Ryan's 1970 Ghia Coupe Restomod

[kiwighia68]

Let's just say that I am intimately acquianted with the areas shown in your photos.

My resto is finished (so far as that is ever complete) as you know, but now, every time I look at the car, or under it, or anywhere inside, I see something that my own hands have touched, cleaned, cured, painted and respected. Down to the tiniest nuts and bolts in places no one else will ever see.

You are heading to the same place, and I take my hat off to you for your attention to detail. Our Ghias deserve no less and you will have the lasting satisfaction of a job well done.
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Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015

[rward011]

Just curious if anyone knows what type of steering wheel this is?

From what I see it has no markings on it....picked it up from a swap meet a few years ago.

[xzener]

Not sure, but it is pretty.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[KGCoupe]

That looks like the "official" optional VW accessory optional steering wheel as pictured here in the 1974 model year VW Thing Sales Brochure ...

It was no doubt offered in other years and other model sales brochures as well, but when I searched through the Archives here on The Samba just now the Thing brochure was the first one I found that featured an image of it.

[rward011]

Taking a closer look at that brochure, it appears that steering wheel only has 3 holes on each spoke.

I'm having trouble finding any stamping anywhere on the wheel to give some type of hint.

[Canghia]

Check out this ad. Looks like yours kind of sort of.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1631543

Vintage FIV Italian Wood Wolfsburg Steering Wheel - this one has FIV stamped into one of the 3 spokes.

I just typed wheel in the search bar in the general parts classified section.

Cool looking steering wheel either way.

[rward011]

I agree whatever it might be, it goes well with the car and you could say it looks "wheel" good!

......I'll see myself out as it is too early for beer here in Colorado.

[xzener]

Looks great!! Where abouts in Colorado? I grew up in the Springs.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[rward011]

Denver, actually, I can't lie...I'm out here in Aurora right now.

[xzener]

I lived in Aurora when I was little. The suburbs aren't so suburbs anymore.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

Must have missed it, didn't see the previous page with all the great new paint pictures. That color is amazing. Can't wait to see more progress.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

Any updates?
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[rward011]

I've actually been trying to build a shelf for the air ride management....pretty happy how it's turning out so far.


I had to extend some of the wires, so they could go through the false floor

[xzener]

Accuair... Nice. Was hoping to use that control system too, but have since gone a different direction for now. I have the through rods and Monroe air shocks for the front, but until I can afford 4 corner control, went back to stockish. Still have 2" narrowed adjustable beam. Will be picking your brain soon.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[rward011]

I'm kind of excited since most of this stuff has been in a box or floating around the garage for a couple of years.


I'm just waiting on two other bulkhead fittings and I can complete the false floor for now until I get another tank and compressor.

[xzener]

I'm visualizing the other tank and pump. Very cool setup. Please, for a guy who wants to go the same route, explain the wiring. Their system is very modular, can I buy the basics and add other items later? Will you be using the 4 corner e-leveling? If so, have you thought about where to install the sensors?
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[rward011]

I'll snap a picture of the underside of the shelf later on today, but the wiring isn't that bad actually and everything is labeled. You are correct that most of the components are modular with it being plug and play.

I ended up going with the switchspeed ECU instead of the E-leveling since there won't be that much benefit. The switchspeed still has 3 level settings that once configured, you won't have to keep messing with it, and that too is plug and play into the VU4 manifold. On top of that I also bought a Bagriders' Touchbox unit that creates a wifi hotspot and will be able to control the system from my phone.

[rward011]

Finished bending the rest of the copper pipes for the air ride

[xzener]

That looks great!

Got my finger on the trigger for a used E-Level setup with rocker switch for $700. Comes with the 4 corner solenoid and wireless (not accuair) key fob.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[rward011]

Got the wiring figured out for now....until I can get a couple of real distribution blocks, and was able to test fit it in the car.