Jul – Sep - Karmann Ghia Owners Club

VOLUME 28
ISSUE No 3
JUL – SEP
2012
Chairman
Membership Secretary
Treasurer
Clive Richardson
4 Church Farm Cottages
Collier Street, Tonbridge
Kent, TN12 9RT
Tel: 01892 730366
[email protected]
Lynn Skinner
The Acorns,
Oak Tree Road,
Harvington,
Worcestershire, WR11 8NE
Tel: 01386 872737
[email protected]
Peter Reilly
97 St Peters Court
Chalfont St Peter
Bucks SL9 9QH
Tel: 07966-133337
[email protected]
Editorial Team
Events Co-ordinator
International Club Liaison Club Shop Secretary
‘Karmann Komment’
Peter Skinner
Stuart de Lacey
[email protected]
Tel: 01386 872737
or 0116-2708120
Lewis & Lisa Agombar
4 Grange End
Smallfield
Surrey RH6 9NE
Tel: 01342 843017
[email protected]
John Figg
13 Hilltop Road, Toms Lane
Kings Langley
Herts
WD4 8NS
Tel:01923 263658
[email protected]
Martin & Sonja Rogers
34 North Lane
East Preston
Littlehampton, West Sussex
Tel: 01903 771733
[email protected]
Type 14 Register Secretary
Peter Mosdell
21 Alterton Close
Woking
Surrey GU21 3DD
Tel: 07545 017703
[email protected]
Scotland
Stephen Risi
4 Queens Road
Edinburgh
EH4 2BY
Tel: 07751 016428
[email protected]
Northern
Bernie Houldershaw
21 Marmion Terrace
Whitley Bay
Tyne Wear,
NE25 8AS
Tel: 07754 750716
[email protected]
Type 34 Register Secretary
Andy Holmes
2 Scotts Farm Close
Maids Moreton
Buckingham
Bucks, MK18 1RX
Tel: 01280 815341
[email protected]
Ireland
Wayne McCarthy
Florence House
Strawhall
Fermoy, Cork
Ireland
0035 387 22 80818
[email protected]
Type 14 Spares Advisor
Alan Beckett
27 Garners Lane
Stockport
Cheshire
SK3 8SD
Tel: 0161 483 0465
[email protected]
Type 34 Spares
Advisor
Mark Poulton
15 Daniell Way
Great Boughton
Chester
Cheshire, CH3 5XH
[email protected]
NW England/N Wales
Judith Beckett
27 Garners Lane
Stockport
Cheshire
SK3 8SD
Tel: 0161 483 0465
[email protected]
South West
(Devon, Cornwall and Somerset)
Mark Sirett
46Thorne Park Road,Torquay,
Devon
TQ2 6RU
Tel: 07977 540031
[email protected]
Midlands
Lee Appleby
25 Pembroke Drive
Stone
Staffordshire
ST15 8XE
Tel: 01785 817408
[email protected]
Essex &
Anglia
Vacancy
Thames Valley & Chilterns
Mike Kelly
London & South East
65 Bicester Road
Janet Richardson
Long Crendon
Bucks, HP18 9EE 4 Church Farm Cottages
Collier
Street,
Tonbridge,
Tel: 01844 201010
Kent, TN12 9RT
thames-valley@kgocTel: 01892 730366
[email protected]
Southern
Mike & Dee Shaw
36 Temple Cottage
Corsley
Warminster
Wilts BA12 7QN
Tel: 01373 832484
[email protected]
Each KGOC (GB) Committee Member is a volunteer, carrying out Club duties in their own leisure time. The Club has no paid or fulltime officials, only enthusiasts dedicated in furthering the interests of the Club and its members. Could members please bear this in
mind when contacting Club Committee Members?
KGOC(GB) web-site address: www.kgoc-gb.org
Website editor Clive Sharpe: [email protected]
3
Contents
Karmann Komment, July - September
(VOLUME 28, ISSUE No 3, SUMMER 2012)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
13
16
21
24
25
29
33
34
35
38
40
42
43
44
45
46
55
56
Front Cover Photos – Grant Walker’s 1960 Coupé
2012 Calendar – July Courtesy - Markus ‘Buschy’ Buschaus
Committee and Local Club Contacts
Contents
Chairman’s Comment
Editorial
New Members
Mailbox
Type 34 Territory
Photo-Shooting a Karmann Ghia – Lorna Branczik on location
The KG DNA Files
Paul & Heidi Smith’s Karmann Ghia Coupé
Historic Advert, 1972
To Berne – and back in TWO Karmann Ghias
The ideal 40th Birthday Present?? – Grant Walker’s 1960 Coupé
Motoring Madness – French Breathalyser Laws
Ghias in the Movies
Sam McElroy’s 1972 Coupé
Ninove – Martyn Crew
Star in a Kar(mann)
Information and Adverts Information Section
Parts News
South Eastern Area Activities – Janet Richardson
Pershore Plum Festival
Events
Calendar August & September
Back Cover – Grant Walker’s 1960 Coupé
Deadline for the Autumn Issue 2012 is 1st SEPTEMBER 2012
Printed by Avon Printing Services, 68 Roundponds, Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 8EB
4
Chairman’s Comment
Hi and welcome to this summer edition of KK. With the
unpredictable weather I hope you have had a chance to get some
use of your car this year. The very wet April caused the
postponement of the Stanford Hall show - first time ever? It
should take place about the time this is published so I hope all
goes well this time round. The club has a major presence at this
show so we hope to have great event.
