Has anyone seen these side trims before?

[mcdonaldneal]

I have a basically unrestored Californian 1970 convertible. Originally came with factory alloy wheels, and these rubberised side trim strips. I presume they were an optional extra, either from VW or the local dealer? I've never seen them on another Ghia, or on web searching. Anyone have any more info??

[Disc]

This rubberized trim was discussed before here in the forum - someone told that is aftermarket. I don't know - never seen before in person.
But you got one hell of a car - gorgeous color (L20E amber ?) and perfect condition . Regards!
Please upload few more pics of the car in your galllery!
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The glory never gets old, just need new paint.
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Nick

[rickpereira]

sorry i dont know anything about the rubber strips, .. just wanted to say nice ghia

[NOVA Airhead]

Your car does look nice.

If the side strips were an option it was dealer installed. The factory did not offer those strips. Are you saying those wheels are alloy? They look to be steel.
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Ghia Owner Emeritus

[John Moxon]

Yes there was a lot of speculation that the trim you have was from a "Sport Ghia". I don't think this was ever satisfactorily answered but as your '70 predates the "Sport Ghia" (>1973 IIRC) I think it safe to say it's an after market trim package.

Here's another set: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=285763 Don't worry about the disparaging remarks...your set looks in good shape...and the car outstanding. Another big thumbs up for Orange Ghias.
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John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
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[das skiver]

Nice Vert!
Great color! - more pics.

[pbaptist]

I don't think the trim is factory or dealer option, but now we have two cars with this trim, so you never know.

It is not sport ghia, as those had the normal trim.

regards
Patrick
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Dutch Karmann-Ghia and coachbuild lover.
1* Karmann Ghia Coupe (1966 Teak)
2* Karmann Ghia Convertible (1958, 1971)
4* Rometsch Lawrence (nr 534, 555, 558 and 561)

Karmann-Ghia Lowlight page and registry
Karmann-Ghia Collectibles database

[mcdonaldneal]

[mcdonaldneal]

[John Moxon]

Great pictures...that's one of the nicest late convertibles I've seen in a long while. We had a discussion a few weeks ago about Orange/Amber Ghias and I'm pleased to say I think we managed to talk round a doubter who was thinking about changing the original colour.

Personally I like that trim...looks perfect on your car and if it's original to the car it has to stay.
_________________
John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[sactojesse]

[mcdonaldneal]

[mcdonaldneal]

[Loren]

The trim on your Ghia is after market trim. It was a trim option you could buy at auto parts stores or special order. It came in long pieces that you cut down to fit your particualr car. I had a 63 Ghia with that trim and my dad had a 63 Chevy Nova with that trim as well. I have since seen it on many different makes and years of cars.

[philermonic]

Okay, my high school's colors were Black & Orange, so I have a soft spot.
Seriously - an amazing car.....it puts the "Chicks" in "Fat Chicks"
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"A camel is a horse designed by a Committee"

[danielsan]

Where did you find that? It looks like original, uncracked woodgrain as well.

[mcdonaldneal]

[mcdonaldneal]

[Disc]

What a awful aftermarket trim! Remove it as fast as possible and send it to me! I'll pay the shipping costs...

Ghia looks brilliant - orange is my favorite color (blue too) and black rubber parts of the trim looks just on the right place. You got one very good survivor, but if you want to enjoy it for years to come - remove fuel filter from engine compartment (place it under tank) - horrible stories here on Samba for plastic filters and engine fires can be found.

Radio faceplate is Beetle so you can source more Ghia looking one (or may be complete Blaupunkt).
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The glory never gets old, just need new paint.
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Nick

[mcdonaldneal]

Here is the article telling a bit more about the car (and the van). I wrote it for the British KGOC magazine, Karmann Konnection...

