June 58 Ghia cabriolet - Amazon Green restoration

Loren · Samba Member Joined: January 10, 2004 Posts: 1701

Jason has been fitting the new windshield frame and getting it ready to weld back in place. This should be the last major welding on the body, then it's on to fixing the pan. At some point the Ghia was rear ended with the top up and the windscreen frame got pushed forward so it had to be removed and a new one sourced. Here are the updated images, enjoy!

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Loren · Samba Member Joined: January 10, 2004 Posts: 1701

My friend just wrote me with a little history on this Ghia:

It was owned by Straw Hat Sue, a local fixture in the area, and she drove that Ghia all over the Auburn, CA area. My friend says he saw her drive it as far back as the late 70's and he never imagined at that time, that he would own her Ghia.

I believe she passed away in the late 90's and my friend got the Ghia so he could restore it in her honor. It's been a long time coming, but my friend has been working on this Ghia for the past 20 years and it's finally coming together.

Loren · Samba Member Joined: January 10, 2004 Posts: 1701

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

djway3474

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Loren · Samba Member Joined: January 10, 2004 Posts: 1701

The front windshield frame had to be replaced due to a rear end accident that occurred with the top up. The car was hit so hard from the rear that the top mechanism bent the front windscreen frame forward! The screws are just there to temporarily attach the inner frame before it is welded together.

I think this is it for the work on the body. I believe next month Jason will start working on the pan and getting it all sussed out. If all goes well the body and pan should be painted and ready for finally assembly this summer!

Marcdeb

This is such incredible work. Very cool to see areas that are normally hidden after assembly.
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Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

jeffrey8164

Wow! I’m just going through this thread and I’m amazed.
It looks like the guy could build one from scratch!

How did the angle of the windshield get determined? Good catch by the way.
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Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.

“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1)

obus

tremendous to see this!
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July 1959 Mango Standard Bus aka Obus L346 L347 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=256592&highlight=
June 1973 Pumpkin Orange Thing aka Othing L30H
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=711775&highlight=
1960 Paprika Red Karmann Ghia Convertible aka Schatze L452 built 5/20/60
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=
66 21 window bus built 8/31/65 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=777273

Loren · Samba Member Joined: January 10, 2004 Posts: 1701

Jason has worked on other Ghias before and I believe this is a jig he made for another project. He got the dimensions from an undamaged Ghia.

djway3474

Doesn't the Bently have dimensions? I am pretty sure I saw a windshield jig (dealer build) in there.

Peter D.

Amazing work!
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2019 Golf Alltrack, '65 Ghia Coupe Restoration in Progress

Loren · Samba Member Joined: January 10, 2004 Posts: 1701

Getting closer to the finish line. Jason wren has been finishing a few small details on the body and has started working on the pan too. The pan was actually in fairly good condition, but the sections behind the seats had some rust and were very thin. The rusty sections were cut out and new ones welded in.

First up was doing some more work on the windshield frame:

Next, the torsion bar hole area in the driver side fender had some rust and needed to be replaced. Jason made a patch panel from scratch and welded it in:

Finally, some images of the pan repair:

At this rate it should be ready for paint this spring or early summer!

djway3474

Nothing like the smell of fresh metal in the morning..... Very Happy

Braukuche · Samba Member Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 11005

Beautiful work.
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Go Reds! Smash state!

Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now

Loren · Samba Member Joined: January 10, 2004 Posts: 1701

The pan is done and is ready to bolt up to the body. Getting closer!

rbsurfguy

Awesome!! What a journey so far eh?? Looking good!
Jeff
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1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold

See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

Loren · Samba Member Joined: January 10, 2004 Posts: 1701

We are nearing the home stretch. Jason has fit the pan to the body and is starting to fit the convertible top mechanism before he finishes the windshield frame. Next month he will assemble the doors and make sure everything fits properly, finish installing the complete top mechanism and finish welding in the windshield frame. At the end of April the Ghia should be going home and some time it May it should be in the paint shop!