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pbaptist Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2005 Posts: 1204 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:28 pm Post subject: Research on Sport Ghia (Special edition from 1973) |
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I recently bought a sport ghia to make my collection of special edition ghia's complete. (I now have the 66 Pigalle, the 66 Teak and the 73 sport ghia)
There has been different topics here on the samba about the sport ghia, but there was little known about the survivors of this special edition. I did some research in the last couple of weeks and had some nice findings.
First let me point you on the sport ghia topics that are allready started here on thesamba
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331800
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=268587
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=99896
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=292316
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=510545
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=443155
Thanks to these topics, I was able to contact some other owners and asked about their cars. Further research on internet also gave me some extra info and cars.
Very interesting is that there are two types of striping. The ""thick" striping and a "thin" striping.
The Thick striping is a 2 cm wide striping that goes from the front all rond the back of the car. Around the chrome side trim the striping is in between the two chrome trims and also underneath it. This striping goes all the way to the back even behind the rear wheels.
The "Thin" striping starts big at the front, but gets smaller to the rear windscreen and this striping is also between the chrome side trims and not below it. Also no striping in the part behind the rear wheel.
When you look at the overview of all the cars (and some old pictures of the cars), you can see that almost all the coupe have the thick striping and all the convertibles have the thin striping. (some cars have been repainted and lost there original stripings, or in other cases two coupe's were repainted with thin striping, but had originally the thick striping). So it looks like the striping for the coupe was different than for the convertible
But, also all the known VIN's of the cabrio's are later than all the known VIN's of the coupe. So it is also very well possible that there is an "early striping and a "late" striping.
I have currently the birth dates for only two cars and these shows that the Sport Ghia's were made in a very small period at the end of march and beginning of april.
If anybody has some more info about this special edition, let me know.
Regards
Patrick _________________ Dutch Karmann-Ghia and coachbuild lover.
1* Karmann Ghia Coupe (1966 Teak)
2* Karmann Ghia Convertible (1958, 1971)
4* Rometsch Lawrence (nr 534, 555, 558 and 561)
Karmann-Ghia Lowlight page and registry
Karmann-Ghia Collectibles database |
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vwclap Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2004 Posts: 519 Location: Qc, Canada
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 3:12 am Post subject: |
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I asked for the birth certificate of our Sport Ghia. I am waiting now from VW. I will let you know when I'll receive it.
These Ghia were only sold in the US originally, right?
Do you have the original location when sold new of the dealership of some of these cars. East coast, west coast? _________________ Claude
cox 1956, 1962 et 1975
Split panel 1963
Samba 21 fenetres 1966
Ghia 1968
Sport Ghia 73
West 1970
Jetta 1992
Jetta TDI 2015
West Multivan 2002 |
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Kmolenda Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2013 Posts: 309 Location: Cottage Grove Mn
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:51 am Post subject: |
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I saw one of these cruising down I494 in Minneapolis the other day. Not sure if it is a clone or not but you may want to contact the Twin Cities VW Club to see if the owner is a member. |
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vwclap Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2004 Posts: 519 Location: Qc, Canada
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Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:31 am Post subject: |
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vwclap wrote: |
I asked for the birth certificate of our Sport Ghia. I am waiting now from VW. I will let you know when I'll receive it.
These Ghia were only sold in the US originally, right?
Do you have the original location when sold new of the dealership of some of these cars. East coast, west coast? |
Built on March 30th
Delivered to Jacksonville on April 5th
Original engine
Saturn Yellow
Option 5 sport Wheel 4.5 S976
option ??? M002
option lockable glovebox lid M054 _________________ Claude
cox 1956, 1962 et 1975
Split panel 1963
Samba 21 fenetres 1966
Ghia 1968
Sport Ghia 73
West 1970
Jetta 1992
Jetta TDI 2015
West Multivan 2002 |
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pbaptist Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2005 Posts: 1204 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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Yesterday, I finally got my Sport Ghia and today I drove it in Delft.
Build on 23 march 1973, left factory on 30 march 1973, destination Los Amgeles, USA
The options on my car were:
M002 US - Ausstattung
M027 Erfullung Abgasvorschriften
M054 abschliessbares Ablagefach
M976 Sportfelgen 41/2 J * 15
_________________ Dutch Karmann-Ghia and coachbuild lover.
1* Karmann Ghia Coupe (1966 Teak)
2* Karmann Ghia Convertible (1958, 1971)
4* Rometsch Lawrence (nr 534, 555, 558 and 561)
Karmann-Ghia Lowlight page and registry
Karmann-Ghia Collectibles database |
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Altema Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2010 Posts: 2903 Location: Lower Michigan
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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Congratulations, looks nice! I see you have an unusual trailer hitch... what brand is it and what does it mount to? (If you don't mind my asking) |
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KGCoupe Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2005 Posts: 3580 Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:30 am Post subject: |
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pbaptist wrote: |
Yesterday, I finally got my Sport Ghia and today I drove it in Delft.