Karmann Ghia article:

The story that led to Shona and me getting our Karmann Ghia is really linked in to the story of another VW. In the year 2000 we worked in Melbourne for a year and although we could both cycle to work in the city, we wanted a car to explore the state of Victoria. First we borrowed a magnificent 1950's Holden that stank of petrol and was probably an explosion hazard, but we caught sight of an advert for a 1978, merino yellow, VW camper (or 'kombi', as they are known there), for sale about an hour away. We really were lucky. Imported when new by a guy in his 70's, and then bought from his widow by the current owner who was so obsessed by it that he would change the oil depending on the weather forecast for a camping trip, and then took a tent so that they wouldn't have to sleep or cook inside it and spoil the interior! Immaculate, 40,000 miles and cost us the equivalent of £2,200! Visiting relatives were treated to many weekends away, including Shona's parents. Her dad Hector, full of tales of camping and caravanning around Europe in his beetles and campers in the '60's and '70's. We couldn't bear to leave it behind, so loaded it up with all of our stuff drove it onto a container, and shipped the kombi back to the UK for another £800! We were very tempted by a powder blue Karmann Ghia convertible for sale in the aircooled specialist we took her to for servicing, but shipping two cars back was out of the question!

The kombi was never meant to be a museum piece, and over the next 12 years Shona and I had many wonderful trips. All over Scotland, around Ireland, to the French and Italian Alps, to Slovenia and memorably to Croatia with Spit, our adventurous cat, as well as guest starring at friends' weddings. On the Croatian trip, travelling 1000 miles on three cylinders, thanks to an undiagnosed cracked high tension lead, overheating like mad and having to stop every hour or so to cool down. The terrifying low point was springing a fuel leak on the German autobahn, managing to fix it, and then running out of petrol 10 miles further up the road! All of which persuaded me that I needed to brush up on my mechanical know-how, and with John Muir's help, reached the stage where I could get through a full service and beyond, with only a little frustrated head-scratching.

Discovering the delights of the air-cooled engine set me to thinking... maybe we could get another? Hector was very excited at the suggestion of a convertible beetle, but the internet is a dangerous thing and I was soon looking at the KG motorworks website. The kombi had taught us that starting off with a really solid, original example was worth its weight in gold, but how many solid, original 40-50 year-old Karmann Ghias are out there? I thought I knew the answer, but I e mailed Martin to get an idea of what was around and how often they might come up. He suggested we talk and, still trying to keep it all to myself, I phoned him. We talked about what he had in stock, but he said there was one car which wasn't on the website that was up for sale. Sept 1969 (1970 model year) signal orange convertible, which as he said had had a charmed life! A californian import about 10yrs ago, having been owned by a guy who worked for US defence, who was (eventually!) persuaded to sell it to Martin. Then owned by a lady who worked for the fire service, who on fine days would drive it from her garage and park it in the fire station, and then home! A brief spell in a car collection in Northern Ireland before coming back to Martin. All of which meant, despite just having just tripped over 100,000 miles, she is still resplendent in original paint, very slightly faded in parts, beautiful original chrome-work, original seats, carpets and convertible hood. A real gem!
Armed with a handful of photos, I wondered how I could go about persuading Shona that another car made any sense whatsoever. The family, and Shona's dad in particular, were in no doubt! I started planning a trip for when the spring came to travel down to Mansfield to collect the car, but when Shona and I had a conference in London in January 2013 we wondered, could we collect it on the way back home? We didn't bank on it being one of the worst weekends for snow of the winter, with an inch on the streets of London, and who knows what further North? Many anxious calls to Martin followed, and we agreed to give it a go. No sooner had we slithered out of his driveway when the rear window banged open. Unfortunately despite re-latching it happened every time we went over the slightest bump, so we travelled an hour up the M1 with snow blowing in through the open window until a hasty repair with string from a service station was effected!
Hector had been quite unwell, having cancer treatment, and was following our progress every mile of the way, and I honestly think he was more excited than either of us to see the car. The smile on his face when we took him for a drive the next day says it all! The guilt I had driving her up on the salty winter roads of course meant a good wash and polish top and bottom when we eventually got home, before settling into the garage until the spring. The poor old kombi has been relegated to a nearby farmer's leek shed, which is thankfully airy and very dry! Minor tinkering over the winter, like repairing tiny bits of vinyl headlining and fixing the rear window catch will keep me occupied until the spring. We have a few outings planned before showing off both the Karmann and the kombi at the KGOC International in Northumberland. Hopefully many more years of adventure for both of them lie ahead!
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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

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