1963 Type 34 Ghia Project "The Rust Queen"

[Peter D.]

If you saw my other post here in the Type 3 forum, I found a Type 34 Ghia nearby and went crazy and bought it. You only live once!

Here it is sitting in my garage. The original color was Pearl White with a black roof:

It obviously doesn't run and needs a full restoration but it is 95% complete and has the original motor and pan. Here's the motor:

There's a problem in the engine bay, the floor rotted so there's no place for the spring to attach. And there's accident damage in the back:

It came with this Squareback 1600 motor. I'm told it ran! Going to sell it:

The car was from North Dakota so naturally it came with a gas heater:

The dash and door caps could use some help:

There are a couple of extra knobs and horn buttons going on with the dash. The push buttons were "upgraded" to the later style but all the gauges are original.

Lots of deep pitted rust on the body but I'm confident the guy painting and welding my Type 14 Ghia can handle it. If it can't be blasted it will be cut out and replaced. That's what the English wheel is for.

I can weld the pan and restore the mechanical stuff myself, just need to finish my other Ghia first. That will be painted in a month or two and I'm going to reassemble this spring. So the Rust Queen is going into storage nearby. Can't get any rustier so whatever!

I've already scored an NOS muffler and a really nice interior kit; door panels and seat covers from user named Endangered Splits. They are the original red style for my color and year. I will post a picture after I unbox.

Some parts I'm looking for are:
Headlight buckets (hard to find?)
Dash pads/door caps (buy or restore what I have?)
Lower door trim aluminum strip
Rear bumper guards
Rear center bumper
license plate lights
push buttons
hubcaps
radio bezel

I'd love to hear some advice or constructive thoughts on how to proceed next. I've owned 5 Type 14 Ghias, some of which were basket cases like this one, so I'm not looking for financial advice. Just the best approach on how to tackle this project and where I night find parts. I know Walter at the Bug Box is making some nice panels.
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2019 Golf Alltrack, '65 Ghia Coupe Restoration in Progress

[ALLWAGONS]

Some parts I'm looking for are:
Headlight buckets (hard to find?)
You don't need them, You are running European Headlights

Dash pads/door caps (buy or restore what I have?)
You can recover them, they sell pebble grain material

Lower door trim aluminum strip
You don't need, but they are out there.

Rear bumper guards
Easy to find

Rear center bumper
Easy to find

license plate lights
Same as Porsche 356

push buttons
Two options, find a push button assembly $$ or find the retrofit kit, plastic cover with later style headlight and wiper switch, similar to what you have now, but more period correct


hubcaps
They are out there, worse case scenario, run '66-'67 hubcaps, very similar except they won't hold beauty rings

radio bezel
Little tough, but they are out there.

How are your pans? They sell Gerson half pans. Most rubber is available from VW ISPwest.

Most OG Chrome will clean up, without rechroming, unless you are going full bling.

Rebuild your engine, as it is difficult but not impossible to fit dual carbs.

I'd love to hear some advice or constructive thoughts on how to proceed next. I've owned 5 Type 14 Ghias, some of which were basket cases like this one, so I'm not looking for financial advice. Just the best approach on how to tackle this project and where I night find parts. I know Walter at the Bug Box is making some nice panels.
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I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

NON INFLUENCER APPROVED

[pedro sainz]

Ok Got my attention
I suggest have a year on this thread
I’m guessing is a 63 with these pictures

Amazing Original Engine ALL Correct Parts

You did the right choice of buying the Red Cloth seats upholstery
And Was Made by ME
And that Red Cloth is Not Available anymore
So Lucky You
and is Perfect for your Pearl White Body

Karmann Ghia and Restoration sells
T34 buckets headlights and they are Well Done and Perfect
I had use them many times

Congratulations Worth every penny
When you do it Right
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68 T34 1600 Automatic
62 T34 Cabriolet Prototype
N.O.N.A member #3
The Truth is Out There

[Peter D.]

[Peter D.]