1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible

The Story

1973 marked the second to the last year that Karmann Ghia's were produced. This particular Ghia, a true survivor, hails from Southern California and also spent some time in Arizona. The current owner acquired it from a friend in 1993 with the intention of undertaking a full restoration. His friend had purchased the vehicle in 1984 from the original owner, making it a well-documented, three-owner car. Over the past 31 years, the Ghia has been meticulously stored indoors, preserving its solid floors and body.

The restoration process began in 2016, with the car being sandblasted to bare metal and professionally prepped and painted in its current shade of red. Two years ago, the interior was completely restored using premium German materials and new replacement parts sourced from KGRP and other reputable VW parts distributors. The owner has invested $35,000 in the restoration, covering paint, chrome, interior, top, wheels, tires, and various replacement parts.

With another special project on the horizon requiring his full attention and resources, the owner is now ready to pass the torch on this Ghia, a vehicle he takes great pride in. It comes with a clean California title and is currently registered with Non-Operational status. There is a reserve price, and the vehicle will only be sold if the bidding meets or exceeds this reserve.

What You Get

You'll be well-positioned with this nearly complete cosmetic restoration. Most of the new exterior trim has already been installed on the freshly painted body, which required only minor bodywork, such as addressing door dings and small dents, prior to painting. The interior has been fully upgraded with new components, including door panels, dash, glove box, hardware, seals, seatbelts, weather stripping, and a new driver's window. The original bumpers have been restored with new chrome plating, while the original wheels were powder-coated and fitted with new Vredestein tires, which are less than a year old. New hubcaps have been installed, and the original hubcaps are also included.

The transaxle, which reportedly performed flawlessly, remains in the car. The floors are in excellent condition, with only two very small rust spots in the rear of the pan. A few other areas have been treated with sealant as a precautionary measure, as shown. Part of the engine compartment sheet metal has been replaced, with the remainder being original. The exhaust system is included as well.

What You Need

The original engine has been removed and disassembled, requiring a full rebuild and reinstallation, along with the installation of a new clutch and resurfaced flywheel. The carburetor needs to be refreshed and will require both fuel line and electrical connections. The dashboard is prepped for trimming to accommodate the gauges, glove box, light switches, and stereo, with wiring for the dash instruments still needing completion.

New matching door panels are ready for installation once the new driver's door glass is in place. EMPI 3-point seat belts are also ready to be bolted in. The removed windshield is not yet installed but comes with a new gasket and trim. The body requires the installation of the new antenna and driver's side torsion bar access plate, as well as new weather stripping. The hood is shown popped in the photos due to the current difficulty in accessing the hood release behind the glove box side of the dash.

Inventory Breakdown

1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible

1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible

Build Difficulty

Nuts & Bolts

The Story

What You Get

What You Need

Congratulations!