Ghia vert rear shelf fabrication and dimensions questions 63

[Big Mike Cbad]

Have a few somewhat complicated questions about re-installing the rear shelf metal in my 63 vert. It was chopped out by the PO to try to convert it to a glass window car and I’m putting it back together. I found a donor shelf for the car which should be period correct and am getting ready to fab it back into the car, but some of the dimensions need to be confirmed before welding begins so could use some Samba expertise.

The upper shelf protrudes approximately 2” past the lower shelf. The pic is looking straight down from the top shelf to the bottom seat cushion where I drew a line how far over it hung. Is that correct to have that shelf extend past the lower shelf? Looking at other pics of Ghia verts like Nicolas vert, can’t tell because pics are at an angle.

The upper shelf is about 11" above the seat frame area. Anyone know if that is correct. My rear shelf is 12” front to back. Does that seem correct and did the different Ghias have different sized shelfs?

Anyone have a pic of how that rear shelf sheet metal interacts with the two hinge covers? The PO folded the original metal hinge covers as seen in the attached pic. He did that as part of his glass window conversion so can’t tell how the tabs and edges mount and interact with the shelf to create the rear rectangular box that gets upholstered. Based on the hinge covers I have which are original, they almost appear to be 2” too long in the back which brings me back to the first question about how far the top shelf protrudes over the lower shelf. Any pics of that area put together without the upholstery? also I added a pic of the sheet metal wings of the shelf float over the wheel well by about an inch. Are they supposed to touch or be welded together?

The vert top frame appears to sit comfortably on the rear shelf when its down (see pic). Also, does anyone know what the drop is from the rim of the rear body metal to the top of that shelf? Mine is 7.5" Again, I used a donor piece (see pic) so it should be correct, but want to confirm.

Last question for now, it appears the sheet metal where the rear body bow is mounted (See pic) may have a slight recess from the body metal its mounted to. Is it supposed to be slightly recessed or perfectly flush 90 degree and not recessed? Again, couldn’t tell from other pics on Samba. My donor piece seemed to have about 1/8” recess.
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1963 ghia convertible project

[sputnick60]

Your guy cut the back section off the side covers.
They are almost the last thing to go on, so you likely won’t see many trial fit pictures of them. Here’s my car where the covers fortuitously appear in a picture of the parcel shelf.

Zoom in and see the three chrome objects in the corner. the top one is the turnbuckle for the cover. The smaller two are chrome dome head screws with cup washers that screw into that folded triangular piece below the shelf’s corners
Nicholas
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'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
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[Big Mike Cbad]

Thanks Nicolas, I thought it would be challenging to see how people connected the hinge covers to the shelf but was hoping someone can dig up a photo.

I'm still trying to confirm if that top shelf should overhang the lower area so added another pic that shows a 2" mark (Black pen line) which is how far it hangs past that lower curved shelf (Both shelfs are painted in primer) so hard to see. You can see that line lands on the seat frame just a few inches behind the seat. Want to make sure my metal is all correct before its welded in. Let me know if that seems familiar to you or maybe someone else has been through it.
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1963 ghia convertible project