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Gustl
I always loved the Karmann Ghia wub.gif

here's one on eBay

John Kelly
Just needs to have the front and rear bumper, turn signals, taillights changed to the early style, lowered, widened...and more to be just right.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com
John Kelly
Sort of like this...
Rleog
Absolutely incredible, John. A work of art.
Bruce Allert
John, did you do that??? wub.gif That's GREAT! beer.gif

There have been so many nice Ghia's show up on Craigslist in the last month. Most under $4000 and some for $3000. I wanted everyone of them.
Like this one

or

This One

...b
Gustl
QUOTE (John Kelly @ Feb 6 2005, 04:16 PM)
Sort of like this...

wow, looks pretty "beasty" ohmy.gif
but, to be honest, I prefere the "stock look", especially the earier versions (like the yellow one from Craigslist wub.gif
carambola
most of the salt is off the roads and i must say, she ran mighty fine.
bd1308
me and my dad were talking about reliable, well built cars while transporting the 914 parts car, and we were wondering if the Karmann Ghia had framework to it (unlike the 914)...?
jr91472
just curious, but can you get a safety inspection without a bumper?

Always have loved that Calif. look. wub.gif

carambola
unit body just like the 914. welder.gif
bd1308
QUOTE (carambola @ Feb 6 2005, 11:01 AM)
unit body just like the 914. welder.gif

sad.gif what about the beetle?
rhodyguy
no safety inspection in washington. i saw a bone stock early convert on the road yest. similar to the the irish green with a light brown top. i thought the kg body lifted off the pan.

k
kafermeister
My first car when I was 16 was a '73 Ghia Vert. I still have it. It was badly rusted when I got it and it isn't any better now.

Beetle and Ghia share the same frame. It's not a lader frame like someone would be used to here in America. I've actually put a Ghia frame (with beetle floor pan halves) under a beetle. Everything lines up as long as we're not talking Super Beetles.

Those cars car rust so bad the doors won't shut but the allignment will still be spot on. BTDT.

Rick
Gustl
searching my hard disk I just found this nice one:

John Kelly
QUOTE (Bruce Allert @ Feb 6 2005, 09:23 AM)
John, did you do that??? wub.gif That's GREAT! beer.gif

There have been so many nice Ghia's show up on Craigslist in the last month. Most under $4000 and some for $3000. I wanted everyone of them.
Like this one

or

This One

...b

The green Ghia has my steel flares on it. I did not do the work. My customer had it done. It is photodropped. I prefer to have bumpers.

The Karmann Ghia body lifts of the pan/chassis just like a Bug.

Thanks, John www.ghiaspecialties.com
John Kelly
Here is a gallery full of Ghias:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_cat...t.php?cat_id=28 look in the classifieds while you are there.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com
redshift
John, how much for a suit of maille?

wink.gif

M
John Kelly
Depends on whether or not you want the gold plated version or the old rusty version with dents (my preference). Did you piss someone off? In all seriousness, there are a lot of guys who make their own armor, and get out there and wack each other around. I prefer custom car metal work, but the techniques are the same.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com
pete-stevers
Always loved the old aircooled stuff, one day after the 914 is done i would like to build up a thing with big ole tires and with a big ass Jake built type 4 in it..... Hmmm maybe I can convince my wife that its for her biggrin.gif ..... do ya think.... idea.gif
anthony
I don't understand the Ghia market. To me they seem way over priced compared to equivalent 914s. IMO, the 914 is twenty times the car the Ghia will ever be (besides John's work of art there).

Don't get me wrong. I've always liked Ghias. But it's just a rebodied bug with a small engine and crappy handling. In comparison, 914-4s should be selling for twice as much.
Hammy
QUOTE (anthony @ Feb 6 2005, 04:28 PM)
I don't understand the Ghia market. To me they seem way over priced compared to equivalent 914s. IMO, the 914 is twenty times the car the Ghia will ever be (besides John's work of art there).

Don't get me wrong. I've always liked Ghias. But it's just a rebodied bug with a small engine and crappy handling. In comparison, 914-4s should be selling for twice as much.

agree.gif I like them too, but I agree. To add to it, there were way more Ghia's produced confused24.gif
kafermeister
QUOTE (anthony @ Feb 6 2005, 08:28 PM)
I don't understand the Ghia market. To me they seem way over priced compared to equivalent 914s. IMO, the 914 is twenty times the car the Ghia will ever be (besides John's work of art there).

Don't get me wrong. I've always liked Ghias. But it's just a rebodied bug with a small engine and crappy handling. In comparison, 914-4s should be selling for twice as much.

Indeed overpriced. The VW crowd is a different bread. For me what gives the Ghia appeal is the sleek look on a Beetle budget.

I agree with all your points eccept handling. Of course, they're no 914 in the handling department. Not by a stretch, but they (Beetles and Ghias) do take suspension upgrades very well. I was running arround in mine during the mid 80s and it would out handle most of the junk arround here with nothing more than a pair of cheap gas front shocks.

I'm still into VWs (see my avitar). I plan on either fixing my Ghia or finding another one someday. ...but not until after the 914 is is on the road of course. biggrin.gif

R
jimtab
QUOTE (Hammy @ Feb 6 2005, 05:22 PM)
QUOTE (anthony @ Feb 6 2005, 04:28 PM)
I don't understand the Ghia market. To me they seem way over priced compared to equivalent 914s. IMO, the 914 is twenty times the car the Ghia will ever be (besides John's work of art there).

Don't get me wrong. I've always liked Ghias. But it's just a rebodied bug with a small engine and crappy handling. In comparison, 914-4s should be selling for twice as much.

agree.gif I like them too, but I agree. To add to it, there were way more Ghia's produced confused24.gif

Can you say "cult" car?
Hammy
biggrin.gif Just curious/always wondered, what was the price of a brand new Ghia in the 70's?

And what would that price be in todays money?
redshift
You guys are funny... funny idiots.... enjoy your cheap crap! LEST THEY CHARGE MORE FOR IT AND MAKE IT HYPER-EXPENSIVE CRAP!

heh


M
John Kelly
Actually Ghias are underpriced for what they are. Beautiful Italian styling, and the early ones are put together a lot better than most cars. Not hand built like some say, but hand assembled...the early ones are a fantastic combination of style, price, and craftsmanship that is impossible to find in any other car....my humble opinion. I think 914s are underpriced as well....bunch of cheap fuckers! (insert smily emoticon)

John www.ghiaspecialties.com
tat2dphreak
I love ghias... if they were a little cheaper, and cheaper to fix the conv. tops, I probably would have ended up with one instead of the teener... but thinkgs always work out for the best biggrin.gif
Rusty
Ghias are hot. wub.gif

If I had a more permanent living situation, I'd have a real garage to store the 914 and a Ghia. Until that happens... no Ghia for me.

-L
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