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thuestis
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2012
Posts: 80
Location: brentwood, tn
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 Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2016 1:03 pm Post subject: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karmann Ghia convertible |
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Hi,
I just recently took possession of my father in law's 1970 convertible. It is a very complete, original , almost completely rust free car. That being said, it is in need of restoration. I am going to have a professional help with the restoration, in particular the paint and the mechanicals. I plan to make take the car back to as new condition, but keeping it stock and consistent with how it came from the factory. Would welcome advice on the following parts for the car.
1. Best source for German Square weave carpet kits.
2. Best source for weather strip kits.
3. best source for hartz cloth convertible tops
4. Best source of seat upholstery and interior panels
5. Best source for dash pads
Guys, I acknowledge I am asking a lot. Thought this forum and all its members would be a really good place to start.
Thanks for any guidance or suggestions you are willing to provide.
Tim |
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63 vwnotch
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002
Posts: 734
Location: Riverside,CA Econo Motors
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| Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2016 1:18 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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best advice I can give you from previous experience is to save EVERYTHING !!! some things you may be able to recondition and reuse,most aftermarket parts are substandard...
make a parts/cost list and add 40% for the inevitable...
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BUS WANTED: 13 window BUS any year considered.. |
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jason_hamilton
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Joined: February 07, 2003
Posts: 1118
Location: Abbotsford, BC
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John Moxon 
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Joined: March 07, 2004
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Location: Southampton U.K.
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thuestis
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2012
Posts: 80
Location: brentwood, tn
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| Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 3:29 am Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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Guys,
Thank you for the replies with guidance.
This wiliness to reach out and help a total stranger is what makes the VW community so cool.
I will post pictures of progress as I have updates.
Thanks again!!
Tim  |
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rcooled
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008
Posts: 2507
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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Sewfine is also a great supplier for seat covers and will do custom work too. I like them better than TMI and used them for all my VWs. And I agree with Jason that Newton Commercial is also an excellent source for interiors...especially for carpet.
http://www.sewfineproducts.com/
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'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone) |
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c21darrel
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Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8211
Location: San Dimas
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thuestis
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2012
Posts: 80
Location: brentwood, tn
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| Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2020 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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Its been a while since I posted an update to my thread on the restoration of my wife's 1970 convertible. We are finally getting close. Painting should be complete by end of February. I hope to have the car completed by early summer.
Attached is a "before" picture and a couple of our progress.
The person doing the restoration for us is fabulous! A true perfectionist. He however does not do convertible tops.
Have any of you used a convertible top restorer that you would highly recommend? Suggestions or advice is GREATLY appreciated!
thank you very much & Happy new year. |
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NOVA Airhead
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2005
Posts: 5221
Location: Richmond, VA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2020 11:18 am Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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I had a 70 Ghia Autostick that same color. I really liked the way that color looked on that car.
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thuestis
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2012
Posts: 80
Location: brentwood, tn
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| Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 4:57 am Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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Simply asking again.
Does anyone have suggestions for a convertible top restoration?
Surely someone has had a good experience with a vendor they can share.
Thanks!!! |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:54 am Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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| thuestis wrote: |
Simply asking again.
Does anyone have suggestions for a convertible top restoration?
Surely someone has had a good experience with a vendor they can share.
Thanks!!! |
Five years ago you'd have been well advised to contact Vince, aka "ghiaddict", but he hasn't logged on here since 2014. So, seeing as you're in the Volunteer State you might ask for advice from Chuck over in Virginia https://chucksconvertibleparts.com. |
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Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11005
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| Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:56 am Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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When I did my 60 bug vert I bought everything from Chuck, I did the install myself.
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Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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jeffrey8164
Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2018
Posts: 3819
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 11:07 am Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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Back when I was poor, the top is what made me decide on a coupe.
Nevertheless, if you still have the original, any good upholsterer can use it as a pattern. The bows are the hard part. Originally made of wood.
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Clatter
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2003
Posts: 7549
Location: Santa Cruz
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| Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 12:35 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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| thuestis wrote: |
| I hope to have the car completed by early summer.. |
2016! 
Gotta love the real timeline for these projects.
I was watching one of those car resto shows on TV last night,
They restored the car in under an hour! 
FWIW,
If that were my car,
I'd go on the hunt for all of the top parts.
Get everything you think you might need in one place and have at it.
Then,
When you get bogged down,
Or feel in over your head,
Find a good local (automotive) upholstery shop to finish the install.
While most auto upholstery places won't know about your VW or where to get parts,
Their expertise in the finer points of a proper install might prove invaluable.
Chances are there's someone in your area who can do convertible tops,
You just have to set the stage..
JMHO..
Oh,
And,
Nice job on the resto so far!
Lovely to see a car being done properly.
Too many spray-can restos out there these days.
Congrats on taking the time to do these things correctly.. 
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NOVA Airhead
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2005
Posts: 5221
Location: Richmond, VA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:57 am Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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| thuestis wrote: |
Simply asking again.
Does anyone have suggestions for a convertible top restoration?
Surely someone has had a good experience with a vendor they can share.
Thanks!!! |
I don't know anyone in your area. However if you get the kit from Chuck's and provide the tutorial here on this site any reputable shop in your area that does convertible tops should be able to handle it. Look for a shop that does high end tops like Mercedes which are similar in construction. I did the top on my car with the Chuck's kit and the tutorial here and had never done a top before. It came out great.
Aside from that look for a local VW specialty shop or VW club in your area. They should be able to point you to someone nearby.
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sputnick60
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Joined: July 22, 2007
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Location: In Molinya Orbit
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thuestis
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2012
Posts: 80
Location: brentwood, tn
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2020 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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More progress on my wife's 1970 convertible. Still hoping to find a vendor that does convertible top restoration.
Hope to have the Ghia back by the fall. |
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flghiaprs
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2011
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 11:00 am Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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| Wow nice setup and nice Ghia. |
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rcooled
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008
Posts: 2507
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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That's a great looking car...very nice job 
_________________
'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone) |
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PATBUG686
Samba Member
Joined: October 31, 2013
Posts: 1
Location: Ontario Canada
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| Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2020 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for restoration of a 1970 Karman Ghia convertible |
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Hey ! thuestis,
Very nice resto ....
If you didn't have already 
Pat |
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