ali66
Part of things
Posts: 33 
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Aug 23, 2014 10:47:41 GMT
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Hello! This is my 1972 karmann ghia project! It's a Legend fibreglass body and frame work mounted on a vw beetle cabriolet chassis and suspension, you might have seen it kicking around on the web It has not been on the road since 1994, 20 years!!! It has had 14 previous owners which is pretty frightening. However it has never quite made it onto the road yet, and it's been passed around quite a bit. Hopefully it's going to make it this time. It has: Rear swing arm suspension. 4" narrowed and lowered front beam. Lowered/Static suspension. Lift off boot hinges. Smoothed over door handles and window channels (strictly summer driving then)! Additional structural tubing in the cockpit. 15" Ally Cat black powder coated alloys. 8 ball gear knob. It does not have: A roof. Any windows. An interior. So no problem then! So.. Aiming for a stripped back roadster for summers and shows. Going to keep it simple with a black, grey and chrome colour scheme. Plans.. It's going to have a black tonneau cover with press studs. Standard 1300 cc engine to match log book. Custom door cards. Minimalist dashboard instrument panel. That is all for now, I did say I'm keeping it simple. Oh.. and her name is Darla! Here are a few images to show how far I've got... ![]()   ![]() ![]()  ![]()  |
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Last Edit: Aug 23, 2014 10:55:53 GMT by ali66
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alan87
Part of things
Posts: 45
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Aug 23, 2014 12:15:32 GMT
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Love that! the grp looks in good condition. Did you have to do much work on it?
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ali66
Part of things
Posts: 33
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Aug 23, 2014 15:57:39 GMT
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Cheers, only got it a few months ago. I've painted the underneath black and mocked up the engine. I need to get it running still. The grp is in good condition, but both windscreen pillars have hairline cracks which need repairing. All floor pans are excellent so no rust on this one what so ever.  |
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Aug 23, 2014 15:59:59 GMT
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Was this the one on Ebay sometime last year/early this year? I'm sure i remember a similar one that was sold by a guy who owned a bodyshop or garage?
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ali66
Part of things
Posts: 33
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Aug 23, 2014 16:28:05 GMT
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Yeh, guessing though. I had it off the next owner to the previous one you have mentioned. Here's a link to the Volkzone page, think this is the guy with the garage? |
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Last Edit: Aug 23, 2014 16:30:18 GMT by ali66
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Aug 23, 2014 17:15:24 GMT
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That's the one! I knew i had seen it for sale before. Hopefully you will be the one to finally get it on the road! |
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ali66
Part of things
Posts: 33
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UPDATE POST! It’s been a while since my last post, apologies. A lot of progress has been made on the fibreglass Ghia, with lots learnt and some pretty scuffed up hands to show for it.               Off the top of my head the jobs I’ve completed are: - Electrics are installed (wiring loom and instruments). - Engine is rebuilt (top end). - Battery tray has been moved and mounted. - Clutch and throttle cables connected. - Fabrication of engine bay tinware. - Brakes are bled with reservoir connected up. - Bonnet catch and release cable mounted - Seat belts are mounted. - Steering is now correctly aligned with a ‘quick steer’ plate. - Rear shock absorbers are mounted. - Rear bumper brackets are mounted but still need to be levelled and painted. - Wing mirrors are mounted. - Custom fit, fold down rear seat constructed. Please feel free to follow further progress on the Instagram account ‘darla.ghia’ Hopefully this beauty will be on the road soon. This summer maybe?🤞 Wish me luck! |
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Great car mate and an even greater job
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Apr 20, 2019 14:52:43 GMT
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More, please. Not joining Instagram just for this, so you'll have to post progress up here  |
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Last Edit: Apr 20, 2019 14:52:55 GMT by luckyseven
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Apr 20, 2019 15:23:31 GMT
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Great progress. Missed this at the start but I've it bookmarked now.
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ali66
Part of things
Posts: 33
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Apr 20, 2019 16:49:00 GMT
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More, please. Not joining Instagram just for this, so you'll have to post progress up here No problem, I’ll do my best to! I will also post a few more old photo on here this evening for people not on Instagram |
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Apr 20, 2019 18:37:39 GMT
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More, please. Not joining Instagram just for this, so you'll have to post progress up here No problem, I’ll do my best to! I will also post a few more old photo on here this evening for people not on Instagram I'm following you!!!  |
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ali66
Part of things
Posts: 33
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Apr 20, 2019 21:51:16 GMT
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piguin
Part of things
Posts: 136
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Apr 20, 2019 22:08:41 GMT
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That looks stunning! Always loved the Ghia, never knew that there was a company making fiberglass bodies for beetles. Good to see it moving along, don't be shy with the pictures |
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ali66
Part of things
Posts: 33
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That looks stunning! Always loved the Ghia, never knew that there was a company making fiberglass bodies for beetles. Good to see it moving along, don't be shy with the pictures Yes there are companies out there making shells, but I believe the one which made mine closed down in 2001. I’ve heard Porsche 356 speedster fibreglass bodies can be mount to a beetle chassis too! I’ll keep the images coming, definitely. Cheers |
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braaap
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,748
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There used to be a german company, too, selling and building these replicas, not too far from me:  But I have no clue weather they just bought the fibreglass bodies and parts or if they were the producers. Meanwhile somebody else took over the business elsewhere, but it seems you still can buy parts or complete cars: german pricelist |
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Apr 21, 2019 20:59:52 GMT
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Good progress. You already have a better rear seat than an original KG.
I wonder if you could do a lift off hardtop, though i appreciate that may be a little way down your to do list as yet.
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this is an awesome project. Sadly, I had to give up a 356 kit car project years ago. Still regret that one to this day.
you are doing a great job...Finally, it will be on the road!
JP
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I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!
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Apr 22, 2019 10:49:18 GMT
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Had no idea such kits existed. And the work you are doing looks like restoration quality. I take it this is not your first rodeo?
But I do need to ask, why a replica when good originals sell for less than you are going to have into this build?
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