56 Ghia build with Webasto and Judson

[JeffL]

The first picture of her when I bought the car in 1992(edit) I saw the car listed in Hemmings when the original owner passed on and his family was selling the Ghia. It had 65,000 miles. They wanted $1200, I offered $1000 and then 6 months later they called me and asked me if I wanted it for $800.

The Ghia still has the original engine and bill of sale. It was manufactured on March 28, 1956. It still has the one piece bumpers with enclosed bumper guards on the back. Only a radio and mirror were installed at the dealership. At some point the front seat centers were changed and a "gas pedal" was added.

All date coded rims that require tubes are still on the car. The original hub caps with body color VW painted emblems were still with her. Very complete except for lower body panel rust from living out on Long Island New York.

What is amazing is that the pan is fully in tact without any through rust. I brought the chassis back from the painter last weekend and started disassembly. I could likely restore the shocks they were in good condition. The frame head and front axle are excellent. Everything is coming off with ease.

This will take some time, as it should after owning the car for over 25 years and moving it to 4 different houses across the East Coast.

We had to move the mighty 1945 DUKW out under the lean too so that we have some space to work on the 56. There have been about 60 cars like the DUKW come and go over the past 25 years. Now it is the Ghias turn as we are empty nesters and time marches on.

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http://karmannghias.org/
https://karmannghias.org/GAlken/index.html

[Bub]

I think you meant to end up in the Ghia forum, but I'm always happy to hear about cars like this.
Trout Blue 56' ? Reminds me of my old Ghia. It was a LATE 56' , 57' model if I remember right. It's been a while.
I got mine for free/ labor trade with 54k miles on it. Definitely one car (of many) I should have kept.

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[JeffL]

[Loren]

Great to finally see you starting the restoration on this Ghia. I have been waiting a long time to see this! Looking forward to updates. If you have any trouble finding parts let me know.

[JeffL]

[Loren]

Maybe you could weld or have the holes welded up and add the single hole?

[56GoldeGhia]

Hi Jeff,

Good to hear you finally finish the Ghia after all those years.
You're the one that triggered me to go look for a sunroof Ghia when I visit your website long time ago.
Can't wait to see it finished. Not too many Golde roofs out there, but Webasto's are really rare.

Good luck and keep us all posted on the restoration.

Best regards,
Rinie

[JeffL]

Getting the chassis clean. Here Rusty Jones protected the pan but took 2 hrs to scrape half off.

For those into numbers

Trans A-756234
Front Axle 1148341

Pan for a 56 in the North East is pretty nice. Is the entire frame head the same as the Beetle?

Torsion covers had some pinholes in the bottom. Anyone with NOS ones to selll?

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http://karmannghias.org/
https://karmannghias.org/GAlken/index.html

[TRS63]

What a project 😍 and a sunroof ghia, does it get better?

Thanks for sharing,

Antoine
_________________
Antoine
My 62 ragtop daily driver:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728873
My 914 restoration&lightweight project :
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9698432#9698432
Resurrecting a 60 ghia : https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=713906
My 52 Standard Zwitter :
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10086685#10086685

[JeffL]

These pictures are from 2010. We had moved from PA to KY. The link goes to my website to show the process to put in the Webasto. I tried to do it pretty much as original.

http://karmannghias.org/Webasto.htm

_________________
http://karmannghias.org/
https://karmannghias.org/GAlken/index.html

[JeffL]

Back in 2005 I think I found an NOS 40hp Judson with a Ghia Scoop. It had the original template even to cut the decklid. As luck would have it I also found a second 1956 Trout Blue deck lid to cut for the scoop. I'll keep the original decklid around as a wall hanging.

I need one more Judson stamped belt. Has anyone reproduced these?

At the far bottom I am waiting for my reproduction tri color gauge. I can't wait. I've only seen one real tri color. The early Judsons used these. Not sure of the mount to use, I don't want to cut the dash. Maybe a column mounted gauge.

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http://karmannghias.org/
https://karmannghias.org/GAlken/index.html

[Loren]

The tunnel and bulkhead are the same as a beetle. The only difference in the pan is the width of the pan sections. The rear end and all components are the same as beetle too. The front beam does have a few Ghia specific parts though. Here is a 57 Ghia parts books that shows what you need (if you are looking to go 100% stock original):

The sway bar has indents in it and the tie rods are a little different too. If you need more information on these parts let me know.

[JeffL]

Thanks Loren I thought something else might have been Ghia specific but I guess not.

I didn't know the 56/57 Ghia shifter was unique to the Beetle. I guess it is the bend in it but still uses the Beetle knob. We had to start opening boxes to make sure I didn't put it on the Alken, we found it. Long ago I created a spreadsheet listing parts in boxes.

We found the box with about 40 baby food jars of fastners and small parts. I had a feeling this would be a long restoration. All the labels stayed on the jars so we are good. My son of 27 now was here and we had a laugh seeing his initials on the jar lids from day care at the church. Like I said, time marches on.

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http://karmannghias.org/
https://karmannghias.org/GAlken/index.html

[JeffL]

Steering Wheel, I picked up a parts 57 for the Petri horn ring. I will redo it in the same color as the steering wheel. I did a little test fit after a little polishing.

There is a good picture of a 57 Ghia shifter showing it is bent.

I left the rest of the car at the farm I grew up on too long and my brother crushed it...... we are still friends.

Update

Maybe I will use this Repro Rometsch wheel. Color is not right and would need repainted. I am partial to the sundial horn button and will need to find one, I think I saw those redone too.

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http://karmannghias.org/
https://karmannghias.org/GAlken/index.html

[JeffL]

Speaker Grill 3D printing anyone?

Here is a picture of the 3 row grill and speaker from my early 56. It is very thin plastic an warped easy in the sun. It used a smaller diameter speaker also.

Next to it is a 4 row grill from a 1958 I parted out. It is a much stiffer almost bakelite material.

With 3D printing, I wonder if I should try to have it printed to make it perfect. I spend about an hour with a blow dryer trying to straighten it but no where near perfect.

_________________
http://karmannghias.org/
https://karmannghias.org/GAlken/index.html

[JeffL]

Tube vs tubeless.

Here is a side by side of rims that require tubes and those that do not. You can see the embossed flat area for the valve stem to seat on tubeless rims.

I still have all 5 original rims. One still has an Engelbrecht labeled tire, maybe it is an original.

What the best source for tubes?

_________________
http://karmannghias.org/
https://karmannghias.org/GAlken/index.html

[aerosilver]

[JeffL]

[quote="aerosilver"]

[Loren]

Having a 3 row grill printed would be great! That is a detail missing on most restorations. Airhead Parts (Karmann Ghia Parts and Restoration) makes a really nice 4 row grill if decide to go that route.

[TRS63]

That topic is really awesome, lot of informations on early ghias, love it !

Thanks for sharing !

Antoine
_________________
Antoine
My 62 ragtop daily driver:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728873
My 914 restoration&lightweight project :
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9698432#9698432
Resurrecting a 60 ghia : https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=713906
My 52 Standard Zwitter :
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10086685#10086685