With regard to shows, we recently attended a local classic car
show at Deal with Heidi & Elliot. Also exhibiting was Hollis Motors,
for many years a VW dealer until VW took the franchises back.
Barry Hollis spent a while chatting to Elliott and I about our KGs and it turned out to be
very interesting. He had spent time in Wolfsburg learning the trade and told us a few
tales of his time there in the 60s. He drove to Germany in a Type 3 notchback that
developed an engine problem while he was there. The head mechanical engineer
rebuilt the engine for him, adding a few tweaks, which he never fully found out about,
however it was the fastest notch around and when he got back to Kent he put the
engine in a Type 34 Karmann Ghia. Unfortunately he could not remember the reg
number so we don’t know if the car is still about.
The club’s web site progresses and I hope by the time you are reading this it will be fully
functional. There have been delays as we make adjustments to get it just right and one
of the most testing has been the forum. As I write this there are still final tweaks being
made so I hope by the time you read this it will be up and running. The main forum
change is that whilst it will continue to be visible to anyone, the ability to post will be
restricted to paid-up club members only. This has caused some controversy, especially
from non-club individuals who use the forum. However this is the club’s web site /
forum and our aim is to provide benefits for you, the members. Without paying
members the club would cease to exist, and therefore the forum would die too. There is
a feeling across the internet that everything should be free, but the reality is that it
actually costs money to set up, run and maintain. So why should paying club members
subsidise everybody else??? We hope our club members will continue to make the club
forum “THE” place to be to discuss KG related issues and encourage others to join and
benefit from our resources and expertise.
Finally, on the website front, if you can see anything that you think we should add or
change please let me know. We want to develop it into our members’ site, so picture
galleries of events are the next step.
Enjoy your car over the Summer.
Clive
5
From the Editorial team
Welcome the “Summer 2012” edition of Karmann Komment. Please note the “
marks!
Just for once, we thought, let’s try to write an editorial without referring to that very
British obsession: the weather. Not so easy in a year which has so far seen drought,
flood and, as we write, is expecting storm force winds anytime now. We trust that
pestilence and plagues of locusts are not to follow.
As you will probably know, the Stanford Hall show on May 6th had to be called off just
48 hours before the event due to such heavy rainfall in the preceding days that not only
would the grounds have been ploughed up but cherished vehicles would have been
grounded axle-deep in mud. Fortunately, it could be re-scheduled and we hope that all
will be well on July 1st, which should see the largest turn-out of Ghias at Stanford for
some years.
But nothing deterred Mike and Astrid Kelly from making another of their now famous
road-trips and getting “To Bern and Back in Two Karmann Ghias”, a 1500-mile round
trip. For the full details see p25.
There will be plenty of other events to attend and driving to be done this summer. How
about the Pershore Plum Festival? (See p45.) This event has grown year on year and
what started as a few old cars in the Abbey grounds has blossomed into a week-long
event culminating in the “Plum Fayre Day” on the August Bank Holiday Monday (27th
August). Last year well over 100 cars were on display including a sizable group of VWs.
Take a look at http://www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk/
Janet Richardson continues her sterling work for the club and is organising events for
those in the South-East, including the Kent Festival near Dover or the Grill ‘n’ Chill, also
in Kent. See p44 for full details; also for news of two great events in the Southern Area.
And in this issue of KK, we are featuring some beautiful cars that you just might see out
on the road or at an event: Grant Walker’s stunning 1960 coupé (featured on the front
cover); Sam McElroy’s fully-restored red ’72; Paul and Heidi Smith’s lemon-yellow
coupe; or Lorna Branczik’s pale metallic turquoise ’71 coupé – a fashion icon if ever
there was one. You might even glimpse a Star In A Kar(mann) – Dermot O’Leary
perhaps? See page 40 for a brief résumé of what was said about “our” cars in the Mail
on Sunday earlier this year. For some obscure reason the article seemed to concentrate
on Dermot’s dealings with Simon Cowell – whoever he is?? When you’ve read the article
– please don’t tell the Daily Mail!
