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> Karman Ghia & VW conv., why so high?
sunfloweryellow914
post Mar 4 2004, 05:41 PM
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For some time I have been seeing Ghias and VW convertables selling for prices way above 914s. What gives?
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RocknRollFrenzy
post Mar 4 2004, 06:29 PM
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nostalgia?? for some reason normal people like bugs and ghia's. only weirdos like us like 914's.

actually, i have to admit that i think the ghia is a great looking design.
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Dave_Darling
post Mar 4 2004, 06:41 PM
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Because they look good/pretty/cute/handsome/nice/whatever. And because some people have good memories about them. And because people just plain like them!

Heck, I wouldn't turn a nice Ghia down if it were offered to me...

--DD
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steve@ottosvenice.com
post Mar 4 2004, 06:47 PM
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I sold a nonrunner no motor or Trans. A real pile of junk 71 vw Convert for $2k to some germans . I aksed them what they would give me for it a the guy say $2k. need less to say I snapped up his offer. Steve
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Jake Raby
post Mar 4 2004, 07:06 PM
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My partner in crime here, Brent is selling his 64 Ghia... After a 6 year restoration....

It'll be a feature car in the centerfold of Hot Vws in June/July immediately thereafter it goes up for sale.

Already turned down 28,000 for it. Its done right and is perfect in every meaning of the word.

VW Guys spend more money on their cars than Porsche owners.... some of my customers have 20+ vintage VWS! One guy has bought 17 engines from me, I'm doing 4 for him right now!
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red914
post Mar 4 2004, 07:08 PM
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was thinking of a ghia when i found the 914. my dad had an old '67, complete with 8-track tape player (to say nothing of the simon and garfunkel tape!) back when the car and i were both young.
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Jake Raby
post Mar 4 2004, 07:19 PM
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A later Ghia with IRS, coupled to a Huge TIV and 944 rear suspension and brakes is a serious ride....

I built an engine for one guy that has over 100K in a Ghia, but he takes it to DE events and annihilates 911s!
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need4speed
post Mar 5 2004, 11:40 AM
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I was arranging a deal with a guy I know to TRADE my Ghia for his 74 1.8l 914.
He got cold feet.

Had nothing to do with the fact that my transaxle may have bad synchros. . .
But I could still be talked into it.

Now that I'm about to be gainfully employed again, I'm even thinking about rebuilding the 912 motor and putting that back in. . .
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tat2dphreak
post Mar 5 2004, 11:46 AM
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the ghias are just plain sweet, I was going to do a ghia when I found my 914... a buddy of mine has a sweet ghia coupe he is restoring... he paid 600 for it, the owner thought it didn't run... friend cleaned the carb and gas tank, corrected the firing order on the distributor, and it ran like a champ!!

ghais are a sweet and classy looking car, what's not to love?!?!
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KaptKaos
post Mar 5 2004, 01:42 PM
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There was a great article in 1974 in Car and Driver that compared a Ghia Vert to a 55 1500N Speedster. Surpriningly, the cars perfromed nearly identically. They went so far as to say, that the Ghia was the last speedster.

I have it 'round here somewheres. I'll see if I can scan it. If anyone else has it, please post it.

Lastly, the Ghia was and is a very pretty car. Great design and they actually were built fairly well. Rust has claimed most of the east coast cars, so there is a limited number of west coast cars available. Let those prices go up. I'd prefer that they rise, rather than see 914 prices go too high and ruin all of our fun.
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need4speed
post Mar 5 2004, 01:55 PM
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QUOTE(tat2dphreak @ Mar 5 2004, 09:46 AM)

ghais are a sweet and classy looking car, what's not to love?!?!

Don't get me wrong.
I love every inch of my Ghia. They ARE great cars.

But I've been itching for a car that's a tad more fun to drive. 5-speed options in a Ghia are slim and costly. The 912 motor was a blast, but I'm wanting something with a bit more oomph than that. I'm also kind of tired of carb issues - mostly, the daily struggle that is cold-starting a carbed engine. But the problems I've had with my transaxle after going back to the stock engine have kind of sucked all the fun out of my particular Ghia, as a driver, and as a hobby.

