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mcdonaldneal Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 2648 Location: Gullane, Scotland
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 12:01 am Post subject: Has anyone seen these side trims before? |
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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??
Last edited by mcdonaldneal on Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Disc Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2009 Posts: 558 Location: Europe
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 2:43 am Post subject: |
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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! _________________ The glory never gets old, just need new paint.
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Nick |
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rickpereira Samba Member
Joined: May 25, 2010 Posts: 330 Location: Sydney, AUstralia
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:54 am Post subject: |
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sorry i dont know anything about the rubber strips, .. just wanted to say nice ghia |
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NOVA Airhead Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2005 Posts: 5221 Location: Richmond, VA
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 4:23 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ Ghia Owner Emeritus |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13952 Location: Southampton U.K.
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das skiver Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2010 Posts: 145 Location: Tucson, Arizona
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:46 am Post subject: |
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Nice Vert!
Great color! - more pics. |
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pbaptist Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2005 Posts: 1204 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:32 am Post subject: |
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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 _________________ 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 |
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mcdonaldneal Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 2648 Location: Gullane, Scotland
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:50 am Post subject: |
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Disc wrote: |
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! |
Thanks for the comments! The colour is signal orange, but I think you've got the code right!
I decided to change the Alloy wheels for the 'prettier' steel and chrome, I'm away for a day or so but I'll post some more pictures when I can, and a bit more of the story! |
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mcdonaldneal Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 2648 Location: Gullane, Scotland
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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John Moxon wrote: |
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. |
Looks very similar trim, glad to say mine has been better looked after by the PO's! This car has had a bit of a charmed life, so I'm just having to do pretty cosmetic repairs/ renovation. When I get back to broadband territory I'll post more pics, and would be glad to hear comments on anything else unusual anyone notices...
Meanwhile I have uploaded a couple more (painfully slowly from the mobile/ cellular network)!
This shows the alloys that I believe came as a factory option for the first time that year (1970 model year)
Sometimes the light is perfect for a photo!
We're so lucky to live in such a photogenic part of Scotland, the British Open golf was in our village last week, congratulations Phil Mickelson!
That's all for now! |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13952 Location: Southampton U.K.
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sactojesse Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2006 Posts: 2655 Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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mcdonaldneal wrote: |
This shows the alloys that I believe came as a factory option for the first time that year (1970 model year) |
Yes, I believe Rivieras were originally a dealer option offered by VW of America. However, those look like replica Rivieras, probably the American Eagle brand replicas. The original Formula Vee Rivieras had a fat outer lip. See this link for photos:
http://www.sebeetles.com/f_vee.htm _________________ 1966 Karmann-Ghia convertible |
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mcdonaldneal Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 2648 Location: Gullane, Scotland
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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John Moxon wrote: |
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. |
Ok, I admit it, It's quiet at work this evening!
Here's the 1978 Dormobile we've had for 13 yrs, with the Ghia (she was getting lonely!) Total coincidence they're both orange! ( I think the van's actually marino yellow).
And one of the dashboard/ interior.
Original vinyl on the seats, sagging a bit! Floor mats worse than they look here, in the middle of gentle repair work.
Engine compartment not really my department other than servicing, mostly stock AFAIK.
_________________ 1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper
Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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mcdonaldneal Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 2648 Location: Gullane, Scotland
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Loren Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2004 Posts: 1700
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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philermonic Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2010 Posts: 361 Location: Orange County, California
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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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" _________________ "A camel is a horse designed by a Committee" |
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danielsan Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2008 Posts: 802 Location: Carson City, NV
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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Where did you find that? It looks like original, uncracked woodgrain as well. |
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mcdonaldneal Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 2648 Location: Gullane, Scotland
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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Loren wrote: |
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. |
Sounds like you're right. Whoever's installed it has done a great job, mm perfect! I love the way the black and orange sets off the interior/ roof. Sometimes fat chicks have something special?...
Thanks for everyone's comments, by the way. It's my first post on The Samba, and I'm really pleased its generated a bit of interest! _________________ 1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper
Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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mcdonaldneal Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 2648 Location: Gullane, Scotland
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Disc Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2009 Posts: 558 Location: Europe
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 1:50 am Post subject: |
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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). _________________ The glory never gets old, just need new paint.
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Nick |
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mcdonaldneal Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013 Posts: 2648 Location: Gullane, Scotland
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:46 am Post subject: |
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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! _________________ 1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper
Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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