Resto Thread - August of '56 Coupe

[NM Lowlight]

I recently picked up a Lowlight Coupe project, and I'm starting this thread to document its restoration (Thanks for the suggestion, John).

This one was made in August of '56, and has build number 7454. It had Lizard Green paint originally, and I'd like it to have that again. It has been treated poorly in many respects, mostly in the form of shoddy body work (rockers and rear quarters especially) likely done in the '80s or '90s. Hood and deck lid are not original to the car, and I am missing many of the original/correct parts. The guy I bought it from took it apart more than 10 years ago, did the chassis work, and then let it sit. I had to put the body back onto the pan, with the seller's help, to get it to my place.

I knew of this car for years, but I never thought that I'd own it. When the chance came up I jumped!

Here's the state it was in when I bought it:

I had to put the transaxle back together and mate it to the chassis before putting the body on the pan:

Here's one showing the body being lowered onto the pan:

And here are a few taken last weekend, after getting the car to my place:

The plan now is to get it running and driving as it is, and then work on acquiring as many of the correct bits and pieces as I can before pulling the body off again and doing the metal work and paint. I've done some metal work before, but what this car needs is beyond my existing skill and tool set. I don't see this car as ever being a perfect example, but I would like to make a nice looking, fun driver out of it. I'm looking forward to sharing the process and learning along the way.

Thanks for reading!

PS - Here's the car's birth certificate:

[markendee]

Best of luck, keep going and I am looking forward to seeing your results.
_________________
Member # 145244

[TRS63]

What a cool project, looking forward to following it and of course we are here to help if you have questions !

Bests

Antoine
_________________
Antoine
My 62 ragtop daily driver:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728873
My 914 restoration&lightweight project :
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9698432#9698432
Resurrecting a 60 ghia : https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=713906
My 52 Standard Zwitter :
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10086685#10086685

[John Moxon]

It's going to be another interesting ride.

Useful '57 parts book: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/1957_karmann_ghia_parts_book.php
_________________
John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Evil_Fiz]

Thanks for sharing.

Don't fear the bodywork. If your expectations are realistic, you can learn to bump metal with inexpensive tools. With no prior experience and a 40-hour investment, I was able to repair a door with a longitudinal crease in the outer skin using a Harbor Freight hammer/dolly set and Stud puller, and a stainless steel shrinking disk.

We're all looking forward to your progress and success.

-----
Emil
_________________
“…It's not just about what's interesting. It's also about what's helpful, and it's helpful even if it helps just one other guy working on a Ghia.”
kiwighia68

See my build on TheSamba at:
The K_R_A_K_E_N_N : a 70 Ghia Convertible reinterpreted

[Okie Adam]

I'm looking forward to watching this beautiful car come together and I love the idea of making it a driver first. That's my favorite way to do a project. I never would have predicted this as your return to the scene but I'm glad you're back!
_________________
Oil Capital Air Cooled
55 Wolfsburg Kombi
60 Walkthrough Kombi
62 Single Cab
66 21window
67 so42
76 Westy
64 Karmann Ghia

[NM Lowlight]

[VeloMikey]

Great looking car! Welcome to the club!
_________________
'58 Ghia 2387cc with a Berg / Folts 5 Speed

Ghia Build Thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768748

[NM Lowlight]

[NM Lowlight]

[NM Lowlight]

[NM Lowlight]

[Braukuche]

From the pictures yours looks nicer than my ‘56 when I got it. I have a build thread if interested. If you have any question feel free to ask. My car is a Oct 56. If you need any tips on getting the correct interior materials just ask. Get ready to use that credit card though. These are pricey cars to restore correctly.
_________________
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

[mouse action]

I noticed that you Volkswagen folks are a DEDICATED bunch.👏

[NM Lowlight]

[Marcdeb]

Seems like lowlights are surfacing more often. Yours looks like a very worthwhile project and I'm glad to have another restoration to follow.
_________________
Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[travelvw]

Yay, Greg! Like Adam said, we are stoked that you bought another air-cooled, after all these years, and what a particularly cool car it is. I like the idea of doing this in stages, so that the process is more enjoyable than daunting. For me, daily driving my beetle before I put it down to do a more intense restoration... I feel like that gave me the motivation to get through it (not that it's finished, yet!). I look forward to seeing it in person and going for the first ride.
K
_________________
1963 SO-34 camper
1969 sunroof beetle
1963 Adam's parts gilla

[Okie Adam]

K, your signature line had me literally laughing out loud first thing this morning!

[NM Lowlight]

[NM Lowlight]

I've been trying to do small things for The Lizard each day. This week I got around to installing the door latch mechanisms and handles so I could stop using the ratchet strap to hold them closed. I also installed the checks so the doors could stay open when needed.

While digging around through the fastener collection I cam across this bolt:

That's the original Lizard Green paint showing through from beneath the darker green repaint. I used that bolt to replace one of those missing from the hood hinges. Little stuff like this is satisfying.

And here's another view of original paint and the darker green repaint:

The doors sag to the rear thanks in large part to slop in the hinges. When installing the latches and striker plates I set the strikers so they hold the doors up where they should be in relation to the quarter. Now I see issues with the body as shown by the door gaps.

It looks like the rear end of the car sits a little high in relation to the front. Someone replaced the outer skins along the rockers and bottoms of the rear quarters but a lot of what's inside of that was not replaced. And in the process of this work little attention was paid to maintaining side panel alignment.

Am I seeing this right?

And here's a little preview of coming attractions:

_________________
August 1956 Karmann Ghia Coupe - The Lizard