6
On page 16 Peter continues his detective work with the origins of the Karmann Ghia,
now moving on to the “What happened next?” question. This is becoming something of
an obsession with him and it’s amazing to unfold the stories of the individuals
concerned in the gestation and production of the KG and to understand in some cases
what long, productive careers they had. Some of them went on to develop some of the
20th century’s most enduring automotive motoring icons.
By the time you are reading this edition the 2012 KGOC International event will have
happened. We are anticipating a record turn-out including a contingent from Denmark
and looking forward to it as we write. (DON’T even breathe about the weather!)
The club’s new website is now at www.kgoc.org.uk and despite a few teething
troubles seems to be attracting new visitors and interest. Have you seen it yet? As ever
we thank our contributors past and present. Feel free to send us anything KG or ‘Old
Car’ related whenever the urge takes you!!
[email protected]
A Skidel production!
Write to the team at
[email protected]
The Club Welcomes The
Following New Members
THE CLUB WELCOMES THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS…………………………………………………………..
first
second
area
type
cc
year roof col
body colour
David
Jeremy
Dave
Akbar
Philip
Charlie
Kenny
Christian
Grant
John
Carol
Martin
Eduardo
Pughe
Mansell
Sutton
Jaffer
Davies
Fuller
Steele
Hillman
Walker
Head
Igoe
O'Keefe
Trindade
Kent
Shropshire
Dorset
Buckinghamshire
Cheshire
Buckinghamshire
Hampshire
Dorset
Gloucestershire
Suffolk
Berkshire
Kent
Brazil
1 Coupe
no car
1 Coupe
1 Coupe
1 Coupe
1 Coupe
1 Cabrio
1 Coupe
1 Coupe
1 Coupe
No details
1 Coupe
T34
1600 1972 Black
Irish Green
LHD
1300
1600
1300
1600
White
Chinchilla Grey
Gold
Ivory
Blue
Chinchilla Grey
Gold
Ivory
RHD
LHD
LHD
Marothon Blue
Artic White
Black
Marathon Blue
Strato Blue
Black
LHD
RHD
RHD
Orange
Red
RHD
LHD
1963
1971
1966
1972
1966
1600 1968
1200 1960
1965
1600 1971 Black
1600 1964 Red
7
Mailbox
From Our International Correspondent
Here we are then, back from the ‘Land of the Rising Rain’ and the ‘Land of the
Wall-to-Wall Sunshine’ to the ‘Land of the Surprisingly Late Frost, Drought and Chilly
Drizzle’!
The bay-window bus was in Launceston in Tasmania. I’m told it’s a chain of surf shops
found in other Australian cities.
The KG was around about where we were staying with Nic and Ryan and I took the
pictures in Manly, on the other side of the harbour from Sydney.
Rob Simpkin, April 2012
8
Mailbox
Vintage Postcard Series suggested by Ralph Lloyd-Jones
“Julier Passhohe” (Julier Pass, Switzerland)
Postcard from
Mike Kelly
“And here’s a pic of our new
Treasurer, Peter Reilly. As you
can see he has the support of
all the Club Committee!”
9
Type 34 KG Territory
by Andy Holmes
This edition predominately concentrates on some brief updates on members’ cars;
what else is there more interesting to include?!
What about another T34 meeting in 2012\3?
As there has been zero interest in holding another T34 meeting this year we shall
continue to meet up virtually through this article, meetings and the club’s website and
Facebook sites. Don’t forget to keep in touch with us here at the club as well as the
more exotic world-wide groups; after all we are the guys close on hand to help with
local knowledge about the cars and are here to help you and also very keen to hear
about your successes and challenges.
Worth the wait - Update from Tim Shotter on the restoration of his 1966 LHD
Sunroof car (T345)
Sadly since the last edition of KK not a great deal has happened with my razor. The
pans ordered from Classic Fab didn’t turn up in November or at the end of February - in
fact they only arrived at the end of April. I have to say the product is great, but the time
wasted is ridiculous. I have learned the hard way that if you want Classic Fab parts you
are better off buying them from the American stockists as they at least appear to
receive shipments, unlike us over here in the UK!
My Ghia is next in line at Panelkraft for the final work to be done, but as it’s been so
long my place in the queue has been jumped and the cars currently receiving full
restorations will need to be finished off first. All being well, I should have a rolling
project by the end of the month (June) and if I’m lucky it will be on the road for my
wedding! The work on the body is now complete, the poor conversion from LHD to
RHD has been beautifully redone and looks stock, the
rear engine hatch surround from my fastback donor has
been grafted in, and the heater channels have been rewelded properly rather than tacked - this time along their
entire length not just the areas it is easy to reach. All the
bits that needed repairing have been done; it’s not a full
resto but it’s the right direction to getting it done!
