Sean's 71 Ghia

[Chango08560]

None posted, but I remember taking some for the insurance company a year or two back. I'll see what I got. I live in an apartment right now, so she's garaged in a facility about 10 minutes away, so I can't just walk out and snap a few or I would I was also thinking of looking for some old originals like your IZOD classic. I have seen a few in my packing and you and I are practically twins! I'll see what I can dig up, but it may have to wait until I get back from CA. Heading to LA for a wedding, I'll say hi for ya
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Central Jersey Volkswagen Society:
www.cjvws.com/index.html

'71 Karmann Ghia Coupe

Need a photographer?
www.thomasrobertclarke.com

[swhitcomb]

Well, I bought a used set of bumpers for my car from a friend:

Here is the rear bumper a few months ago:

The chrome had peeled off of the drivers side and looked awful

I need to adjust it a little, but it looks waaaaaaay better.

I discovered that the bows on the one on the car were not the correct ones and had been cut to make them fit. I'm going to put it all back to correct.
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[NOVA Airhead]

Looks nice Sean!
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Ghia Owner Emeritus

[cmarino929]

I have a 74 ghia in nj and it wasnt that bad. Go to the dmv and get historic plates, its a few bucks to register (i think like 75 or 80 bucks) but then u get classic car insurance for a little over a hundred bucks a year. And with historic plates there is no inspection. Just a note - if u go to register ur car you need 3 color photos, one side, one front, one back. And make sure u get the whole car in the pic.

[swhitcomb]

I have hagerty on it. 15k coverage for 148 a year.

Now that the bumper is improved next up is to install the headliner and window rubber.
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[swhitcomb]

Well, I finally got sick of the front bumper being assembled wrong. The over riders were reversed. I took it apart, and reversed them:

Also switched to the shinier bows the came with the bumper I bought a few weeks ago. The over riders need to be re-chromed badly, and the ones on the other bumper have broken bolts in them. Big improvement though.
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[swhitcomb]

Well, I've been struggling to get a new windshield seal in:

[/quote]

It's close, but still not 100%. I'm going to take it back out and do it over. Then I get to struggle with the rear. Looks a lot better with the trim in place though.

I also put new shocks in all 4 corners. Drives a lot smoother now too.
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[kitcarson]

I just purchased my first Ghia - a 71. Its in worse condition then yours was but still runs, and can be driven. Mostly body rust. It moved to Idaho from N.C. But it has some different parts then yours. My rear bumper has that top bar that wraps around the rear fenders. I have yet to discover where that comes from. But the progress of yours has been very interesting to follow.

kitcarson

[kitcarson]

Also was it hard to replace the 4 shocks?

Kit

[swhitcomb]

The bumper on a 71 ghia are a kind of rare part. Not extremely rare, but rare. They are a 2 year only bumper. 70-71. The design was changed to accommodate the new rear reflector. Your rear bumper probably came of an earlier car.

As far as shocks, it was really easy. Took less than an hour to do all 4. I have air tools which made it easier but even with hand tools it shouldn't be too hard.
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[djkeev]

[swhitcomb]

The windshield seal is finally in the car, and it fits.

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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[swhitcomb]

Ok, rear is in now too.

Looks SOOOO much better now.
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[Beetlebaum]

I saw this car at the Bug Out today, and it looks really nice!
My favorite Ghia by far.
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1973 Super Beetle
2003 New Beetle
Post your Super here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331999
Beetle Bums VW Club Member

[swhitcomb]

It was nice to meet you and your family today. Good luck with your Bug. If you ever need anything feel free to let me know. I'd be glad to help.
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[NOVA Airhead]

[swhitcomb]

Hey mike, I saw your car and tried to find you. I was parked with the Northside boys. Our club parked with them.

There were 4 ghia coupes, and a bunch of verts. I took third. The guy who got second was Chad, a friend and fellow club member. The 71 Ghia that got 1st shouldn't have even placed. Bad paint with rust showing, really worn interior, and caulk around the window seals.

You placed too, and I thought I'd get meet you then, but you had left
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[NOVA Airhead]

[swhitcomb]

Well, this weekend I decided to finally powder coat my Ghia's engine tin. First I stripped the engine down:

Then I blasted it to bare metal:

The next day with the help of a few friends I pulled the engine. Found a leaking rear main seal and a few other things that needed to be addressed. I ordered all the $130 worth of unexpected parts I'd need, and began powder coating:

That's some of the tin. Still not done with it all yet. Still have a little media blasting to do on some of the larger parts that don't fit in my cabinet very well. You may notice from the pic I decided to go back to a stock pulley. I think in an otherwise stock engine, it will look a lot better.
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My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[rnccen]

Looks good...nice job...