It is with sad regret that im have to abandon the ghia project due to financial reasons.
I have had elmo for nearly 2 years and have over that period have spent time collating parts and starting the restoration. Unfortunatly i have been unable to contine with work for a while and with current problem something has to go, unfortunatly between the Camper, Beetle and the Ghia, the ghia has got the short straw...
History:
I got the car from a nice chap who had owned for 20 odd years, unfortunaly most of those were spent in the garage and later on his drive. It was last on the road in 1985. The clock reads 60,500 miles which i belive to be genuine although i have no service history the rest of the car leads me to this conclusion.
Also in the 80s the ghia was involved in a bad accident causing damage to both front and rear of the car. This was rectified although the quality was not of great standard with the rear being repaired with a type 4 wing and more filler being added to both the front and rear the guy who invented plastic padding must have had a very nice bonus during the 80s.
All that aside the car was complete and untouched in many years.
When i first took ownership of the car the years had taken its toll, the engine was not sized but would not start, there was bad corrosion to both channels, front and rear quarters, and there was signs of damp inside the car. Although the main structure although scabby was very good.
To date:
in the 2 years i have had, my first job was to try and get elmo started, after 20 years the petrol was that bad it had turned to treacle the line blocked and the carb was full of crap.
new cap, points, plugs, leads, carb rebuilt, tank cleaned and lines blown she came to life (eventually) and the other than the massive hole in the exhaust she sounded great! another reason i belive the 60k to be correct. i drove the car (slowly up and down the road as all the brake had gone as you would have expected...)
I have also stripped the car and have undertaken some of the restoration work.
In the time i have owned i have bought, a complete shell to replace the poor repair work in the 80s which some i have started to fit. It was a slightly earlier ghia with the nicer shaped back end and lights. various new panels, i have had new heater channels fabricated to the old channels from Zintec and in good thick steel (these will last).
Bought bumpers and sections as the ones supplied were wrong. replacement doors, and i have a few boxes of parts that i have collated over the last 2 years.
The seats are original and are in excellent condition no rips tears! the dash has a few cracks but you cant have everything.
there is too much to mention regarding the car as with spares with out getting them all out i cant remember half the stuff there is!
Is it stands i dont want to break this car as i think she is far too good for that a good RHD Ghia that just needs some one to spend the time on her, but in honesty there is a mammoth job involved getting this little car great again but the reward would be worth it!
Since owning it has been kept garaged.
Please visit my photobucket Account to see the current pics:
Karmann ghia pictures by rustyredbay - Photobucket
And please see here for some of the work i have undertaken.
Karmann Ghia Owner's Club GB :: View topic - Some work from today...
The asking price is 2k, no offers as its how much i have spent just on parts. and should i break the car would make this easy but i feel its far too good for this to happen.
Any questions please call me on: 07961746266
Patrick.
As i have put getting rid of Elmo is not something i have thought about lightly as i have wanted a ghia for many years and watching her go will be painfull. However i would love to see her go to a good home where she will be completed and that would make it all worth while. the last resort would be to break her but that would be criminal.
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