In other news I received a birth certificate from the VW
museum people who have confirmed this car is a 1966
345 Karmann Ghia Coupé electric steel sunroof model
with M 139 Sealed beam headlights and red rear lamp
lenses options added and It was originally delivered to
Belgium. If anyone knows any more about it I’d love to
hear more! (JLX 134K)
10
I’m now trying to find parts (aren’t we all?) and getting ready to put it all back together!
I have a mountain of things to source but if anyone has a set of the foam dash covers in
rough condition (as I want to re-cover them) or an original radio (doesn’t have to work)
then please let me know as I could do with them fairly soon!
Gilding the Lily – Wayne McCarthy’s Low mileage 68 model gets a light touch up
In the last edition I mentioned Wayne was looking
forward to bringing his car across to Stanford
Hall, where it won the Concourse in 1987 and
went into hibernation after that until Wayne
bought it. To make the car an absolute stunner
Wayne has addressed the minor paint issues on
the car and treated it to a refinish as in the photo.
Stanford Hall was rained off but Wayne took it to
Stonor which he says was wet and had about half
the crowd as normal. The great news is the Ghia
is back in its winning ways and won the class. He drove it back home to Ireland and as it
stands now the car has done still just 9,434 miles.
A welcome back to Mick Gilbert and an introduction to his new project car – a 1965
LHD (T343)
Mick is a previous long-time member of the club, having owned two T34s including
what was for a long time the oldest one in the UK which he bought from the original
family (almost a twin for my own car as delivered new). He has balanced his interest in
T34s with that in Volvo P1800s and with retirement on the horizon thought it would be
good to enter the world of T34s again.
He looked at a number of UK cars and thought that they were not for him for various
reasons and started to broaden his search. He saw an advert for an interesting project
car in the US. It was advertised for sale on The Samba in the US as 1965 T34 Ghia with
extras (parts) and located out in Arizona. From talking to the son of the seller Mick was
able to establish the following about the history of the car.
“The history I have on the car goes back roughly twelve years; prior to that we don’t
know a whole lot about it. Twelve years ago the car was purchased from a guy here in
Arizona where I live. Ironically it was from a guy I now work with these days. He
purchased the car from the retired Air Force guy down the street who had it stored in
his garage. The guy I work with didn’t get much of a story on the car from the previous
owner other than he is the one who brought it to the USA after working overseas for a
couple of years, but is unsure of what year that happened. My co-worker had sold the
car after he got it running and enjoyed it for a couple of years. The buyer was a guy in
Alabama who bought it during the infancy of The Samba. He had recently retired and
was going to restore it. For a couple of years he collected information on the car,
bought spare hard to find parts then he found the guy who at that time made
reproduction seals for windows etc.
11
The guy ordered everything for the car which cost a pretty penny. Shortly thereafter he
suddenly passed away and his widow listed the car for sale on The Samba again; the
Ghia went to a guy in California. The guy in California took the partially disassembled
car and completely took it apart. The plan was to build a show car. He bought the
Klassic Fab Type 3 pan halves for it as the battery side was rotted and the other was
dented up. So both were replaced, the pan was then blasted and painted gloss black,
all the suspension had been completely rebuilt front and back, and trans was installed
to make it a roller. During this time the California guy had located a rotted Type 34 and
scrapped it for parts, hence the extra lids and doors and even more extra parts. About 9
months ago my dad bought the car being that he too recently retired and figured this
would be a fun project to keep himself active. He had owned a Type 34 about 8 years
ago and drove it for a couple of years before selling it to buy a super nice unmolested
‘67 double cab.
Well after getting the car home it sat untouched for a couple of months and he decided
to sell it and the double cab. He wanted to clear the two cars out of the garage so my
mom’s new car could be in there, as well as give him room for his motorcycle and room
to tinker with it. He told me he was getting too old to crawl under cars so the
motorcycle was better for him as it sat up on a table. So I brought it to my house and
listed it for sale for him. If I could afford it I would buy the car from him but I already
have a couple of other money pits awaiting my attention”.
Mick has now arranged for the car to be shipped back to the UK with the used spares
which he will be keen to sort through and swap for the bits he needs for his
restorations. He plans a stock restoration, probably in Cherry red rather than the
original Henna red and with a black roof and interior. Looking forward to hearing of
progress Mick!