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From what I can see in the background, it looks like the town is crowded with Karmann Ghias.
That Sport Ghia looks great! Congratulations on the find. |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13952 Location: Southampton U.K.
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retrowagen Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2004 Posts: 1856
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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Congratulations, it looks like another beautiful Type 14 for your collection, Patrick.
Did the Sportfelgen go missing? It appears you have standard wheels. _________________ David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club |
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vwclap Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2004 Posts: 519 Location: Qc, Canada
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Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 2:42 am Post subject: |
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pbaptist wrote: |
Yesterday, I finally got my Sport Ghia and today I drove it in Delft.
Build on 23 march 1973, left factory on 30 march 1973, destination Los Amgeles, USA
The options on my car were:
M002 US - Ausstattung
M027 Erfullung Abgasvorschriften
M054 abschliessbares Ablagefach
M976 Sportfelgen 41/2 J * 15
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Alsmost the same options except the M027 that is related to West coast car for pollution. Both our Ghias were built a couple of days apart.
Congratulations, a nice car
Claude _________________ Claude
cox 1956, 1962 et 1975
Split panel 1963
Samba 21 fenetres 1966
Ghia 1968
Sport Ghia 73
West 1970
Jetta 1992
Jetta TDI 2015
West Multivan 2002 |
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dltracy Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 92 Location: Mesa
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Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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On the subject of striping. Width, placement, etc. This is my car. VIN #1432620122. Which is actually pictured twice in your post above. The top left picture is my car, and the third picture in the second row, or the last picture in the second row. Those are both pictures of the same car.
Here are a couple of pictures of it in 1979. This is what it looked when my parents got married and this is the original paint, and original striping.
These two are from sometime about 1996-1997. This is after at least one re-paint, and at this point, the original decal stickers were removed and replaced with paint. As you can see, the point where the stripes swoop downwards at the rear quarter panel had been extended, or elongated vs. the original pictures above.
These are a few of the most recent pictures of my car. I repainted it back in 2007-ish, and when I did, I studied a few pictures of other Sport Ghias that I could find online and had my painter paint the stripes according to the pictures that I could find. As you can see, I deleted the stripes between the rear wheel and the bumper, I added the black rocker panel, I made the stripe that goes between the two chrome trim pieces thinner, and the point where the stripes swoop down near the rear quarter panel was raised back up.
I have another query to throw into the mix here. I know for sure that the first couple of pictures that I posted are exactly how my car looked when it left the dealership. My grandfather bought it new, and at that point, it had never had any paint work. But with so many slight variations, it makes me wonder…
Does anyone know if these cars left the Karmann factory with the stripes attached, or did they get installed by the dealers? Or… Possibly the stripes around the top and down each front fender were all the same, but some dealers decided to embellish the lower section by custom painting it. Which might explain why some of the cars have a thick stripe where the chrome trim is, and some of the cars have black rocker panels, and some have stripes between the bumper and rear wheels, etc.
Does anyone have a Sport Ghia that still has it's original stickers? If so, are your lower sections stickers as well?
Also… Here's another one that I owned. As I told you in private message, I'm attempting to find the VIN but, if you want to add this car to your list of Sport Ghia pictures, feel free.
I bought this Sport Ghia from the second owner. When he bought it, it was the original Yellow/Black. He thought that was annoying, so he painted it beige. I bought it with the sole intention of returning it to it's original paint color and selling it to someone else.
this is what it looked like when I bought it.
And here's what it looked like when I sold it.
Keep in mind… All four pictures are of the same car. The last two, in the proper Yellow/Black is what it looks like currently. I sold this car to someone that lives on the west side of Phoenix. I haven't heard from them since, and I haven't seen the car since I sold it a few years ago. I'm hoping that it's still on the road and still has it's proper look. If I can find any records of the car from when I owned it I'll post the VIN so you can keep it in your list. |
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KGCoupe Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2005 Posts: 3580 Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 7:59 am Post subject: |
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dltracy wrote: |
...
this is what it looked like when I bought it.
And here's what it looked like when I sold it.
