1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

Coupe Coupe

4 cylinder 1600CC with Dual Carburetor Upgrade

Manual

Clear

Gasoline

Hello and thanks for looking. This beautifully restored 1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia has less than 20 miles on it since the engine was completely overhauled. The entire restoration is documented with hundreds of high quality digital photos. The restoration was completed in 2011. The engine was completely overhauled and certified by a reputable VW motorwerks shot, body work and paint was done by professional classic shop with minimal filler, top of the line paint and clear coat, and just about every seal and piece of hardware on the vehicle was replaced with galvanized, non rust. All repairs and parts are documented with invoices and receipts and under reasonable warranty for craftsmanship. The majority of the engine parts are original VW and were wire brushed or dipped/baked. The engine was overhauled, with upgraded Porsche Mahle pistons and rings, and decorated in chrome. The floor pans were wire brushed, sealed and waterproofed. The interior was overhauled, with white suede leather, dash was wrapped in suede, side panels were custom sewn in suede/vinyl, chrome interior parts, headliner was replaced, all glass was removed and new front/rear windshield seals installed. A Pioneer sound unit with amplifyer/ custom iPod ready radio with detachable face was installed, Bose speakers in front, Infiinity Speakers in rear. Over $20,000 invested into the restoration for which I have all receipts, warranty, work orders, etc. Everything has been immaculately documented. Too much to list here. Please note that at time of photography a few chrome pieces to the front and rear bumpers and associated seals were on order, they have since been installed. It has always been stored in cool indoor storage in northern Los Angeles. It was recently tranported by trailer to Scottsdale AZ where it is currently available for viewing. My original plan was to enter it into shows, but it it not quite at award winning quality because of some minor flaws to the paint, however, the interior is one of the nicest jobs I've ever seen IMHO, so it might be a candidate in that regard. This auction includes a toolbox with extra clips, seals, stainless hardware, and everything you'll need for her routine upkeep. Thank you for your interest and best wishes in the auction. On Jun-15-16 at 18:05:53 PDT, seller added the following information: Update: Serious bidders, please message me privately to arrange a showing, thank you. I do reserve the right to terminate the auction and sell privately. Thank you.On Jun-21-16 at 10:37:33 PDT, seller added the following information: UPDATE: The VIN on the karmann ghia is 1412012776 and the odometer reads 67,112 original miles, however only about 15 miles have been added since the restoration was completed in 2011. There are no liens or encumbrences on the title, but because of its age and the fact that it was originally purchased and operated in a title-less jurisdiction, it requires a bonded title. For bidders not familiar with the implications of a bonded title, there are none--its the same clean title one gets when they purchase a vehicle new. I've had the vehicle inspected by a local highway patrol/DMV for roadworthiness and paid for a title search and lien search. All came up clean. There is a $100 additional expense for a bonded title, the first 3 years of which Ive absorbed, and that is for the surety bond. Depending on where the winner resides or is intending to register the vehicle could be relevant for tax purposes, so I will assist you in all stages of ownership transfer. Regarding the condition of the vehicle, the vehicle was in good condition when it was purchased in 2004. There were no accidents, it started and was operable. The restoration began in 2008. The vehicle was sanded down, and the body work was performed by a professional shop with an excellent reputation. To give you an idea of the quality of the work, the shop refused to to work on the vehicle unless I purchased a new passengers side door because after sanding the vehicle down a large dent and body filler was discovered in the door. That should give you an idea of the standard. Top notch. Any shop can use body filler and "cover up" paint headaches, and shoot the vehicle, and sell you a crappy body job. These body job was done right and has withstood the test of time, almost eight years. Paint is heavy and like a candy shell. For any of you new classic owners, bondo = bubbling and paint degradation, and unfortunate eventuality of body filler. It also doesn't help if you drive and own the vehicle in harsher climates where the freezing and heating of the metal causes expansion and cracking of the underlying filler. Fortunately, there are no bondo defects on the Karmann Ghia, its virtually bondo free. However, removing the old paint completely so that the primer would adhere is always a challenge, especially on the Karmann Ghia with its very topographic curves. That being said, the paint and body work which was completed a few years back is showing flaws to the paint that have surfaced under the hard shell like paint surface. This is caused by old paint residue that was not completely removed in the sanding stages of the prep, where the candy like shell