Interesting Parts for Sale
For those of you with pre 68 model T34s which featured the ivory coloured plastic
mushroom shaped dashboard knobs you may be interested to learn of a source of
similar shaped radio switches in the US. They are the same shape and the only
challenge is that the colour shown on the web site is light grey. They are for sale via
Beckerautosound in the US, manufacturers of the well know high end spec and cost
radios. Here is a link to the page with the range of replacement knobs.
http://www.beckerautosound.com/Classic/knob_levers.html
12
Photo-shooting a Karmann Ghia
Lorna Branczik on location with her ’71 coupé
A month or so ago, I received a call out of the blue from Lynn Skinner from the
KGOC enquiring whether my car was ’on the road’ as she had been approached by a
fashion company who needed such a car for a photo-shoot in Notting Hill the
following day.
As luck would have it my car was out of winter storage (albeit drying out ready to be regaraged until the monsoon was over!) l agreed that I could make myself and the car
available for the following day and Lynn kindly passed on my details to Shelley
Tichborne who is the Creative Director of Mou Limited, a fashion company based in
Pall Mall in London. Shelley duly contacted me and terms were agreed. We agreed that
the car deserved the same fee as the human models. We (now the royal we!) were to be
available from around 10.30 am and be prepared to drive to Notting Hill, then possibly
Little Venice and a location near Harrods for a photo-shoot. Conveniently, the early
filming was in Chiswick Park which is adjacent to my house. Once local filming was
completed I followed their pantechnicon towards Notting Hill. Unfortunately the traffic
was so dire, we decided to break convoy and make our way independently to Notting
Hill.
13
Notting Hill: grand villas, “stunning good looks”, and the ever-fashionable Karmann Ghia
14
Shelley had been told my car was ‘Green’ which is indeed how it is described in the log
book and on the KGOC list. Actually, describing the car as ‘green’ really doesn’t do it
justice and eyes popped out of their heads with excitement when they saw my car
which is a really beautiful metallic pale turquoise. (I was once told it was a VW Scirocco
colour, re-sprayed from its original Californian red.) I have to say that my car looked
splendid and completely at home parked in front of some very grand 4-storey
Edwardian villas in Notting Hill.
Its appearance was further enhanced by two (human!) models; one a very good-looking
young Anglo-Japanese student and a gorgeous female model whose stunning good
looks were pretty well masked by massive white-rimmed sunglasses and an enormous
hat with a large floppy brim. They duly clambered in and out of the car and walked to
and fro and occasionally I was asked to move the car to the different position. You are
probably wondering by now which fashion products were being photographed? I
confess I’d never heard of them before but they are very upmarket fashion boots which
retail at around £400 per pair! Imagine my delight when I was asked to put on a pair of
the boots, and then my horror as I was asked to ‘scuff them up a bit as they looked too
new’. Well, you will see the photos and judge for yourselves and you can log on to the
Mou website and see for yourself too.
Model and car; ‘behind the scenes’ – hair & make-up artist and wardrobe mistress; the boots
After a couple of hours my KG and I were dismissed; no need to continue on to Little
Venice or Harrods, so we set off back to West London with a few pennies in my pocket
to spend on the car. Just one comment rather upset me – the photographer said my car
was ‘too shiny’ and playing havoc with light refection on the camera lens!
Lorna Branczik
April 2012
With thanks to Shelley Tichborne at Mou for providing the featured photographs
www.mou-online.com
15
Karmann Ghia – the DNA Files
Investigated by Peter Skinner
I’m always fascinated by those brief bits at the end of a fact-based film which go on
to tell you what happened to the protagonists after the events depicted. I therefore
thought readers might enjoy a brief run-down of the history of Karmann Ghia and
some of the more famous people involved in the Karmann Ghia story as a further
(intended to be the final – but somehow facts just keep popping out) instalment of the
“Who designed the KG?” series. At times it reads like the old joke – “Greek meets
Greek and opens a restaurant”!
Starting at the very beginning.......... Karmann GMBH was founded in 1901 in
Osnabruck, Germany, as a manufacturer of traditional horse-drawn carriage work. They
were quick to spot the potential of the new- fangled horseless carriage. Wilhelm
Karmann junior joined his father’s company in 1933 when he was 19, and assumed
control in 1952 on the death of his father. Between 1935 and 1937 he attended the
Institute for Coachwork and Vehicle Construction at Bernau near Berlin. Then he spent
two years as an engineer with Ambi-Budd in Berlin, a company which had pioneered
all-steel body and unitary “chassis-less” car construction. Karmann returned to
Osnabruck in 1939 with state-of-the-art knowledge of manufacturing techniques, but,
instead of cars, he had to reorganise the factory to produce military equipment. He
joined the German army in 1941, was taken prisoner by the Americans and returned to
civilian life and the Karmann factory in 1945.
