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Sat Sep 13, 2025 5:49 am

I am restoring a 1973, Right Hand Drive Karmann Ghia and am now working on the body. I have just about stripped it and will be prepping, repairing and spraying in time. I will obviously then ‘put it back together’ and will need a new wiring loom (it has been botched in the past).

This is the question:

Is there anyone that is known to produce a RHD wiring loom set (i.e. all the wire needed)? Or is there anyone who makes looms? Or is there anyone who can help? I am based in the UK, but would go abroad if necessary. Thanks for your help.

Sat Sep 13, 2025 11:33 am

Mort
Perhaps Californianclassics in the UK may be the source to go to. I’ve ordered RHD Beetle loom from VWHeritage. The positive is that the wire colors and gauge are correct but the connectors are poor quality and poorly crimped and came without any instructions.

Wiring works in the US produces a very good quality loom. I bought one for my 65 KG but it’s a LHD - but I had to order it thru a reseller. You may want to see if they will do a RHD version.

Byas

Sat Sep 13, 2025 4:46 pm

Try these guys from Australia…
https://www.vinwire.com.au/home

… but you’ll have sketch out the loom for them because they’re unlikely to have the plans for such a late model year. Most KGs in Australia are 60 to 62.
I got mine from them but asked for the wires to be not crimped and did them myself to exactly the right length.

Nicholas

Mon Sep 15, 2025 8:13 am

Thanks both... unfortunately both do not do specific year plus RHD... I'll keep on :cry: looking!

Mon Sep 15, 2025 8:35 am

How bad is the existing loom?

Tue Sep 16, 2025 1:22 am

Not being an expert, but I would say average to poor, ie, has pieces missing, not connected, broken connectors, overspray. Having said that, I would think its ok to duplicate. I have taken it out (and labelled what I could).

Tue Sep 16, 2025 5:07 am

Connectors can be replaced to factory spec. And overspray can be cleaned. Buying used harness bits or some wire in correct colors can fix cut off branches of the loom. That may be the way to go if you want to keep it stock. Can help you with advice on this as you go along.

Wed Sep 17, 2025 4:42 am

bnam, That is very kind of you; thank you.

I might well have to go that way. I do want it stock, with a couple of add on's; 12v power point (probably cigarette lighter type point), radio, electric window screen washer (water) etc.

As I said, I am in the process of stripping down, so will revert in probably 6-9 months!

Thu Sep 18, 2025 1:02 am

If you are going to make your own get yourself a decent crimp tool and crimps, like this one and a bunch more brass crimps. You'll find you can do most of the fixing yourself. It's not rocket science. (rockets use better quality wire with connectors that work in a vacuum)

The loom is in 3 main sections. a) fuse box to rear , b) fuse box to left front and c) fuse box to right front. So you can easily work those sections to patch up the damage. Behind the dash is made up of small looms ( like the wipers to wiper switch) or individual wires.

If you find the black outer sheaths are in good condition you might be able to re use them. Where individual wires are damaged it is possible to extract those from the bundle and replace them with a new wire. In replacing individual wires, it might be safer to extract the whole bundle from the sheath rather the exerting too much force and over stretching and potentially breaking wires.

Here is a diagram I made up for the front two looms. I had to send these to VinWire because he wasn't aware that the cable lengths changed on a Ghia in 64 because the exit through the inner guard changed to a notch rather than a hole.

Dimensions in mm

A board with nails at the break points will help get the lengths right. You run them from start to finish and then insert them into the sections of sheath. There are various sizes of sheath based on how many wires pass through. Copy the lengths directly off your old loom. The pro-wire makers have templates for most makes and models. Sometimes the templates are wrong and often mistakes propagate. Copying off you old loom will be the most accurate.

New sheath of various diameters is easily available, even on Amazon

If the wire has a stripe you can get some of these markers to add the stripe colour you need. If the stripe is twisted, you can emulate that length by length by anchoring one end and rotating it in a drill chuck after the marking paint has dried. Hold the wire straight with a bit of tension while doing the twist.

Hope you enjoy these ideas and are encouraged to make an attempt.

Nicholas