Post by CrazyBrit on Oct 18, 2014 15:10:52 GMT -8
This is my 1971 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet. It is well travelled and I think it has an interesting history - so I am going to tell you about it! There are many people out there who will tell you that the only years to own are pre-'70, or perhaps even pre-'68. I disagree. The later models have a bigger engine, IRS with higher gearing and still look every bit as good as the earlier cars. So they have slightly bigger rear lights and the wrap around front turn signals. With the large rear reflectors removed I think that they look pretty darn good. The slightly larger rear lights on the 70 and 71 model years are easier on the eye than the 72 - 74 models and they retain the earlier bumpers. This is my second 71, which I have now owned for 16 years and I love it. The other big bonus for me, is that I can install a stock set of seats and have factory head restraints. Not a huge thing, but I drive this car a lot and I like the safety they afford.
I purchased this car in London, UK in November 1998. It was imported into the UK from California by Karmann Ghia Motorworks in around 1996. The previous owner, a lovely young blonde lady, was going to have it painted gold with gold Empi eight spokes. Thankfully, the team at Karmann Ghia Motorworks talked her out of the gold paintjob and it ended up Old English White, which just happens to be very similar to the VW Ivory, used on some of the earlier cars. This also happens to be my favourite colour on early 911's..... The girl who had the car before me bought it because it looked cool and she had seen one in a movie (also gold apparently). She then discovered that they didn't make great daily drivers in London at any time other than summer. The car was returned to Mason at KG Motorworks after it wouldn't start on one occasion. The gas filler was full of leaves, which had blocked the drain and allowed water to seep into the gas tank. Strange that it would not run?
When I found the car, it still looked great, but was sat in an underground car park in the middle of London with half an inch of water lying on top of the floors. The fact that it was holding water told me that there were no holes in it. The day I bought it was a typical London winter day - cold, wet and very busy. My Dad and I picked it up and drove it six hours home to the Newcastle area in the rain - after bailing out the water and wringing out the carpets.
I drove it in all weathers in the UK for a couple of years, before it began to lead a more sheltered and sedate life. Although I drove it year round, at times as my only vehicle, it was always garaged and well looked after. I worked away at sea until recently, so it only ran for a couple of months at a time. I imported it into Canada along with my Splitty just before Christmas 2006. I had them shipped on a car carrier (Ro-Ro ship) from the UK into the US. My Dad was visiting from the UK, so we picked them up from Tacoma and drove them home to Nanaimo. The car is fairly stock, with the exception of the OEM Sprintstars, Porsche front seats (soon to be replaced with a set of stock front seats), Weber twin choke carb' (also soon to be replaced with OEM Solex) and Koni gas dampers with uprated sway bars. I owned a cherry red metallic 1971 coupe prior to this one, but it was full of bondo and was really a bit of a shed - it was cheap, fun and looked good though!
I purchased this car in London, UK in November 1998. It was imported into the UK from California by Karmann Ghia Motorworks in around 1996. The previous owner, a lovely young blonde lady, was going to have it painted gold with gold Empi eight spokes. Thankfully, the team at Karmann Ghia Motorworks talked her out of the gold paintjob and it ended up Old English White, which just happens to be very similar to the VW Ivory, used on some of the earlier cars. This also happens to be my favourite colour on early 911's..... The girl who had the car before me bought it because it looked cool and she had seen one in a movie (also gold apparently). She then discovered that they didn't make great daily drivers in London at any time other than summer. The car was returned to Mason at KG Motorworks after it wouldn't start on one occasion. The gas filler was full of leaves, which had blocked the drain and allowed water to seep into the gas tank. Strange that it would not run?
When I found the car, it still looked great, but was sat in an underground car park in the middle of London with half an inch of water lying on top of the floors. The fact that it was holding water told me that there were no holes in it. The day I bought it was a typical London winter day - cold, wet and very busy. My Dad and I picked it up and drove it six hours home to the Newcastle area in the rain - after bailing out the water and wringing out the carpets.
I drove it in all weathers in the UK for a couple of years, before it began to lead a more sheltered and sedate life. Although I drove it year round, at times as my only vehicle, it was always garaged and well looked after. I worked away at sea until recently, so it only ran for a couple of months at a time. I imported it into Canada along with my Splitty just before Christmas 2006. I had them shipped on a car carrier (Ro-Ro ship) from the UK into the US. My Dad was visiting from the UK, so we picked them up from Tacoma and drove them home to Nanaimo. The car is fairly stock, with the exception of the OEM Sprintstars, Porsche front seats (soon to be replaced with a set of stock front seats), Weber twin choke carb' (also soon to be replaced with OEM Solex) and Koni gas dampers with uprated sway bars. I owned a cherry red metallic 1971 coupe prior to this one, but it was full of bondo and was really a bit of a shed - it was cheap, fun and looked good though!
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Glad to hear your Ghia is getting some fun in the sun once again. 