is detaching from the underlying primed surface. The paint has blistered in some of the creases (the ghia is very contoured) and in a couple contours cracks are visible. Sadly, the blisters cracked just weeks ago when I brought it into the Arizona sun. It had been in the much more temperate CA sun prior only for test drives. There is a small area on the rear trunk that appears to be oxidative in nature as well, and looks like orange peel, it will eventually need to be tended. These imperfections were mentioned earlier, and were not visible on the photography so I will take close ups of the imperfections upon request. Please message me. Prior to these imperfections i would have rated the paint a 19/20 nearly perfect except for a small 3 mm light scratch that I accidentally made when I rested something on top of the drivers side roof. Now there are a few more v small surface scratches to the paint. I will walk around the vehicle and photograph them, they are all too small to be seen unless your really looking for them. There is a small road chip about 1mm on the front of the car. The silver lining. The good news for the new owner is that these imperfections, while minor, are the best kind of transparency there is as a seller. Meaning, that there is nothing to cover up, all the body work flaws are visible. Nothing going to surprise you in a few months, like you might discover on another inferior body job that is fraught with bondo and was shot last week. Don't be fooled. All body/paint jobs are NOT EQUAL!!. I paid a premium for this body/paint work through a reputable classic restoration shop. The quality of the job you're bidding on is what the Karmann Ghia will look another 50 years down the road--no hidden bondo--no surprises a few yrs down the road. Show Competition: If you intend to compete with this Karmann Ghia in shows, you'll know exactly where to focus on and touch up for the final round of paint. Also note, this was not a frame off restoration so the interior of the vehicle was never shot with paint. The front hood compartment was shot nicely, but the rear was not because of the heat, so instead a heat resistant paint was used that is slightly darker red than the flame red paint that the rest of the body was shot with. The door jams were shot, and some of that paint has chipped because of the rubbing of the doors against the jams, so that will need to be sanded down and reshot for show winning quality. One of the rear floor pans had some cancer, and was cut out, replaced and waterproofed with rubberized compound, and painted black. The sheet metal used to repair the area was not waffled, like the OEM style floor pans, so this will detract from show quality. I opted to install a stereo system under the dash which is removeable for show competitions where original form is best. The original radio is installed for looks only, it is not wired to the speaker system. It still works though. The windshield wiper system is OEM original and works, and all original wiring from the harness is intact, however, the washer pump was disconnected when the dash bezels were redone, and I haven't had the time to reconnect them. I vehicle has never been driven in the rain. The glass is all original as well, however the drivers side glass has some opacities along the tracts where the door rails. Its likely from rubbing against the inside of the door. Ive always lowered the windows when driving the vehicle since there is no A/C, but for show competitions, you'll want to replace this piece of glass. The chrome bumpers are all OEM original parts which is very difficult find--they are almost antique. That being said, they have some light imperfections to the chrome and a small ding here or there. I had the option to go aftermarket, and I chose to keep the parts original. In fact, my goal for the restoration was to keep the vehicle 100% original VW OEM parts. I didn't want to be putting on aftermarket EMPI crap. At the end of the day I had to compromise on some parts, but I can say that this Karmann Ghia is about 98% original OEM parts that have been refurbished and overhauled. Its about as close to original as one gets without having $40k to burn. The engine parts were in fact all wirebrushed to achieve a brushed nickel sheen, so in addition to the parts being original OEM they are also unique, which was what I was aiming for to separate it from the pack. NOTE: The aluminum/chrome wheels are new aftermarket and are light for better acceleration and gas mileage. The original wheels were just steel heavy wheels. You will need to procure a set of these ($100) if you want to revert the wheel style back to the original wheels for show competition. I will include a set of 4 VW chrome wheel caps in the auction for good measure. Operation and Driveline: I have only driven the vehicle about 15 miles or so since the restoration was completed. Took a short 5 mile trip to Ventura Beach for some photos, and the rest has been driving the vehicle locally in the neighborhood. The engine typically starts right up, there is no choke so takes a minute or so to warm up before the idle stabilizes. It has a European style exhaust that is gutteral and deep resonating sound, so if the flame red paint and classic nostalgia don't turn heads, the exhaust will. There are quieter exhaust options of course if you're concerned about your