Example of Overpriced Ghias & Ghia Parts

[sputnick60]

[craigolio1]

I went to look at this 1969 Ghia in St. Catherine’s Ontario.

I texted the owner before hand and she told me what she knew about the history. Send me some more pics of specific areas of the car I wanted to see. She said it was a barn find. Restored in 2019 she thought. She bought it in 2022 and doesn’t drive it much.. wasn’t prepared for what was involved in owning a vintage vehicle. She is asking $28k CDN. Intel I got from her neighbours friend (how I found out about the car) says she paid $20k for it and really just wants to get her initial investment back. From the pics she sent me I could see some oddities, like diamond plate instead of floor pans. But it’s only an hour away so I had to go look. I brought a friend of mine who is a master metal worker and restores Austin Healeys. He’s owned several VWs as well.

I’m talking with the owner and her husband while my buddy looks all over the car. We jack it up and he goes under it. Diamond plate floors riveted in, the whole under body covered in tar. Obvious body filler on fenders, doors, rear quarter. Not properly sanded with pits in places and waves in other places. Cracks in other places. Inside the rear right fender where you’d feel a lip was completely flush with the lip, it had so much filler and, and then tar on the inside. Drips in the paint all over. Missing door and rear deck lid rubber trim with some rust starting. Her son had backed it into a post and there’s a big crack in the bumper. During the restoration the bumpers had a liberal coating of body filler and you could tell. The crack I had seen in photos previously and was an oddity that was explained when she told me what happened. Drivers seat doesn’t move forward or back. She said they had to fix it permanently in her position. Windshield delaminating in the corners. Oil soaked cardboard under the car. Heater channels disconnected and heated seats installed on a stock generator. Seat heater has a 30A fuse. Owner says the lights dim all the time and the battery won’t stay charged. She had the generator replaced but it didn’t help. I wonder why with seat heaters? I asked why she didn’t put an alternator in? She didn’t know that was a thing. Carpets are worn. There’s a mouse nest under the back seat right beside all of the heated seat wiring and relays and such. Watch out if they’ve been munching on wires hiden from view. So much play in the steering it was, I’ll say exciting to drive. Clutch way out of adjustment. It ran well though. Fired right up.

I feel bad for her. She bought this car on an impulse buy at the end of the Covid craze on her line of credit. She way over paid for it then. She seams to think that in a time of out of control intrest rates that it’s appreciated by $8000 from what she paid. I don’t think she’s aware of all of the issues. She had to leave and left me with the husband. I tried to discuss the issues but he had a zoom meeting in 5 minutes and basically told me to make an offer or get lost. I’m wondering if they’ve been hearing the same from others and are awakening to the troubled condition of the car.

At least it’s a sunny day and I got to drive a Ghia with my buddy and go for lunch.
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I'm the new guy. Thanks for your patience.
1970 Ghia Convertable - Restoration in progress.

Link to my build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=637602

Located in the Toronto area.

[Marcdeb]

Sadly, someone who doesn't know what their looking at, will eventually buy it and regret it. Most any car can be expected to have some issues, but to purposely sell a car at such a ridiculous price, to unsuspecting buyers is shameful.
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Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[craigolio1]

[EverettB]

Agree with yours and the other comments.

This part grabbed my eye:

[craigolio1]

[kingkarmann]

[RickS]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2716606

Grossly overpriced imho.

This car needs every panel on the car repaired, and that’s just what I can see in the photos.

[notchboy]

[kingkarmann]

Overpriced at $139,500 ?
Maybe....... But maybe not

Regardless, it certainly looks to be a museum piece.

1957

https://hymanltd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/7835_1.jpg

[John Moxon]

[sputnick60]

full link here
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7835-1957-volkswagen-karmann-ghia/
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'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[John Moxon]

[kingkarmann]

[John Moxon]

I'm conflicted Mark. The story has much in common with my '58 but I've never been tempted to embark on a full restoration. It goes against most of which I value in my Ghia, there's a visual history at play in an original condition car. For me it was down to the first owner to call the tune...I just add my mark rather than change anything.
I'm not saying the full restoration is right or wrong, it's just different. To maximise the value of my '58 I'd just have to find someone who views the car the same as I do.
_________________
John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Marcdeb]

[John Moxon]

[Marcdeb]

[kingkarmann]

I bought my coupe 28 years ago. It had absolutely no provenance.
The thing had most likely turned hands more times than a Las Vegas call girl.
After investing nine years of blood sweat & tears there is no way I would let it go.
Lisa Meier’s former 67 convertible is just so special. I still have a hard time believing I’m the caretaker.
Lisa had a unique vision when she restored it. Much originality was preserved. It feels like a time capsule. My spouse loves it as much as I do.
I do agree that the soul of Mrs. Browns Ghia was lost when it was restored but I’m not sure it matters to a potential buyer looking for a correct lowlight.
That being said do get excited when I see exceptional numbers being asked for Ghia’s that mirror the ones in our garages.
Based on some fairly recent sales of well sorted Ghia’s maybe we have to rethink what is overpriced.
I still think this is the right topic to post it in.
Since this is a dealer sale and not a public auction we won’t know what it ended up selling for.

[kingkarmann]

And then there is this if it is to be believed
https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1903715/1964...lina-27615
Probably not overpriced.