'58 Convertible

 

This is my third Karmann-Ghia. I also have a '63 Coupe and a '71 convertible

I bought this one in June 2006. The previous owner had the car partly done 8 years ago, but left him unfinished in his garage.

 

The history of my car (if anybody knows something about her past, let me know)

 

01-10-1996: The car is bought from Karmann-Ghia Parts and Restorations.

 

In the pictures below can been seen that the body was sitting on a later pan. (look at the shifter, the heating knobs, the chairs with headrests).

Due to the later style pan, there were also made some changes to the body as well, what has to be fixed.

 

 

1999-2000: first attempt for restoration:

In 1999, the first restoration work was done. The body was stripped and cleaned and a second already restored pan was bought.  

 

   

 

June 2006: The way I found the car

 

 

21-09-2006 Getting him Home

 

09-10-2006 Starting the Resto:

 

Working on the pan

First the first pan was completely striped and put aside for a later project. (This is a early 56 pan).

Than I tried to build up the second pan, but faced many difficulties. The frond beam was full or sand, so I had to clean it completely again.

I choice a later style trans, but after cleaning and painting the trans, I found out it doesn't fit the old style pan :-(  
Now I choice to use a period correct trans.

Genral Body Work

The first work, was welding a lot of holes in the rear fenders. The car had some damaged and this was restored "the American way"

Now all the holes were welded with copper

The Engine compartment:

Like many other lowlights, my car had the wrong engine compartment. The old one is cut out, and a donor piece is used.

The welts will be made better and double metal will be removed and welded again

Hood alignment

Due to the damege at the rear is alignment of the engine bonnet was not very good. It look al lot of work to keep make this better. So pieces are cut out and moved a couple of mm.

 

My advise: Don't buy a car with have had damage.

Inside rear fenders:

Back in the US, this car was mounted on a later style pan and there were made modification for that. This piece had to be lowered again

Front Fenders:
The metal behind the front wheels on both sides is rotted and has to be fixed.

   
     

 

My Goal:

During the body work I found the original paint. The car originally was Diamond Grey.
 

Initially I wanted to make the car Graphite Silver, but Diamond Grey was my second favorite. Because Diamond Grey is the original color and because there are not so many of this color around, I decided to make it diamond Grey.