It was, as we have heard, Wilhelm who forged the relationship with Liugi Segre – which
is where the KG story starts.
Interviewed in the mid-1980s, Karmann still recalled the impact the KG had had and
recalled the ramifications of finding a name for a model. “It was a world sensation, but
it still did not have a name. To capitalise on the Italian-styled body, we thought of
names like Ascona, San Remo, Corona and other lake, mountain, or seaside resorts. But
time was getting short. The car was going on sale in October . . . Finally I said, `How
about calling it the Karmann Ghia?’ They [the VW directors] looked at me, tried it out
on their lips as if to taste it and decided they liked it. Everyone was in favour of the
Karmann Ghia name.”
This was the first and last time that the Karmann name appeared as manufacturer of a
series motor vehicle (although later motorhomes were marketed under the Karmann
brand name).
Before he died in 1998 Wilhelm Jnr. had cleverly steered the Karmann business from a
local industry to a world-wide concern with subsidiaries in Portugal and Brazil, and with
more than 6,000 employees by the mid-1990s. In that time the company developed
16
and produced vehicles as diverse as the Ford Escort convertible, Porsche 968, Jaguar
XJS convertible and the Kia Sportage. They also acted as design consultants on famous
cars such as the Triumph TR6.
A close and ongoing relationship with VW had commenced in 1949 with the Beetle
convertible and became the bedrock of the company’s success, eventually including
more than 700,000 Sciroccos and over 400,000 Golf convertibles.
Interestingly there is a school of thought that if the “Hebmuller” company had not
suffered a disastrous fire at their factory in the same year things might have turned out
differently. At the time of the fire they were working on an initial order for 600+
convertible Beetles, having had their design accepted in preference to the Karmann
design. On such things can history be defined!
It is a fact that during the entire span of the KG production the lines were continually
shared with the Beetle Cabriolet (pic). Arguably a triumph of clever production
control.....
Karmann also commenced production of
the Porsche 911 (or 901 as it was originally
to be known before a lawsuit from Peugeot
established their rights to a three figure
model name with an “0” in the middle).
Wilhelm Karman junior died in 1998.By the
time of the Karmann company’s’ demise in
2009 they were the largest independent
motor vehicle manufacturing company in
Germany. However falling demand and
poor cash flow drove the company to file
for insolvency on 8 April 2009. Soon after VW themselves stepped in and bought the
Osnabruck plant, commencing manufacture of the new version of the Golf cabriolet in
March 2011.
So – although primarily remembered (by KGOC members anyway) for the pretty two
door coupé & convertible we know and love, they were in fact prolific designers and
manufacturers of a wide variety of automotive machinery and built for themselves an
enviable niche market as manufacturers, designers and consultants.
Carrozzerai Ghia was founded in 1921 by the eponymous Giacinto Ghia (1887 – 1944)
with his partner Gariglio (1921). The company initially made lightweight aluminiumbodied cars, achieving fame with the Alfa Romeo 6C 1500, winning the Mille Miglia in
1929. They also designed special bodies for Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Lancia.
Sadly the Ghia factory was destroyed in an allied air raid during 1943, and, although
rebuilt soon after in a different location, the popular version of the story is that
17
Giacinto Ghia died soon after this wholesale destruction and on his deathbed reached
agreement for the transfer of the company to Mario Boano and Giorgio Alberti.
Mario Boano - little appears to be recorded about Giorgio Alberti but it is known that
one of Mario Boano’s first actions was to form the Ghia-Aigle subsidiary, Switzerland
(1948). The Aigle factory seem to have specialized in custom coach building work and is
on record as having produced some beautiful looking cars on many of the famous
makes chassis available at the time – including Bugatti, Alfa Romeo and MG. He is also
remembered for his distinctive low-roofline designs for prestigious names such as Alfa
Romeo, Lancia, Chrysler K200, and Ferrari.
Boano in the meantime continued to build the company in Turin and in 1953 was joined
by one Luigi Segre. Boano had been keen to emulate Porsche in its adaptation of Beetle
as fundamental to the sports coupé concept. However he was thwarted in his ambitions
because VW stubbornly refused to supply a chassis for further development work.
Sergio Coggiola insisted that the KG “overall design” of what became the Karmann
Ghia was carried out during this period by Mario Boano. His son, Gian Paolo, also
assisted and contributed to the design. You may recall it was he who was later sent to
Paris to collect a Beetle from Charles Ladouche.
Citing “differences” with Segre, Boano left the company in 1953 and founded
Carrozzeria Boano in 1954 with his son Paolo Boano. They were responsible for some of
the gorgeous production from Pininfarina - when Batista ‘Pinin’ Farina left Stablimenti
Farina to work under his own name, he brought Boano with him.
