Ben's '63 Ghia project (with lots of pics!)

[ernstben]

Long time, no update! I've crossed over 3000 miles in the Ghia since it's been driveable. I still am tweaking things here and there as I go; headlight aiming, front end adjusting, squeak and rattle finding, etc.

Took a couple cell phone photos at the Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Festival a couple weekends back:

One thing that has bugged me since I put it together has been the passenger side fresh air control cable. For those who have never worked with one, it is a solid metal tube with a stiff wire inside that snakes its way behind the dash from the driver's left knee to just behind the passenger wheel well.

The wire in mine just wouldn't slide freely no matter how much lubrication I put down it or how many 100's of times I cycled it. I think it has too many little tiny bends in it to work well anymore:

(straight, white line for reference)

So, I bought a cheap-o bike brake cable:

Drilled a hole in the little rod on the lever:

Ran the cable through the hole and crimped an aluminum piece on the other side to hold it:

Cut it to the right length and viola:

I had set the tension on the rods to be extremely loose when I was fiddling with it before because it was so stiff. Now things operate so smoothly that I need to take it all apart again to give it a little more resistance so it will stay where you set it.

Incidentally, the car is up for sale. I'm ready to take on another project and the wife says one hobby car at a time!
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Ben

'63 Ghia Coupe Project
'59 Panel Project
'56 Ragtop Project

[ernstben]

It was a bittersweet day yesterday: the Ghia left for her new home as part of a wedding business in Beirut, Lebanon.

I had a blast with the project and was definitely torn as I watched her leave on the back of the car hauler. But, I have found that the puzzle and problem-solving aspects of it all is what appeals to me more than actually owning/driving the car once it's "done." I kept having the itch to work on something new, but the $ and garage space to do so was tied up.

So, many, many thanks to everyone who's helped me along the way. Without this site, I never would have been able to do this. On to the next project!

(As an aside, I always wondered why people put "WILL NOT SHIP OVERSEAS" and stuff like that in their ads. Why limit the group of potential purchasers for your car? Well, now that I've done it, I can absolutely understand. The time period between the first email from the buyer to the day the car left my garage was around 2 months. There was the natural mutual distrust involved with exchanging large(ish) sums of money, language barriers, banking regulations, escrow services, import laws, shipping details, timezone calculations, professional inspections, constant fear of scams... heck, I'd even throw in cultural incongruences. The courier he hired got into an accident on his way to meet me at the bank and the car hauler got pulled over 10 miles from my house and detained by the cops. It just goes on and on. And in my situation, everything eventually worked out. I can't imagine the hassle of a situation where things go south. Mostly, it's a huge relief to have the whole situation behind me.)
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Ben

'63 Ghia Coupe Project
'59 Panel Project
'56 Ragtop Project

[kiwighia68]

"But, I have found that the puzzle and problem-solving aspects of it all is what appeals to me more than actually owning/driving the car once it's "done."

The story of my life, Ben. One of my mates used to say, "To Chris a car is not a mode of transport but a project."

Sad to see your beautiful car go, but like a child that grows up and leaves the house, it now becomes someone else's love.
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Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015

[John Moxon]

Sorry to see it go Ben.

A big thanks for your input over the years, I think it safe to say everyone has enjoyed and been inspired by you trials and tribulations...they will live on in our Restorations sticky. Don't be a stranger to the Ghia Forum...experience like yours is invaluable.

Don't be put off selling overseas...they're not always complicated. I bought on a Wednesday, paid on Thursday (electronic bank transfer), car collected and in a dockside warehouse ready for shipping on the Saturday. Finding a good shipping agent is the secret...they do all the complicated stuff.
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John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Mellow Yellow 74]

I just went through your whole thread (well the pictures anyway). You did a great job and I hope mine turns out this good!
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1962 Karmann Ghia
1974 Deluxe Microbus
1985 Caravelle (Vanagon)

[Big Bill]

Great thread, I too usually buy a project and finish it to MY liking. Then after a year or so it goes on the chopping block to make room for the next project. I have found myself lurking/salivating in the Ghia forum way too much the last month or so.