neighbors, and there are relatively inexpensive to do, very DIY IMHO. The engine was completely overhauled and most everything was either replaced or ground, with the exception of the crankshaft and journals which were in good shape. The Karman Ghia only had about 60k miles on it when purchased. The heads were removed, cylinders replaced, valves were checked for spec, and adjusted, new seals and some tubes were replaced. The valve covers are held on by a large clip, and one of these clips (on the drivers side) broke, a common issue with these. It will eventually need to be replaced. We got the valve cover to seal well in lieu of this shortcoming. The transmission gear box is original, the gears were never overhauled, however all moveable parts of the transmission including the clutch (Sachs) and clutch plate, pilot bushing, etc are all new, shifter bushings were replaced and fluid was changed. Transmission operates well, however, like any classic, you'll need to learn the sweet spots and correlate them with the speed the vehicle is traveling. It took me a couple days to learn how to operate her smoothly without causing her to bog or misfire. Like any primitive drivetrain, new owner will need to learn how to drive her. The engine is also pretty modest regarding power output, so if you live in hilly areas, you'll need to be generous with the gas and keep your climbing expectations to a reasonable level. The manual transmission has only 4 drive gears and reverse. All shift smoothly without grinding, but the shifting is speed dependent, so you'll need to learn when to shift for the smoothest results. The brakes were overhauled, with new rotors, discs, pads, fluids, but backing plates, pistons were all in good shape, no leaks. Ive only operated the vehicle for about 15 miles, and the brakes are solid and firm, but they to pull to the right a bit, so its possible one of the cylinders is sticking a little. I would have them looked over if you plan on driving it on the highway at high speed. They are safe enough now for neighborhood casual drives. The suspension is new, new shocks front and rear, the control arms/bushings are original and work well. The suspension feels solid, its not an air ride, but it takes speed bumps fine no bottoming out, no creaking or excessive rocking. The tires are bridgestone and have about 15 miles on them. The Interior. The interior of the vehicle is perhaps her nicest feature. It a light suede that will not bake in sun, and will last. I would recommend tinting the windows and front/rear windshiled if you are intending to use her as a daily driver and buy a nice set of seat covers to preserve the suede leather seats. The interior is a 9.5/10--all seats were reupholstered professionally, the brackets were all removed etc. The passenger side seat is fixed in place and does not adjust. The drivers seat does adjust for taller drivers, however, it requires some elbow grease because the floor pans were all weatherproofed. So if you have multiple drivers of different sizes, you may need to remedy the stiffness of the tracks. The drivers side door only opens from the outside and does not lock. This is because it was replaced. So if theft is an issue, I would recommend investing in a good steering wheel lock or perhaps a wheel boot. I have extra stainless clips for the door panels in the event you want to change out the drivers side glass and remedy the locking mechanism at the same time. Part of the issue was that the replacement door that was in perfect shape was a slightly earlier model year of ghia and it didn't accommodate the same hardware from the earlier door. So consdequently, it will require some slight modification. For now the drivers side door opens exclusively from the outside (its child proof). Bid Expectations. A word about the reserve and expectations in the auction. I have been a Karmann Ghia enthusiast for almost two decades now, and know these cars very, very well. Karmann Ghia was a unique mating of a German Auto Manufacturer Karmman and an Italian auto designer Ghia, and one unique quality about the vehicles is that in order to market and achieve the beautiful curves, a lot of handwork was necessary, which helped these vehicles stand out as unique from other assembly line vehicles. VW marketed these cars as "hand made" and custom. Its arguable that no two Karmann Ghias are exactly the same. Along with the vehicle, I have a digital archives of all original Karmann Ghia ads from this era, a photo album, scrap book included for documenting your favorite show photographs, family photos etc, an original drivers manual in pristine condition, and of course an original OEM VW style key. Its difficult to restore these classic VW without a budget in excess of $20,000. The body work and paint alone was $5000. The expense to restore these vehicles RIGHT adds up quickly. I don't expect to recover the entire $20k+ I have divested for her restoration--which was actual "out of pocket" expense. The amount of time, blood, sweat and tears, is priceless, and I fortunately I have these memories to last me, and many photographs of the good restoration specialists and parts dealers I have worked with over the years. Its been almost 10 years and countless evenings, vacation days, holidays that I've spent doing as much as possible to keep the monumental expense of the restoration