Is this a chopped top or original convertible?

[janoostland]

I found this 1969 Ghia online, wondering it it is an original convertible or a chopped roof. Can someone confirm what I'm looking at? It seems very rough above the windshield.
Thanks for your help!

[rbsurfguy]

Looks like a hack job to me. Looks nothing like my original convertible. You have any other pics of the rear area and the convertible hinges?
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=

[sputnick60]

The frame shouldn't be open like that.
More like this '69s from the gallery

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'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Marcdeb]

If you have access to the car or can ask the seller for information, try to find out the width of the back seat. A coupe back seat is approximately 42 inches wide. The convertible back seat is approximately 36 inches wide. You can measure the back seat itself or the opening that supports it.

I think this looks like the top of a windshield from a coupe where the top has been cut off??

Over the entire production run of the Karmann Ghia, there was 2 very different designs of the top of the windshield frame and this one does not resemble either one. There's definitely something going on with this car. Here's a thread about a coupe that was chopped into a convertible and there's lots of helpful information on this subject.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=668495&highlight=
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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

[Era Vulgaris]

That is 100% a chopped coupe
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Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD

Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue

[rcooled]

From the looks of that windshield frame, I'd say that car started life as a coupe.

The rear seat area will have certain features that are unique to convertibles too. This photo from the gallery shows the panel just below the rear edge of the interior opening with mounting points for the rear window hinges ↓

Here you can see one of the plastic tubes that drain water away from the rear window. These tubes exit thru holes in the bottom of the quarter panels, just behind the rear wheels. These tubes and the holes are only found in convertibles ↓

The small 'L'-shaped bracket in the upper-left of this photo is also unique to the later convertibles. It anchors the ends of the cable that holds down the rear edge of the convertible top. And the structure just below that is one of the mounting points for the top frame ↓

This photo shows the 'U'-shaped channel around the rear opening for the cable that fastens the rear edge of the top ↓

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'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone)

[janoostland]

Thanks everyone for the detailed feedback. The owner claimed this was an original convertible and these explanations definitely confirmed it was not. None of the pieces you mentioned is shown in this car. See Pictures.
You saved me from buying the wrong body!!
Thanks!

[Braukuche]

[Marcdeb]

Wow, those pictures are unreal! What a back job. Good that you were suspicious and asked some questions. This car is going to be someone's nightmare.
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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

[hitest]

Ask that idiot to describe how it "converts" back to a covered car. It's original only in its manner of devaluing execution. Many a dumba** thinks roadster and convertible are interchangeable terms, too. We've got one of those hack jobs floating from unsuspecting owner to owner around Boise- many lies told over the decades...
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