Well, let's start with alittle history.

I bought her in London 10 years ago. I had to have a Ghia but she was all I could afford at the time- she was a real basket case. Bright red and rough all over.

Took her to Bug-Jam at Santapod in 1997 and saw so many cool cars I decided to tidy the ol'girl up abit. I'd only had her 6 months and that was the last time she was on the road.

Slow progress but basically rebuilt the bottom 6" all round. New heater channels, sills, various wheel arch sections etc.

After stripping the paint and filler off the nose the front looked like a crumpled chip wrapper with a patchwork of repairs spot welded on and a thick layer of bog over the lot. I had a whole new front end and front wings imported from the States and professionally welded on, new frame head, new floorpans both sides etc, etc.

A local body worker; (an old boy that lived near me and used to work for Aston Martin) got her straight and true in his spare time. I hardly got any zinc on her before I moved to Australia in 2001 and left her in a barn in the U.K.

I hate unfinished business and in 2005 after a visit back to the U.K. decided to load her on a sea freighter in Dover and send her down-under to finish her off. Madness really- shipping a rusty U.K. car into Australia when solid local cars are being shipped out!


Surface rust but tougher than a brick s*#t house!!!





Progress has been slow; but she's getting there now. Had all the surface rust killed, preped and painted in Sierra Beige inside and out. Everything underneath stripped, cleaned and POR15'd.





I've been busy collecting shiny bits for years, and what I couldn't replace I rechromed.

Things I'm busy bolting on include a dual brake system, narrowed front beam and CB performance drop spindle disc brake system to go in. Had new wireing loom and headliner made up for her Scat shifter and Flat 4 GT steering wheel, Black TMI interior etc, etc, etc.



Engine? Gonna get her road-worthy with a mild 1600 twin port and then big it up from there. All the running gear and brake system is being beefed up to allow for more power later on- faster pussy cat!

Oh, before you you ask- yes, I studied at the school of slam. (My daily drive is a dirty low Beryll green 61 bug on Sprintstars.)

Loads of vis prog over the last month but travelling again until February so you wont see her on the road until maybe April/May..............but not saying which year.

Axle.

[ Edited on 20-9-2007 by axlepressbutton ]

[ Edited on 21-9-2007 by axlepressbutton ]

Where in Qld are you , Bloody Nice Ghia

Was Toowoomba- just relocated to Noosa area.

Well you better trade that Low Beetle in for Manx and we'll see ya up the Beach

[ Edited on 20-9-07 by A Westwood ]

Looks great!

Throw up some pic's of your Beetle as well...

I studied at the school of slam

fk yeah

nick

GEE THATS NICE, I WOULD LOVE TO GET MINE RESTO'D

Great work mate

Pics of 61 bug.


$600 from a neighbour couple of years ago. She had been off the road for 6 years.
I welded in a new heater channel and floor pan and dropped her on sprintstars. I haven't had to do a thing with the engine accept regular service work and she doesn't miss a beat. I take her up and down the coast from Sydney to Noosa a couple of times a year. She's alot of fun.



These were taken a year ago and she's running alittle lower now and wearing a period rack.

is she 411 fun?

nick

Hey Axle,
Great to see you finally made it onto the forum. It was great camping next to you and Oli at Byron with ya slammed beetle! The Karmann is looking VERY HOT, nice work!
We're looking forward to seeing more progress with your rides, great job Axle!

Ash n Bob

wow, that's commitment! Nice work :thumb

Love the Giha and the bug - nice one!!!

Hi Axle,
I've got the rough 'ol red KG that you may have seen around town.:thumb
Good work; looking forward to seeing yours on the road....

Hey Lowrider,

Think I saw your Ghia pass by while I was in a restaurant in Hastings St last week. She looked nice.
I was wondering if you could help me out? I'm getting to the point where I need referance to install my headliner, door and window seals etc.

Any chance of a closer look at your car seeings you're in the area? I know yours is alittle earlier than mine (if it's lowlight I guess your windows aren't pop out) but I'd love to be able to snap some pictures to help me through refitting- been so long since I pulled her apart!

Get back to me with a contact if that's cool so we can chat.

Cheers Mate,
Stuart

finaly got some pictures of mine on members ride cheers

hey axle...
mate whats the update on your KG? show us some pics. front, back, inside, engine etc etc
cheers matty

Finished her about 5 months ago.
Check out 'Ghia - DONE' in the Karmann Ghia Forum for detail of the build up.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=72254 

I've been in L.A. since Christmas so she is sitting in the garage waiting for my return. As luck would have it I'm flying in this weekend for a wedding so I'm looking forward to firing her up and taking her out while I'm back.