1971 Karmann Ghia Time Machine

[ldsvwguy]

I inherited this Ghia from my brother. It's an early 1970 with a ton of mods from the late 80s.
Early bug headlight buckets, shaved turn signals, shaved trim, gas door, door handles, etc.

Paperwork shows it was painted in 1991 and it was last registered in 92.
Unfortunately after 30+ years most of the parts are gone. I've found a few, but most everything is missing. It does have front seats from an Acura and no rear seats. I'll need to find some seatbelts to match the style too.

I'm working on keeping it true to the 80's. I'm beginning the hunt for Billet things and searching posts of old 1980's cal look builds.

Ideally, lots of billet, color matching everywhere carrying the exterior blue into the interior, one of those multi paneled rear view mirrors, etc.

I do need a glovebox door if anyone has one. I need that so I can get the dash painted.

I am trying to post updates on instagram as a way to stay motivated. Some days it's overwhelming. I am totally out of my element with ghias. I don't know what goes where, what I'm missing, which bolts I need to find, etc.
I was told that it shares parts more with a 70 than a 71 because it's early, but I don't know it that's true. I'm determined to see it through though.

ANY info you can provide from tips to places to get parts would be really helpful.

Instagram: ayvwguy

_________________
"When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car."

[jeffrey8164]

The classifieds here will be your best friend. Glove box doors, hinges, B pillars and window glass a plenty.
The technical section is invaluable as well with the parts books and exploded diagrams.
You’re in the right place here as there are lots of us here who have been there and done that and are willing to help unlike the facebook frass. But you’ve been here a while so I guess you’re aware.
_________________
Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.

“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1)

[Rome]

Instead of finding early Beetle headlamp assemblies, consider Euro-style Porsche 911 from the '70's. The glass lens (repros might be plastic) protrudes more along the top.

'70 and '71 Ghias are mostly the same as to the body. Biggest difference is the door locking mechanism. One of those years has the pull-up door lock "stem" at the upper rear of the door; the other year does not. The big changes to Ghia bodies started with the '72 as to the bumpers, taillamps, and dashboard designs.

Seat belts: Both of those years still utilize manually adjustable "static" lap + shoulder belts. Retractable inertia-reel belts started with the '72 model year.

Since your gas filler door has been welded shut on the right front fender, do you have a gas tank from a thru- '67 Ghia?

With shaved door handles, how do you open the doors from the outside?

Shaved front turn signals... Consider installing the chromed "cone"-style units from '67 - '69. Those are much smaller than the original stock '70 units and look like they belong on the car. Press photo of a '68 with this style-

[ldsvwguy]

I have set of the 911 glass lenses and I do plan to use them. It currently has an earlier gas tank to be filled inside. That's great info about the 72 changes. I have learned that the earlier dash pad does not fit because the air vents are massive on my 71. I was planning on wiring the signals into the parking lights inside the headlight buckets.
_________________
"When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car."