Paolo went on to become a respected designer in his own right. One of his first series
production vehicle designs was the Lancia Aurelia 2000 whilst still working at Ghia.
Later at Carrozeria Boano he was given the job by his father of designing a new car to
be based on an American Lincoln chassis. The project was born of Mario Boano’s
acquaintanceship within the Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford II was anxious to
bring the Ford Company into a modern era. He arranged for Boano to be supplied with
a Lincoln chassis. The project was intended for the 1955 Turin Motor Show. It was given
the working title ‘Indianapolis’. Paolo’s design was very futuristic - probably inspired by
airplanes and aviation – and more importantly was very well received at the show.
18
Ford awarded a contract to Boano, who informed Fiat of the contract. This led Fiat to
retaliate by forming the “Centro Stile department” and offered the job of leading it to
Paolo Boano. Carrozzeria Boano was sold to Ezio Ellena – Paolo’s brother-in-law. Father
and son worked for Fiat for many years in Turin, styling the Fiat 600 and the square
style of Simca 1000 (1960), also working closely with Carlo Abarth on the Fiat-Abarth
207 series
Luigi Segre - full ownership of Carrozzerai Ghia passed to Segre in 1954. Whatever the
rights or wrongs of the situation between him and Boano it is unarguable that this was
a very productive period for Ghia. Under Segre’s leadership the decade between 1953
and 1963 saw many Ghia designs, such as the Lincoln Futura concept car, and the
“Saintly” Volvo P1800.
Ghia also brought in Pietro Frua, appointing him as head of “Ghia Design” during which
time the Renault Floride and Dauphin models were developed. Renault’s chairman,
Pierre Lefaucheux, requested Segre’s and Carrozzeria Ghia’s assistance, especially with
integrating the Dauphine’s engine’s air intake at the rear doors.
Via Segre’s relationship with Virgil Exner at Chrysler, a project was born which came to
be known as the “Dual Ghia” – not two cars together but a car to be manufactured by
Ghia in conjunction with Michigan based Dual Motors. Dual Motors bought the bare
chassis straight from Dodge then shipped them to Italy. For a limited production ItaloAnglo hybrid, the Dual-Ghia was quite a success. Marketing was targeted towards the
rich and famous who could afford the car’s expensive craftsmanship, and customers
included Frank Sinatra. Built in both coupés and convertibles, around 117 Dual-Ghias
were made from 1957 onwards. This was, however, far below the planned 150 cars per
year and many of the production problems were laid at Ghia’s door. Even a follow-up
model - the L6.4 - with newer styling and a larger engine, failed to reverse the trend
and only 26 cars of these were completed before high-overhead costs and poor sales
sank the venture.
Various episodes – but especially the “Dual Ghia” project - proved that the company
was really not capable of undertaking even modest series production, but now Segre
had shown handsome new body designs to Fiat (the 2300S coupé) and Innocenti (the
950 Spider) and secured contracts to build these cars in quantity. In order to obtain the
space and finance to undertake these contracts, Segre sought assistance from the giant
Olivetti business machine company; as a result, a new corporation was established
jointly by Ghia and “Fergat” (a stamping and Wheel making company owned by
Olivetti). The new firm, based literally accross the street from Ghia, was to be called
OSI; ‘Officine Stampaggi Industriali’ which translates as “Industrial Stamping
Workshop”.
OSI entered the automotive industry at a particularly favourable time. The
corporation’s president was Arrigo Olivetti, while Segre was managing director; its
plant covered 21.000 sq. m and incorporated two continuous loop production lines,
with provision for a third, plus a 780m long paint line. It employed some 600 people
19
and could turn out aproximately 50 cars a day. The initial product was a small, specialbodied Austin/BMC coupé sports car. I think it was based on the small Austin Healey/
MG Sprite components. They also produced a Fiat 1500 sports coupé. The company
would later go on to produce the famous Ford/Taunus based coupé – and to employ
many famous “KG” names.
Sadly Segre died in February 1963 at the age of only 44 years from “complications
during surgery” to remove the appendix. Following his untimely death, his widow sold
75% of the shares of Ghia. In 1967 Alejandro De Tomaso acquired control of Ghia.
During this transition period, Ghia had partial involvement in the De Tomaso Pantera,
the famous, brutal 70’s supercar with a high-performance, mid-mounted OHV Ford V8
engine.