Keep in mind… All four pictures are of the same car. The last two, in the proper Yellow/Black is what it looks like currently. I sold this car to someone that lives on the west side of Phoenix. I haven't heard from them since, and I haven't seen the car since I sold it a few years ago. I'm hoping that it's still on the road and still has it's proper look. If I can find any records of the car from when I owned it I'll post the VIN so you can keep it in your list. |
Very cool cars with a unique story behind them.
I'm just curious about a couple things.
You mention that some of the Sport Ghias do not have the stripe between the rear wheel arch and the rear bumper - do you think that they were made that way, or was it perhaps the result of some damage repair some time after delivery?
Also, why did you choose to paint the lower portion of that section black on the car you flipped?
I assume it was an extension of the black rocker panel idea, but I notice that it is not done that way on your "keeper" (at least not in the photos posted), and I'm curious why you chose to throw yet another variation out there.
I'm not "judging", mind you - I'm just very curious by nature and tend to overthink just about everything to a fault. |
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kevin3406 Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2010 Posts: 296 Location: pacolet, s.c.
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 8:58 am Post subject: |
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to the OP: you mention a 66 pigalle, and a 66 teak. are these ghias? also, was there not also an "azure" in 1966? fascinating thread, btw. i regretfully have in the past "unsported" a few ghias. i mean, who knew? hindsight= 20/20. thank you for sharing! _________________ [insert various aircooled vehicles here] if the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.- Red Green |
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dltracy Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 92 Location: Mesa
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 9:09 am Post subject: |
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KGCoupe wrote: |
Very cool cars with a unique story behind them.
I'm just curious about a couple things.
You mention that some of the Sport Ghias do not have the stripe between the rear wheel arch and the rear bumper - do you think that they were made that way, or was it perhaps the result of some damage repair some time after delivery?
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That was my same thought… I wonder if the lower stripes were not a part of the original kit, and most dealers added the lower stripes after receiving them from the factory. Which might explain why there are so many variations on them.
KGCoupe wrote: |
Also, why did you choose to paint the lower portion of that section black on the car you flipped?
I assume it was an extension of the black rocker panel idea, but I notice that it is not done that way on your "keeper" (at least not in the photos posted), and I'm curious why you chose to throw yet another variation out there.
I'm not "judging", mind you - I'm just very curious by nature and tend to overthink just about everything to a fault. |
Honestly, I never noticed that until I posted these pictures and the conversation of the different stripes came up. When I bought that other car. I brought it to my same painter that did my car. I told him to paint it the same way. I don't recall asking him to do it that way, I think he just did it that way cause he thought it made sense. He painted the second car a few years after the first car and was going largely off of memory. |
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dltracy Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 92 Location: Mesa
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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It was because of these pictures that I decided to paint my rockers black, why I opted for the one single stipe between the two chrome trim pieces, and why I decided not to paint any stripes between the rear wheels and back bumper.
Supposedly.. these are two pictures were taken in 1972 and were from the Karmann Archive in Osnabrueck. Since this seems to be the only somewhat official documentation that I have ever seen on the validity of the Sport Ghia. I decided to pattern my car after this one.
But since this is a 1972 picture, and the stripes are only on half the car, it's quite possible that when the cars were actually produced in 1973, they decided to change the bottom stripe pattern slightly. This car also does not have the proper wheels, and it appears to not have the proper steering wheel either. If they decided to change the wheels and steering wheel, then they could have just as easily changed the stripe pattern. |
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Disc Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2009 Posts: 556 Location: Europe
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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kevin3406 wrote: |
to the OP: you mention a 66 pigalle, and a 66 teak. are these ghias? also, was there not also an "azure" in 1966? |
+1 ? _________________ The glory never gets old, just need new paint.
-------------------------------------------------
Nick |
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KGCoupe Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2005 Posts: 3580 Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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dltracy wrote: |
It was because of these pictures that I decided to paint my rockers black, why I opted for the one single stipe between the two chrome trim pieces, and why I decided not to paint any stripes between the rear wheels and back bumper.
Supposedly.. these are two pictures were taken in 1972 and were from the Karmann Archive in Osnabrueck. Since this seems to be the only somewhat official documentation that I have ever seen on the validity of the Sport Ghia. I decided to pattern my car after this one.
But since this is a 1972 picture, and the stripes are only on half the car, it's quite possible that when the cars were actually produced in 1973, they decided to change the bottom stripe pattern slightly. This car also does not have the proper wheels, and it appears to not have the proper steering wheel either. If they decided to change the wheels and steering wheel, then they could have just as easily changed the stripe pattern. |
Knowing where your inspiration came from, your choices make a ton of sense to me.