But mainly, the Ghia makes me feel as if I've got to keep pouring money and effort into beauty. Every paint bubble, every scratch, is excruciating. It's a beautiful body, and imperfections really bother me. I feel like if I had a 914, I wouldn't care so much about how it looks, but more about how it runs. And that's really the part of the car-hobby that I enjoy - working on the mechanicals. I'm just not a "paint-n-interior" guy.
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tat2dphreak
post Mar 5 2004, 02:02 PM
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QUOTE(need4speed @ Mar 5 2004, 01:55 PM)
QUOTE(tat2dphreak @ Mar 5 2004, 09:46 AM)

ghais are a sweet and classy looking car, what's not to love?!?!

Don't get me wrong.
I love every inch of my Ghia. They ARE great cars.


But mainly, the Ghia makes me feel as if I've got to keep pouring money and effort into beauty. Every paint bubble, every scratch, is excruciating. It's a beautiful body, and imperfections really bother me. I feel like if I had a 914, I wouldn't care so much about how it looks, but more about how it runs. And that's really the part of the car-hobby that I enjoy - working on the mechanicals. I'm just not a "paint-n-interior" guy.

LOL, I thought that too.. but I am as meticulous about my 914 as anything! if it had a dent under the carpet I would be upset that it was there... even if no one else even knew...

for "oomph" you could ALWAYS get a reaby engine with the DTM! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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trojanhorsepower
post Mar 5 2004, 02:07 PM
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I can't believe what I am reading.... all this time I thought I was the only one that came to the 914 via a ghia! I too wanted a convertible ghia and abandoned the idea when my best friend's dad got a 911. I can get a Porsche for less than a ghia! At 16 I was sold, but it was not to be for some time I did not get either the Porsche or the ghia for 14 years. Oh well, better late than never.

-Pete
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need4speed
post Mar 5 2004, 02:09 PM
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QUOTE(KaptKaos @ Mar 5 2004, 11:42 AM)
. . . Rust has claimed most of the east coast cars, so there is a limited number of west coast cars available. . . .

Especially verts.

After the years go by, and the top leaks, the heater channels and pans rust, and with a Ghia Vert, the pan's the only thing holding the car together, so. . . .

Replacing a top is a $5000 ordeal, if done properly.
It's considered to be about the most difficult Ghia project one could take on one's self. It took Karmann two skilled workers 8 hours to install the top.

Hence, the tops don't often get replaced when they should.
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robby750
post Mar 5 2004, 04:31 PM
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I owned a Ghia once. It was the only car I ever made a profit on. Paid $700.00 in 1988 and sold it a year later for $900.00. It was really rough bodywise but the engine ran just fine. My wife drove it through the winter and kept complaining that there was no heat. After a little research, I found out how to heat the cabin and told her all she had to do was push in the cigarette lighter and when it popped out, wave it around some, then repeat.
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sanglee007
post Mar 5 2004, 09:27 PM
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Got my 914 after looking at Ghias Convertibles too.

Now, I've got 2 Ghias running around my neighborhood. I just need to get my 914 reliable.



Sang 76/2.0
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EdwardBlume
post Mar 5 2004, 10:11 PM
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Ghia's, squarebacks, notchbacks, and fastbacks are all fun cars. Same reason the 914s are fun.... lots of feedback. The 914 gives you more options IMO, not on the chrome side, but more on the track side.
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Mike D.
post Mar 5 2004, 11:57 PM
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OK, It runs now, and pretty good too!
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Hey need4speed,

I've got a 73 2.0 914, I'll trade for a Ghia...


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ppickerell
post Mar 6 2004, 12:28 PM
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I just picked up a 73 Fastback from the paint shop and had it towed to Surefit in San Leandro for a new set of clothes. Will post pix!
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Aaron Cox
post Mar 6 2004, 02:27 PM
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I too was inbetween a ghia and a teener. now my mom might be getting a ghia vert. ill be thrilled to drive it.
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