´55 Ghia

[lenny copp]

Few things that separate a true 55 from an early 56

1. Door hinge bolts are a normal couple inches apart for the top one and maybe only 1.2 inch apart for lower ones.

2, 1 piece bumper blades

3. Solid bumper guards

4. 2 indentations under rear seat for chassis number stamp

5. Beetle style front hood seal and rear deck lid seal (has metal lip for them) 56 only had this in front hood
_________________
Lenny Copp
www.classicvws.com

[zwitter53]

Hi Lenny

Thanks for the update on the details.

Heres my collection of rear lights, both late and early style.

The two on the near left are in very good condition and are going on my car. Thanks to Danny Z. from California for selling the parts to me

Regards

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[zwitter53]

Hi

After years without attention, the Ghia is now getting ready for assembly. Still a lot of things I have to take care of, but almost all the parts needed ready.

Regards

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[aerosilver]

Cool, it's been a while Looking good!

[zwitter53]

Yes, too long . I miss driving this beautiful car. But luckily the bodywork and paintjob is still in mint condition. The jobs done +5 years ago had a good quality. In the meanwhile I have found extras and unique items for the car. I´ll post some pictures of these. I hope the Ghia will get back on the road this year.

Regards

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[c21darrel]

[zwitter53]

I´ll try not to to take any more yearlong breaks from updating

Take a look on these pictures:

These rubberparts came with the car. The tunnelmat has perfect cutouts for handbrake, heatregulator and gearshift. But it is to short, it does not go all the way to the backseat and does also have a odd cutout in the front right side. I guess it is not original, but a part that was made to replace the original at some point in time, but did not fit 100 percent. I have not yet figured out, where the smaller rubberpart could fit the car.

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[c21darrel]

Thanks.
Hard to tell from pics...are they tarboards or rubber mats?

[zwitter53]

They are rubber, but not the same texture, thickness or type as for example the rubbermats for the car. It could perhaps be an beetle-item, I can check if it fits my Zwitter-bug in size/length.

Details can be seen better here:

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[c21darrel]

Much better pic! Most of the VW mats i have seen had either a pebbled or ribbed pattern. The diamond pattern looks familiar...but i cant place it.
here are the pieces of a carpet kit. I got nothing.

_________________
GhiaBuild
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481184
1967 DC build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=693583&highlight=67+dc
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[zwitter53]

Well, I don´t think it is an original part, unless I can find some documentation from another 1955 Ghia.
Here is a picture of the other rubber-mats:

The 3 parts at the back are original 1955 parts and quite worn. The 7 other ones on the picture are repro. But when you compare the parts that fit between the firewall and the door, the reproparts are actually to short. It seems to me that they are just cut out of a front rubbermat. But what did they do at the Karmann-factory back then? Were they cut out of some other rubberitem, they used for another car on the productionline? I have not the answer to that question yet.

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[aerosilver]

The tunnel mat looks homemade to me, should be the 'pebbled' finish mat, like the handbrake boot.

Pictures of some original '55 mats.

[zwitter53]

Hi

Thanks for the pictures. I agree, the tunnelmat and handbrakeboot are not original.

But I did find some original paint for the car, although the car has new paint. NOS unopened can. Fits the car or garage, but will not be opened/used

Tomas

_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[zwitter53]

Got a small extra "part" for my car today:

It´s a original christmas and new year card from Petermax Müller, who got my car from new in december 1955. Aparrently it is signed by him.

The car was produced the 22. december 1955 and registered the 29. december 1955, so the card fits the cars dates.

Bought the item on a german auction, nobody were interested, so I got it for 2 dollars. Finally a cheap lowlight-part

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[calexican]

^^^that’s so cool^^^what a great car^^^

[zwitter53]

Hi

Just got an early Ghia-brochure today. It is probably the first swedish version from 1955-56:

Found recently in Germany. Note the white Karmann-logo.

More rare items are currently being shipped to me from the US

Regards

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[zwitter53]

Hi

Got a call today. Some guy asked if I had anything to do with old VW´s......

Well, yes!

He explained that he was clearing out his mothers old house and found some old VW-parts, exhaust pipes, in the garage. They were new/NOS. He told me that he was 54 years old, and that the parts were bought for his parents first car, an aircooled VW, when he was a kid.

It went and picked up the parts:

They have the original VW partnumber, but were produced by the german company Leistritz. They are in their original wrapping and also have the "Made in Western Germany" printed on them. They fit VW´s from 8.55 and onwards, so they fit my Ghia. I will probably not put them on the car, but keep them as NOS parts in my collection.

The company still exists, they still make technical parts, fanblades for the Airbus-engines, for instance.

Regards

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[EverettB]

Awesome vintage wrapping, I'd keep them as-is too
_________________
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"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[zwitter53]

Hi Everett

Yes, I tried to find some other NOS or used exhaust pipes from Leistritz for sale, but no luck. Maybe they are rare, even though they are not original VW parts.

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG

[zwitter53]

Hi

Just got these rare items from US:

Thanks to Jeff W. for letting me buy them and supporting my project

They are originals, but very worn og rusty. Its a left and right version.

I´m not sure if I´m going to restore them. It is possible to do so, but I think I´m going to use them as templates for some new exact replicas.

Regards

Tomas
_________________
52 Split "Zwitter"
55 Karmann Ghia Coupé
65 Karmann Convertible
72 Audi 100 1,8 LS 4d
83 Audi 200 turbo
85 VW Passat Carat
89 Audi Coupé 2,3E, first owner: VW AG