Barn Fresh 57'

[Bub]

Actually I can swing a cat around here without hitting a 36hp engine
I have more than I need.

[sovereignsamba]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[canbug]

Now thats a nice find. It just go to show everone that you should never stop looking. We picked up an early 56 in our local Bargain Finder. The guy " thought it might be a 56 " He was right and he didn't get many calls about it. We bought it from him a month and a half later.

Drive it and enjoy the summer.
_________________
Water is for toilets.

Her 56 KG
His 56 KG
69 Single Cab, my new daily driver.

[Bub]

Oh yeah...I pulled the switch for the gas heater and it fired right up.
Has a small fuel leak. But warms up pretty good!
I drove it around teh block today, trans in noisy as expected, but drives nice!
Good deal I think,
Bob O

[Bub]

As much as I know about it is this:
I got it from the 2nd owner. The 1st owner started a pretty decent restoration in the 70's and never finished it. I think this included rebuilding the transmission and engine, the interior and a paintjob.
The exterior paint doesn't match the interior, but its a similar color- either they didn't try to match it exactly or it's a BAD attempt.
Dash paint is original and it's a very silver'ish /blue color.
Seems the restoration was never really finished, and parts of the car were justb put back on without fixing and it was forgotton. Until the 2nd owner got it and starter messing around. He removed and cleaned the gas tank and got the car running about 15 years ago and thats it. It was forgotton again as he bought a 56' Porsche he found. He ran out of room in his garage a few years ago and that's when it started sitting outside.
Now I gots it! And I found it had a clean gas tank with a NEW valve screwed on, there was a roll of new fuel line inside it I used to replace all the lines and I cleaned it out pretty good. Much of the pans are salvagable with POR15 but some parts are so thin that I'll probably replace them front to back. There's no way anything on this car has ever been modified, but some seals and whatnot of course were replecd with non-corrrect stuff when the restore was started.
That's all I know for now...how many 56's an 57's are know to be left?
They made about 4100 of them in 57'...so...40'ish if 10%? Maybe 60 or 70?

Thanks for the info, I'll do some more work today, maybe even take it for a drive!
Bob O
Oh..and i need 1 tail light lens and bezel!
And the front turn signal's are just bug items I'm guessing.

[Gary]

With a minimal amount of work, that car will easily capture Best Original at a show.
_________________
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

[Broadacus]

Just checked the engine numbers, looks like it is the original engine. I also own a sales brochure dated 1956 for the Eberspacher heater, it shows a brillant red karmann Ghia and also a ghia in the same color as the barn find.
Lars Nueffer will know more about the heater, I think his car is a 56 or even a 55.

[Broadacus]

Hi Bub,

Very interesting car, thank you for posting the pictures. My chassis number is 1721562, so I think your car 1631813, will have been made around late August 1957 or early September 1957.
From the picture you have posted it is hard to tell the condition of the car, my first thought were that it was an early 56 in Trout Blue, however the chassis number would make it a 1957 in Dolphin Blue. The steering wheel is 1956 and the thin back seat look early, could it be a 1956 body on a later pan? I think you would have to check the Karmann Body numbers to tell. The rubber mats seem to have survived, but the door panels look a mixture.
The heater is the same as, Lars Neuffers black early ghia, that was at Bad Camberg.
The windows are missing the chrome trim or someone has swopped the seals. What is the history of the car?
Good to see that the engine fired up, mine is the same, it has been stored all winter and fired first turn and kicked into life.
Looks a good solid car, best of luck with it.

[HouseofGhia]

Send those numbers off to [email protected] He should be able to get you a production date.
_________________
House of Ghia specializing in Karmann Ghia parts, service, and restorations. www.house-of-ghia.com

[Bub]

Heater probably was a later thing. It's an Eberspacher of course...I can check the plate for model. BUT it was probably added at a dealer or something because the wiring for it looks close to stock- nothing spliced, fused correctly and wires run next to the stock wire harness.
Wasn't a home job.
Bob O

[70 140]

3 piece bumpers. Looks pretty interesting. whats the model of the gas heater.....it may be a later add on

[[email protected]]

vin #'s front and back lower edge of hood and trunk center inside doors and center by brake cup. Additional data plate above vin plate.
_________________
Central TX Kurt
1956 Oval back to original
(someday)

[Bub]

Funny joke!
Sheesh. I know it's not worth THAT much!!
I should probably just start parting it out now huh...
Some numbers:
On the tag:K01011 22294 (<--whats these number mean?)
Chassis: 1631813
Engine # 1964362
Do these numbers tell us anything? It's a late 57'...so 2 gauges but 58' model year? Should it have one piece or 3 piece bumpers?
Overriders..?
I'll look around.

[iowegian]

The windscreen seals are not correct! I'll give you $625 for it. Final offer!

[Bub]

Yes. It's For real..
Not too shabby. Interior is nice, body is STRAIGHT, floors are "thin" in many places and drivers floor is going away at the outer edges.
Disappointing that it took 3 cranks of the engine to fire up.
RUNS GREAT!
And I think I'll have to bleed the brakes.
Not sure exactly what to do with it yet. It may be a keeper.
I would entertain offers but I think they'd have to be GOOD offers.
I just dont know yet....are there wierdos out there like the early Porsche guys who will demand the vin# and all that? ANyone want any info off it...it's extremely stock.
Bob O