I have to say that IMO, the changes that you made improve the overall look of the Sport Ghia and give it a "lighter" feel.
I particularly like the way that the black rockers even out the height of the body profile from front to back.
If you use your eye to draw a line across the top of the black portion of the rocker, that line will continue forward and match the bottom of the body portion in front of the front wheel, and also continue rearward and match the bottom of the body portion in back of the back wheel.
That's why I questioned the added portion of black behind the rear wheel of that second car- it ruined the flow of that line because it extended too far up.
I have to say that I think you are obviously a pretty dedicated Ghia guy based on the fact that once you realized that tan car was originally a Sport Ghia, you took on restoring it back that way even though you didn't really need another one.
Also, how cool is it that not only are you lucky enough to own such a rare Ghia, but it also happens to be one that has been handed down from family. |
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dltracy Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 92 Location: Mesa
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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KGCoupe wrote: |
I have to say that I think you are obviously a pretty dedicated Ghia guy based on the fact that once you realized that tan car was originally a Sport Ghia, you took on restoring it back that way even though you didn't really need another one.
Also, how cool is it that not only are you lucky enough to own such a rare Ghia, but it also happens to be one that has been handed down from family. |
Well… I actually made some money on that car, and I didn't actually fully restore it. I just painted it back to the original color. Plus, I stole some parts for my car. If you look at my car in the pictures that I posted from the mid 90's. My chrome trim on the side was missing. Also, I needed a new front bumper. Sooo… I'm not a total saint. I got some free parts for my car made a couple bucks, but also saved a Sport Ghia at the same time.
Also… Not only was my car handed down through the family, but it was my parents get-a-way car from their wedding (see picture above), It was also the car that my parents brought me home from the hospital in, and it was the getaway car for my wife and I after our wedding.
We are about to have our first kid, probably next week. Unfortunately, we will not be bringing her home from the hospital in this Ghia. Seeing that it has no back seat an all, and it's not very safe and stuff. |
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KGCoupe Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2005 Posts: 3580 Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 6:47 am Post subject: |
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dltracy wrote: |
KGCoupe wrote: |
I have to say that I think you are obviously a pretty dedicated Ghia guy based on the fact that once you realized that tan car was originally a Sport Ghia, you took on restoring it back that way even though you didn't really need another one.
Also, how cool is it that not only are you lucky enough to own such a rare Ghia, but it also happens to be one that has been handed down from family. |
Well… I actually made some money on that car, and I didn't actually fully restore it. I just painted it back to the original color. Plus, I stole some parts for my car. If you look at my car in the pictures that I posted from the mid 90's. My chrome trim on the side was missing. Also, I needed a new front bumper. Sooo… I'm not a total saint. I got some free parts for my car made a couple bucks, but also saved a Sport Ghia at the same time.
Also… Not only was my car handed down through the family, but it was my parents get-a-way car from their wedding (see picture above), It was also the car that my parents brought me home from the hospital in, and it was the getaway car for my wife and I after our wedding.
We are about to have our first kid, probably next week. Unfortunately, we will not be bringing her home from the hospital in this Ghia. Seeing that it has no back seat an all, and it's not very safe and stuff. |
No back seat must have made the conception a bit more challenging, huh?
But hey - if your parents could manage, then I'm sure you probably figured it out as well. |
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vwclap Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2004 Posts: 519 Location: Qc, Canada
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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DLTracy, nice story and nice cars. I really like the thin stripe on the fender.
Here the story of our sport ghia, it was repainted sometimes before it ended in a small car museum near home and originally came from Florida. It spent -15-20 years in the museum before somebody from the museum called me to offer a 73 Ghia 2 years ago because I like Vws and the owner was thinning his collection due to his age...I was not interrested in a late model Ghia until he sent me some pics last summer...The Ghia was on mag Wheel but with the right steering Wheel, stripe etc... Me and a friend made an offer that was accepted. We rolled the Ghia out and with a good tune up, it was on the road again. We changed the wheels for sport Wheel (4.5 front and 914 5.5 rear) I know that 5.5 are wrong but.. We really enjoy driving it and it is an head turner! The Ghia is not perfect but a really nice driver.
In the museum
and now
with my 68 and wife on a Sunday afternoon!
_________________ Claude
cox 1956, 1962 et 1975
Split panel 1963
Samba 21 fenetres 1966
Ghia 1968
Sport Ghia 73
West 1970
Jetta 1992
Jetta TDI 2015
West Multivan 2002 |
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