9er Posted 3September, 2019 Report Share Posted 3September, 2019 I have a 1959 Karmann Ghia which was the final year of production. They are known as Low lights and were only ever made in LHD and were not sold in Australia. Australia first go t Karmann Ghias in 1960 with the newer body style. I bought mine out of California in September last year and eventually got it shipped here in May (long story) Anyhow I know there are plenty of VW fans on here and also people who like picture driven threads so I thought I would record the journey here as I try to retain some of the 60yr old patina but also bring it up to a nice solid driver standard. The mix of old and new might not work and I may change my mind down the track but to get it up and driving that is the direction I'm heading. I was able to get it running after checking everything over however the asbestos checks in LA seem to have involved removing the brake shoes and calling it job done so I had quite a job of getting the brake system back up to speed. Front and rear suspension done with new link pins and king pins up front. First job was door hinge pins, followed by rear floors, then I tackled a dodgy repair to the RH front fender, where it seemed easier to cut a new body line with an angle grinder than try to rework the existing line. Front trunk had a rusted rear wall and spare wheel floor, and the ridge on the front nose needed tlc. Replacement rust panels are cheap and easy to source and the fit was good. I have bought new bumpers also. I disassembled all the seat frames and replaced broken springs and the sandblasted and repainted, ready for the new upholstery that I sourced from Lenny Copp in the USA, super expensive in VW terms but quite reasonable compared to Porsche stuff, and great quality. The roof paint is too far gone to be saved so I am just in the process of buzzing it all off after which I will be able to fit the new headliner and refit the front and rear windows with nice new seals. Picture of the car in LA By the time it got here things looked a little worse for wear. The car colour is Bamboo green with a Dark green roof. Airhead, wilson59, SteveF and 11 others 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelrik911 Posted 3September, 2019 Report Share Posted 3September, 2019 LHD to RHD conversion planned ????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 3September, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 3September, 2019 29 minutes ago, Zelrik911 said: LHD to RHD conversion planned ????? Definitely not. whilst it is a very easy conversion it would go against everything I know and love about classic cars. Mick, Troubleshooter, Skidmarks and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 3September, 2019 Report Share Posted 3September, 2019 Cracking on then Chris 👍 Still have those rims here if you're passing by Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 3September, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 3September, 2019 That would be great Lee in definitely one down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted 3September, 2019 Report Share Posted 3September, 2019 So want one of these as well very cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZ930 Posted 3September, 2019 Report Share Posted 3September, 2019 My wife’s aunty had a Karmann Ghia, same colour scheme, which I wanted but it was never for sale, she loved it. I went away for 9 months for work, came back and she had sold it...bugga ! Thanks to “the recession we had to have...” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airhead Posted 3September, 2019 Report Share Posted 3September, 2019 Love a good low light. Here's one we prepared earlier. Same colour too. P-Kay, 9er and GTP911 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikos Posted 4September, 2019 Report Share Posted 4September, 2019 Had a 70 model Cabrio in Signal Orange for several years. Installed a fresh 1776cc with a new case. Still have a soft spot for these cars. Gone but not forgotten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 14September, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 14September, 2019 more Pics of progress. LeeM and Dalai 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 15September, 2019 Report Share Posted 15September, 2019 Great work as usual 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 15September, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 15September, 2019 One year only Lowlight dash pad firstone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micknine01 Posted 15September, 2019 Report Share Posted 15September, 2019 Beautiful car, great patina 👌 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 14November, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 14November, 2019 Roof painted. Seats reassembled with new springs and padding Rust in battery area and both lower rear wheel arches done Still a bit more to do Might even be driving this very soon. wilson59, Troubleshooter, Skidmarks and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arnage Posted 14November, 2019 Report Share Posted 14November, 2019 Love your work Chris. 912 looks fantastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 14November, 2019 Report Share Posted 14November, 2019 46 minutes ago, Arnage said: Love your work Chris. 912 looks fantastic You should see it up close! 👍 Nice one knackers. The Ghia will be a cracker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 12January, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 12January, 2020 A bit of progress on the rear fenders, Karmann Ghia are a complex body shell structure compared to other cars I've done. hugh, Dalai, tomo and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 31January, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 31January, 2020 Some progress, metalwork, body and paint finished, so I can get the eBay spray booth out of the garage and reclaim some space. Engine back in, new wiring loom, and starting to put the interior together wilson59, tomo, Dalai and 6 others 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 14February, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 14February, 2020 Getting slightly quicker at headliner installs and windscreen replacements, but carpet kits are just 3 hrs of glue sniffing. It's now running and driving. tomo, P-Kay, Dalai and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikos Posted 19February, 2020 Report Share Posted 19February, 2020 Very, very nice. Both the Ghia and 912. Both look like stunners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 22September, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 22September, 2020 I have really been dragging my feet on this one, partly due to sourcing a few parts, but anyhow its ready to face the authorities to seek registration. tomo, Harsh, 81SC and 6 others 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 22September, 2020 Report Share Posted 22September, 2020 Nice work Chris. Good luck with the inspection 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 3November, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 3November, 2020 On the road and legal😃 Time to build the "Okrasa" motor now. Dalai, LeeM, SteveF and 5 others 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 4November, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 4November, 2020 I found a set of NOS Enkei Flat 4 wheels from Japan and sourced some machined caps but I'm having second thoughts about moving away from stock wheels. I have been able to get the rears to fit and just about to get to work on modifying the front steering and suspension to make fitment possible. hugh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikos Posted 4November, 2020 Report Share Posted 4November, 2020 As much as I love stock, those Enkei's look hot. Due to the contrast of old v new, they actually make the Ghia's body stand out more. Troubleshooter and 9er 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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