VW karmenn Ghia way O/T questions

JOCCO · Dec 16, 2009

Any of you on here have (or had) a Karmenn Ghia? What is your exsperiance with them? Any one restored them?

atlarge54 · Dec 16, 2009

Wow has it ever been a long time, yes I've owned several. They were all rust buckets, but loads of fun.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 16, 2009

I owned one in 1963. they are built on a VW frame (floor Pan) and use air cooled engine. I do not remember how many years they were built but it was a regular VW chasis with a Karman body. Wonderful sport car n my opinion. but then I liked the old aircooled VW I am in the process or rebuilding a 1969 convertible. Parts are still available. enjoy it.

PJH · Dec 16, 2009

A guy I worked with had one. Neat little car.

His had a feature that I never saw on another one - on the generator pulley, there was a pin sticking outward. He had a belt with a handle - the belt had a hole that matched the pin. He'd hook the belt on the pin, wrap it around the genny pulley and pull start it like a lawnmower.

Paul

old · Dec 16, 2009

Never had one of them but had many bugs and from what I know they where pretty much the same other then the body it's self. I also found out that a Porsche 914 engine and trans-axle would bolt right into either one and then you had one heck of a sleeper hot rod. Sort of funny to see a VW bug doing 150 mph down the hwy.

Spook · Dec 17, 2009

My dad had one in the early 60's. I never got to drive it, so I can't tell ya much.

ScottyHOMeY · Dec 17, 2009

Can't remember all the specifics, but the motor was a little harder to access to work on than the same motor in a bug. They went good in the snow, just like a bug, but suffered the same very poor (basically no-existent) cabin heating system. For a summer car, it's a great, fun little machine.

olddog · Dec 17, 2009

Rescued a 1965 from a hedgerow: had been used for target practice. Only had 13 bulletholes innit. Repaired the rusty floorpan, some bodywork and replaced the rusty rocker tubes with PVC pipe and a booster fan for the defrosters, upped the 1300 to 1500, chg to 12V Alt, and drove it for a few years. I made some nice 14 inch rims outta bus wheels with special offset. Gave it a nice stance. Downfall came when I hydroplaned it, one cold Oct morning, goin' to work. Wide tires - no weight.
Still have many parts for it.
PS It's Karmann Ghia

JDemaris · Dec 17, 2009

I had several. Just a German built car body (Karmann) with an Italian body (Ghia) on a German chasis(Volkswagen). Kind of hard to believe now that some of them were considered "sporty." But, so was the Plymouth Valiant when it first came out.

I worked for year in a Volkswagen engine rebuild shop in NJ and got several VWs cheap or free, including a few fancy Ghias. Basically still just Volkwagens with "high-tech" options like fuel injection and gasoline-fired heaters. A working gasoline heater was a big plus for winter driving. On some, you could actually drive with the windows closed, instead of with your head hanging out - since you couldn't see out the frozen windshield.
For a utilitarian car, my 49 Beetle was the best. No fuel gauge though, just a tiny reserve tank like a motorcycle.

jose bagge · Dec 17, 2009

Engine in a ghia is EXACTLY the same as in a Bug....Type 3 (Squarback and fstbacks) had "flat motors" (fans on front rather than on top) that made 'em a little tougher.

More rust issues with Ghias than bugs, esp around leading door edge

Anonymous-0 · Dec 17, 2009

With just a big bore 1600 in place of the 1200 in my '64 bug the top end was over 95, I never did find out how much over because above 89 the front wheels were in the air giving no steering control.

Gerald J.

nc140man · Dec 17, 2009

Check out this site. They have all the answers and plenty of other air-cooled enthusiasts to swap stories with! Got a lot of help with My "68 beetle just like the tractor help I got here for My "61 140.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewforum.php?f=7

Geo-TH,In · Dec 27, 2009

(quoted from post at 04:22:42 12/17/09) Any of you on here have (or had) a Karmenn Ghia? What is your exsperiance with them? Any one restored them?

I had 2 Ghias. They are not suited for cold weather. Mine got 33 mpg. When I was 20, if I drove the car for 3 hours my legs went to sleep. Had to use my hands to drag myself out of the car. VW's and Ghia's were Hitlers way of getting even with us for losing WWII. The VW are female in nature, high maintaince!! No oil filter, had to adjust the valves every oil change. Oil changes were recommended every 1500 miles. You were lucky to get 50,000 miles before the valves burnt or dropped. The heater tubes were a part of the rocker panels which rusted out and when driving in the rain water would come in and your feet would get wet. Not to mention the defrosters, a towel and ice scraper. VW's had a tendency to flip if you went over if you took a hill or RR tracks too fast and got the back wheels off the ground. There is a good reason why they don't make then any more, my advice, stay away from them!

ted a loggins · Feb 16, 2011

hey i have a 62 ghia and have had it for 25 yrs .I LOVE IT ! man they are cool i showed this car for years until the kids came along then she went to the shop and set there for years .the kids are older now and me and the old girl has become buddys once again. 1600 engine with doul carbs big valve heads etc.. polished alum and chrome totally,lowered front end and ready for the body shop .all new brakes / freeway flyer tranny/ new wiring harness / to many nice things to list . but you get the drift hell yeah i love ghias !!

VW karmenn Ghia way O/T questions

JOCCO

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atlarge54

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old

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