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rivalrider
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2012
Posts: 8
Location: Temecula, CA
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 Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:27 am Post subject: My new to me '79 Vert.....a few pics and questions |
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Hello everyone! I have been reading on this forum for a couple months now since I picked up the car but finally wanted to post and show what I have.
I picked up this '79 Ghia convertible from my father in law a couple months ago. It has been sitting covered on the side of his house for a few years now, my sister in law drove it during college. I believe they are the second owners of it after being purchased from their neighbor.
The car has 67k and is in fairly good shape I would say. Paint has a few oxidized spots, motor seems to run well but is leaking oil all the time, the top has no rips or tears either. The drivers seat back needs stuffing(which I am getting done this Friday) and other then that the interior is in fairly good shape as well minus a couple cracks on the dash.
I am trying to decide which way to go with this car. My first question is about the wheels.....I have not been able to find another picture of these wheels in gold, did someone paint these or was this an option of some sort? I don't know what brand they are but I have seen others in other colors...I was looking at getting similar wheels in chrome but thought about just painting the gold part of the wheel black for now. I do not want to do this however if these are some unique part of this car...?
It definitely needs tires and I want to lower it a bit as well, at least have the front sit a tad lower than the back. From what I have read it looks like I should go with a kit from topline. My question is about the back, I don't want the back to drop more then an inch at most, but if I am replacing parts in the front I would like to do the back as well. What do you guys recommend? The car is all over the road right now so I would like to make it handle a little better.
I guess I will stop for now, but if this was this was your car, what route would you take on the modifications? I don't want to take away from what the car is but I would like to make it a little more my own style...
Can't wait to hear your input and appreciate all of your responses!
-Tyler
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Retired_CPO
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2012
Posts: 191
Location: Connecticut
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docdanracy
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2012
Posts: 1119
Location: Auburn, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:36 am Post subject: |
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Great looking car...nice acquisition! 
Hard to beat an unmolested Cali car!
The 8 spoke Empi look wheels are available to this day, but back in the 70s and 80s when gold center BBS and other wheels were painted that way, these were available that way...just like now you can get those same wheels done entirely in black.
Topline is the way to go for your front suspension, rear is a matter of deciding how low you want to go and doing a combination of inner and outer splines on the rear torsion bars.
Rear is a matter of reclocking the splines.
_________________
Doc
1970 Sunroof Bug Yukon Yellow (L19K)
Custom 6.5x15” 914 Sport Wheels wrapped in 185x65x15 Contis
Empi shifter, full compliment of gauges, 1679 with mild cam, stock induction
SOLD: 1974 Marina Blue Standard Beetle undergoing restoration/preservation
1679 with Kadrons and header/QP
914 sport wheels 5.5" ET40 wrapped in 195x65x15 Kumhos |
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79SuperVert
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2002
Posts: 9757
Location: Elizabeth, NJ & La Isla Del Encanto
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:38 am Post subject: |
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Very nice car. Not trying to split hairs, but it's not a Ghia. It's a VW Beetle with a body by Karmann. Karmann and Ghia collaborated on numerous projects, but the Beetle convertible wasn't one of them. Good luck with the car.
_________________
Central Jersey VW Society
Wanted: Art Collins VW (Savannah, Georgia) items - license plate surrounds and other items. Also ivory "AM", "FM" and "SW" buttons for a US Blaupunkt Frankfurt. |
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Dwayne1m
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2011
Posts: 3543
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I think it looks great as it is! I wouldn't change a thing myself. I really like those wheels. |
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Grifter
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2004
Posts: 960
Location: Mint Hill, NC
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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Nothing too rare about those wheels, I personally would paint 'em, or see about selling them off and replacing with something more to my taste. As for the rest, I wouldn't mess with it much. That's a really nice looking survivor, and a very low mileage example too. If it's all over the road, you've got issues in the front end probably. I thought there was a sticky topic but I don't see it... you may want to search for discussion about the "super beetle shimmies".
