photo's 8)
I follow a FB group "Aviation & Automobiles"
I think they would love see those pics.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/370593103578526

Tue Oct 15, 2024 11:51 am

I was perusing the classifieds and noticed some NOS Ghia Pontoon floats and they were OG paint Regatta Blue!!...you may be interested, or not. ;)

Tue Oct 15, 2024 12:10 pm

kingkarmann wrote: Nice photo's 8)
I follow a FB group "Aviation & Automobiles"
I think they would love see those pics.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/370593103578526

I don't ever do anything on FB but you're welcome to put the picture on that group if you want. There's something about vintage cars and planes that just make great pictures.

Tue Oct 15, 2024 12:11 pm

c21darrel wrote: I was perusing the classifieds and noticed some NOS Ghia Pontoon floats and they were OG paint Regatta Blue!!...you may be interested, or not. ;)

Now wouldn't that make quite a photo!! :lol:

Tue Oct 15, 2024 6:23 pm

Great photo op! I hear you about the top up. Mine went up Sunday :(

Wed Oct 16, 2024 5:17 am

Marcdeb wrote: kingkarmann wrote: Nice photo's 8)
I follow a FB group "Aviation & Automobiles"
I think they would love see those pics.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/370593103578526

There's something about vintage cars and planes that just make great pictures.

Agree!

Mon Jun 30, 2025 5:09 am

Vermont had some nice early spring weather so I had the car on the road by mid April this year. That's the earliest I've been able to get it out. Have clocked over 200 miles so far.

Mon Jun 30, 2025 6:16 am

Marcdeb wrote: Vermont had some nice early spring weather so I had the car on the road by mid April this year. That's the earliest I've been able to get it out. Have clocked over 200 miles so far.

Beautiful as always!
You are very fortunate to live in that area of the country.
The congestion in our neck of the woods makes it difficult to enjoy the drive as I would like.
Maybe a tad jealous :lol:

Mon Jun 30, 2025 6:27 am

Thanks King. I restored a 61 Pontiac Tempest coupe 30 years ago and when I was done, I was nervous that it would get damaged so other than car shows, it sat in the garage until I finally sold it. This time around, I decided in advance that this would be to enjoy and not to sit in the garage. So yes, Vermont has some advantages for driving around in an old classic car. Although on the flip side, I have very limited opportunities for decent car shows.