Saw a FB ad for a cheap KG in MN and realized I couldn't recall any reference to The Hive having done anything interesting with one. They're just a two seat Beetle, aren't they?
Saw a FB ad for a cheap KG in MN and realized I couldn't recall any reference to The Hive having done anything interesting with one. They're just a two seat Beetle, aren't they?
I'm curious about this too. They've always been more expensive then an equivalent Beetle whenever I looked. So that might explain the lack of presence with this bunch of tight wads.
Weren't they a lot more rust prone then regular Beetles?
sanyarcosean and his son ran a KG in the challenge for a couple years back around 2004
The pan is a little bit different shaped than the Beetle pan. Four lug Ghias got front disc brakes whereas Beetles had drum brakes.
They've drifted up in price during the last few years. Love their looks. A good base for all sorts of fun shenanigans.
Some tricky bits to restore if the rust-bug has taken hold. Expensive work if you have to pay for it.
It appears that one would body swap onto a 986 Boxster reasonably well.
I love Ghias and have toyed with the idea of one as an alternative to the air cooled Porsche insanity prices.
You can buy a 2.0 liter motor, upgrade the brakes and suspension very easily.
nocones said:It appears that one would body swap onto a 986 Boxster reasonably well.
eagerly awaiting your build thread.
Mechanically a Type 1, so all beetle upgrade parts fit. Wide open catalog.
A MassIVe Type 4 under the decklid would be perfect.
fanfoy said:*snip*
Weren't they a lot more rust prone then regular Beetles?
Ghias only rust where there is metal.
stroker said:Saw a FB ad for a cheap KG in MN and realized I couldn't recall any reference to The Hive having done anything interesting with one. They're just a two seat Beetle, aren't they?
Sort of. They have essentially the same "pan" but the body is one piece construction. No bolted on fenders. Drivetrains and engines are exactly the same as the bugs. Ghia's did get disc brakes at some point (maybe 66?). The back seat is fold down and a bit smaller then the bug.
I don't think they are specifically more rust prone. They will, most all of them, though, have the little tray area the spare sits on in the truck bottom (very front) rusted in some way. Also SUPER common to have the nose punched in at some point.
One of the primary issues with modifying them is the slightly covered rear wheels. This puts serious limitations on rear wheel width (unlike the bug). With swing axles (pre-68) you can cram more in there by dropping the car and creating a bunch of rear camber (with obvious side effects).
Far more streamlined than the bug (you sit maybe 4 inches lower?), which made them somewhat popular as drag racers. That is generally the style of modified ones you will see (as with Bugs). There are a few examples of road race ones, but that is very rare (likely because of the real rim width issue). You could flare them, but that kind of kills some pretty nice body lines.
They made FAR fewer Ghias than Bugs or busses. The price generally doesn't not reflect that though, I suspect it's because they were not in the memory of "had on in the family" because of the lower production numbers.
I have a very early version (58, 2400 made that year!). Pre-60 versions are generally known as "low lights" (front headlights are a bit lower than later years). Specific parts for these are MUCH harder to find. Specific Ghia parts for 60 or later cars are generally rather available (shares most parts with the Beetles of course).
Also of note. Unless the car is super original. Modifying VW's, be it Bugs, Busses or Ghia's generally has no downside on their value or appeal. Even condition. Heck, a rusty VW almost increases the value these days!
This is mine. Note small tail lights. Engine is obviously not stock. It's a later (69) block, 1600cc (stock is 1150 I think), dual carbs, cam etc. Probably double the stock 36 HP!
I saw this Ghia in Minnesota about a month ago:
nocones said:It appears that one would body swap onto a 986 Boxster reasonably well.
Wheelbase matches well, but you're gonna have to butch it up with some serious flares (Not that that's a bad thing)
Factoring in the price difference, it strikes me that it would be pretty straightforward to build one of these to be remarkably similar to a 356 or better.
In reply to Tyler H :
Yes, but don't tell a Porsche person that! I once got a pretty big scowl from one doing that.
The way I always look at it is the Bug is the passenger car, the 356 is the sports car, and the Ghia is the GT car (mostly in layout of course). The 356 is not that different from the Bug or Ghia. I think it may have a wider wheel track and shorter wheelbase. As far as power, they did have a bit more, but that is super easy to make up these days.
Parts of course, will be way cheaper for the VW (there is some crossover).
So what happens if you swap the VW mill with a Corvair engine to make a Frankenstein 911? They burn you at the stake?
1st you have to flip the ring gear. My old boss had a corvair converted VW transaxle. I think he had it in a dune buggy at one point. He gave up on it because VW engines are so much cheaper and more prevalent.
Mrs. preach wants one bad, already has read most of Muir's book on AC VWs, ready for an engine to build. Our dogs are Karmann and Ghia...
She wants something along the lines of this since type1s take boost so well:
buzzboy said:1st you have to flip the ring gear. My old boss had a corvair converted VW transaxle. I think he had it in a dune buggy at one point. He gave up on it because VW engines are so much cheaper and more prevalent.
You can probably still get the parts to build a Corvair engine to run reversed which is a better setup (flipped ring gears make a lot of noise and may not last long). I think all you need is a cam and a distributor drive gear (although you can do without a distributor, the shaft drives the oil pump). You will need an adapter plate of course also (I have one if anyone needs one).
The one mod you will need to do is cut out the rear apron since the engine is two cylinders longer. Here is an example, which for some strange reason replaces the stock alternator. Not sure what that is accomplishing (the Corvair uses a super common GM alternator, well most of it except the fan).
Also of note is that VW aren't as cheap as they used to be. You can spend $5000 plus on a performance engine pretty easily!
If anyone wants to do some car or engine shopping you want to take a look at The Samba: https://www.thesamba.com/
If you're going to change brands I'd lean Subaru and go watercooled. Why replace one obsolete motor with another?
All I know is that they're great looking cars and I haven't seen one in a while.
I made the rear panel removable like a VW bus on my old Ghia drag car ,
there is a guy on Shoptalk forum (I think) that has vintage raced a Ghia for years , just copy what he did and you will do well :)
yes it's a cheap 356 , and you can learn and copy most of the suspension mods the 356 guys use ,
Have fun
My dad bought a new Karmann Ghia when I was a little kid. Traded in his '65 Beetle for a new red Ghia coupe.
My sister and I would ride in the back seat together, so we were pretty small.
It was totaled by a drunk driver and replaced with a new 1970.5 Camaro. Of all the cars before and since... those two were always my favorites.
Everytime we talk about AC VW I'm reminded I have the Wartburg's EJ22/ECU and VW swap kit in my garage and it makes FBM an awkward place for a while..
You'll need to log in to post.
