Question regarding finding wood under rear rug in a 72 Ghia

[NHnoreaster]

Newbee here, have been looking at Ghias and very interested in a restored 72. When I lifted the rear rug (where one puts their feet if sitting in rear seat), and saw wood panel. This was over the underneath metal so, wasn't replacing metal I don't think. The elderly woman who got had purchased it restored, didn't know any of it's history really.

I asked one person about the wood and he said he didn't know but thinks maybe was for noise insulation or something. I get mixed results when I search on line.

Is this a good, bad, indifferent thing?

The resto looks actually quite amazing everywhere from paint, to engine, to looking at it underneath.
Thanks in advance!!
Much appreciated!

NHnoreaster

[kingkarmann]

Is the wood attached, like in glued or screwed?
Or is it just set overtop the sheet metal floor.
If you can simply remove it to inspect the inside you should.
No Ghia came from the factory with wood floors ever.

PS, welcome to The Samba. Good luck on your search

[NHnoreaster]

Thanks so much.
I didn't try to see if it was glued or screwed, although I didn't see any screws.
The metal when I look from underneath is pristine, and very solid. I read that there's only 1 layer of metal so this wood is overlaying the metal, just under the rug

[Rob Combs]

That’s just weird.

Get it out of there; wood holds moisture. Moisture held on floor surface bad.