Check here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=143097 for discussion about lowering
_________________
Greg
1970 Beetle...a work in progress
Yukon Yellow
Stock SP, Bosch vac advance
30PICT-3 swapped to a 30PICT-1
"At least I know that I don't know. Question is are you bozos smart enough to feel stupid? Hope so"
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| Wow, we have VW's in North Carolina? |
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EXJAY
Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2009
Posts: 1109
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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looks really nice as it sits! I'd leave the suspension stock, swap out the 8 spokes for the correct stock sport wheels, re-pad/cover the front seats and enjoy..
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EXJAY
'74 Superbeetle (Family owned since new)
'73 181 Thing (sold) |
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AxlR
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2005
Posts: 16
Location: Calgary , Alberta , Canada(the Great White North)
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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| You have a decent looking car there . I would say that if you want to make it yours , asking others for their ideas kind of defeats that purpose . Do what you want , not what others suggest . What I would suggest is taking a look around at other cars and seeing what interests you . |
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themrbone
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2013
Posts: 16
Location: Ava, Missouri
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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Beautiful Beetle in excellent condition. I have the same wheels on my 72 Super. You found this one in really good shape, enjoy it
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72 Super Beetle |
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fred69vert
Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2007
Posts: 2200
Location: Home of the US Navy Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, VA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 4:48 am Post subject: |
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Personally, I wouldn't modify a thing, unless it can be easily put back to stock. Beautiful car, don't find them like that here on the east coast. If anything, I'd do a bigger engine, but keep the stock one intact and stored.
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I'm not losing my hair, it's just retired and relocating further south.
1969 VW convertible, "Heidi" |
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docdanracy
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2012
Posts: 1119
Location: Auburn, CA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:35 am Post subject: |
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'79 still has to pass smog here in Cali...
Needs to pass dyno test and visual test.
_________________
Doc
1970 Sunroof Bug Yukon Yellow (L19K)
Custom 6.5x15” 914 Sport Wheels wrapped in 185x65x15 Contis
Empi shifter, full compliment of gauges, 1679 with mild cam, stock induction
SOLD: 1974 Marina Blue Standard Beetle undergoing restoration/preservation
1679 with Kadrons and header/QP
914 sport wheels 5.5" ET40 wrapped in 195x65x15 Kumhos |
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19super73
Hardcore Stock Nazi
Joined: October 18, 2007
Posts: 4350
Location: Cité Soleil
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rivalrider
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2012
Posts: 8
Location: Temecula, CA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:38 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the comments guys! I also appreciate being corrected about the Ghia thing. I'm definitely still learning what I have here.
Anyone have a pic of the correct stock sport wheels?
Thanks!
_________________
'79 Super Beetle Vert
'08 Chevy Silverado 2500HD
'09 Mercedes C300
www.precisionstorageconcepts.com |
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19super73
Hardcore Stock Nazi
Joined: October 18, 2007
Posts: 4350
Location: Cité Soleil
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rivalrider
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2012
Posts: 8
Location: Temecula, CA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:50 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the pic! That's what I thought they were.
_________________
'79 Super Beetle Vert
'08 Chevy Silverado 2500HD
'09 Mercedes C300
www.precisionstorageconcepts.com |
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19super73
Hardcore Stock Nazi
Joined: October 18, 2007
Posts: 4350
Location: Cité Soleil
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docdanracy
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2012
Posts: 1119
Location: Auburn, CA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:54 am Post subject: |
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Sport wheels look absolutely great and correct on stockish late model bugs..
_________________
Doc
1970 Sunroof Bug Yukon Yellow (L19K)
Custom 6.5x15” 914 Sport Wheels wrapped in 185x65x15 Contis
Empi shifter, full compliment of gauges, 1679 with mild cam, stock induction
SOLD: 1974 Marina Blue Standard Beetle undergoing restoration/preservation
1679 with Kadrons and header/QP
914 sport wheels 5.5" ET40 wrapped in 195x65x15 Kumhos |
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79SuperVert
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2002
Posts: 9757
Location: Elizabeth, NJ & La Isla Del Encanto
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:39 am Post subject: |
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I was very, very happy with my 79 vert, including the wheels.
_________________
Central Jersey VW Society
Wanted: Art Collins VW (Savannah, Georgia) items - license plate surrounds and other items. Also ivory "AM", "FM" and "SW" buttons for a US Blaupunkt Frankfurt. |
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