down. There were times when I ran out of money and the restoration was on hold until my funds were replenished. It was always my hope that she would one day place at a show, and so it would be great if the new owner has that kind of passion to see it onward into a competition. If not, and she's used as a dialy driver, I only hope that she continues to be appreciated by the public, passersby and fellow motorists for the passion that has gone into her restoration. At the completion of this update, I am going to lower the reserve to the highest bid. Its time for me to move on, and focus my energy in other areas. Far more money and resources have gone into her restoration than anything else I am seeing advertised for under $15k. In fact, another 1970 Karmann Ghia just sold for $9995 (item 182131964263) and the neither the interior nor the drivetrain had been overhauled or certified. If you are a buyer who just wants to own one of these cars to commute to work, there are plenty of these selling for $5k or less, some that don't even look half bad or have been slapped with a recent coat of paint. Here, you are bidding on quality and whomever wins this auction will be investing in that craftsmanship and diligence that has been so well documented and will be increase significantly in value when it reaches antique status in a few years. Your bidding on integrity and value of a restoration done right and done well. I encourage the winning bidder to contact me and inspect the vehicle either personally or by proxy prior to rendering the bid to satisfy themselves of the quality. Transport of the car is the reponsibility of the winning bidder. I have a tow bar that I am including in the auction that can be used for short to modest distances. If you are planning to transport it a larger distance I would recommend trailering it. As promised I will assist and advise with the titling paperwork, so that proceeds smoothly. Thank you for taking the time to read through this description in its entirety, and best wishes in the auction! TERMS AND CONDITIONS:All inspections must be performed prior to the end of the auction. I have gone to great length to describe in detail the vehicle and disclose all reasonably discoverable flaws and imperfections to the buyer. All questions must be asked before placing a bid or purchase, It is the responsibility of the buyer to have satisfied him or her as to the vehicle's condition. By bidding on this auction, you agree that you have read and accepted the Terms of this Sale as outlined above. After the auction has ended, the sale is final. Payment must be received in full within 7 days of winning bid. The non-refundable Deposit in the amount of $500 is due within 24 hours of winning bid. The Ghia is smog exempt and sold "as is, where is" with no warranty stated or implied. Seller has described vehicle to the best knowledge and ability. The sellers feedback is 100% positive and our policy is that when in doubt, the customer is ALWAYS RIGHT. That being said we ask for a reasonable cooperation from new persons to eBay. If you have less than 5 positive feedbacks because you are new to eBay but still want to participate in the auction, please contact us beforehand for approval to bid. We reserve the right to cancel bids from newbies that don't meet our feedback criteria, thank you. Buyer is responsible for all shipping costs. I can assist in helping to find a shipper. Good luck and Happy Bidding! On Jun-21-16 at 11:31:03 PDT, seller added the following information: The reserve has been lowered. The next bidder in the auction will have a winning bid. Thank you. The ad will not allow me to post additional pictures and I photographed all the minor flaws to the paint and glass. I will see if I can host the images on another server and reference them through HTML. If not, you will need to message me for the additional photos. Also, a recent question was what kind of Carburetors are on the engine? The Carburetors are Dual Brosol/Solex carbs that increase engine power and performance over the original OEM carburetor that came factory on this engine. Here is the description of the these carburetors directly from the website, hope it helps. Empi 40mm Dual Brosal / Solex Carburetor Kit For Dual Port Type 1 Air-cooled Vw Engines.Empi's Dual 40mm Carburetor Kit Features Brosal/Solex 40mm Carb's, Cast Empi Aluminum Manifolds, Chrome Top Air Cleaners With Washable Gauze Filters And X-Bar Linkage. Kit Is Complete With Quality Hardware, Gaskets, Fittings, Hoses And Instructions.Fits All Dual Port Upright 1600cc Based Engines. ( Carb's Supplied With The Following Jets Installed, Idle Jet 55, Main Jet 130, Air Jet 150, Air Jet Cannot Be Changed. Must Be Drilled.On Jun-21-16 at 11:54:12 PDT, seller added the following information: Photo Gallery - click to enlarge     On Jun-21-16 at 18:50:37 PDT, seller added the following information: UPDATE: As a technicality, the vehicle was manufactured in Aug 1970. So techically this Karmann Ghia is a 1970 ½ model year, Because it was manufactured during the latter part of the 1970 production year, the VIN inspection lists it as a 1971 model year. Thank you and best wishes in the auction. On Jun-24-16 at 17:37:16 PDT, seller added the following information: UPDATE: Please have a look at the video links below I produced for the auction. Thank you. VW Karmann Ghia Video