From 1973, the Ghia name became more widely known and recognised as Ford’s top
trim-level throughout its mainstream model range. The trend began in Europe but soon
spread worldwide, particularly to the US, South American and Australian markets. In
the British market, however, the practice of using the Ghia name in such a capacity was
only finally phased out in 2010, in favour of the ‘Titanium’ moniker. Ironically the British
Ford Fiesta retained the Ghia trim designation for the longest amount of time of any
model: thirty-one-and-a-half years uninterrupted, from February 1977 to November
2008. Ford Motor Company purchased 84% of Ghia from Rowan Industries (owners of
De Tomaso) in 1970. Three years later they purchased the remaining 16%.Today Ghia
studios are all but swallowed up into the monolith that is the Ford Motor Company and
produce various concept cars under the Ford banner.
The picture below was taken at the 1957 Turin Motor Show. The large white convertible
on the middle right of the picture is the Dual-Ghia. Notice also the two Fiat 600
convertible versions and others.
The group of twelve men shown
are (from Left to Right) Tom
Tjaarda, Sertgio Coggiola, Sergio
Sartorelli, unknown, Ravetti,
unknown, Luigi Segre, Magnani,
Vajo, Piatto, Nicolotti, and
Odasso. Some of the names
you’ll recognise from the KG
story.
Next time we look at what some of these lesser known characters went on to do in
their often extraordinary careers at the forefront of Automotive design from the 50’s to
the 70’s.
20
What happened to EGC307H?
Paul and Heidi Smith would like to hear from anyone who knows
Hello, the latest edition of Karmann Komment (April-June 2012) has finally stirred
me into responding to the regular requests for contributions.
Whilst looking at the front cover car, and wishing I had a convertible again, something
rang a bell deep in the back of my mind. After looking again, I realised the registration
was the same as a convertible we used to own – but the car is completely different –
colour and earlier year wings. I was wondering whether this was a very old photo
before we owned the car or whether this is its current state, and how it got to how it is
now.
EGC307H in Albert Blue livery at Stonor Park (left) and at the 1991 KGOC-GB International in Bath
We bought the car in early 1994 as our main family car. At the time we were
considering trading our Golf in for a newer (G reg!) one for £4000 at our local VW dealer
– all very sensible with a ten month old daughter and paraphernalia to lug around,
especially considering our second car was a Beetle which being honest wasn’t overly
pushchair or child seat friendly. Having been brought up with air cooled VWs, and
having had a Beetle since I learnt to drive, I’d always hankered after a Ghia but always
baulked at the price. And then came the eureka moment when flicking through
Volksworld – we realised the amount we were going to pay for the Golf would buy any
number of Ghias in the small ads. After a few days going through the motions of
saying what a silly idea it would be, whilst simultaneously concocting plans for how to
squeeze all the family gear in, we decided to go for it.
This was when we started to learn about the poetic licence which seems to be part and
parcel of Ghia adverts. We spent the next month or so trawling from our home in
21
Wiltshire to Devon, Cornwall, Hampshire, London etc, and viewing a selection of “near
concourse”, “rust free” examples which seemed to translate to something along the
lines of “might have been parked near the concourse at some point”, and “no rust
which wasn’t hidden behind big blisters of thick paint”. Starting to get despondent, we
decided to have a final throw of the dice by combining a visit to the in-laws with
viewing a convertible being sold for £4000 in Ashford, Kent. With low expectations, we
turned up to find a gleaming, gorgeous, 1970 Albert Blue convertible. The seller said it
had been imported from Florida, and had previously been a light blue metallic but been
resprayed recently after an accident. It only had one week left on the MOT, was tatty
in places with a less than good hood, no headlining, white painted seats, patchwork
floorpan, imperfect panel fit but.... it was shiny blue and a convertible. Sold!
After parting with all our savings, I drove the car down to the in-laws in pouring rain
with water streaming in around the windscreen seals, and around the gaps where the
hood didn’t quite meet the windows – major reservations time. The next day was
sunny, always a better sign, and once used to the LHD, and poor rear 1⁄4 visibility, it
started to be fun with the 1600 feeling positively fast compared to the 1200 Beetle on
the motorway home. The MOT followed without any concerns even with the all-red US
rear lights.
Two photos of Paul & Heidi’s current ride - a 1970 coupé: “One when it was unusually clean;
one taking my daughter and two friends to the school prom (a very tight fit!)”
The car worked surprisingly well for us – the travel cot fitted behind the back seat, child
seat on the middle of the back seat so my daughters legs could stretch out between
the front seats, and a fold up push chair next to her. We travelled all around the
country getting deafened by the noise, and with a pile of towels to wedge around the
various leaks when it rained. As a daily driver it was a bit flaky, with no choke making
cold driving a bit lumpy, and no garage meaning it had to be covered over every night,
but five minutes with the roof down was enough to forgive all. We visited several
shows that year – Stonor, Bristol, Malvern and Tatton Park, but best of all was joining
the KG International on the Sunday afternoon and seeing dozens of KGs stretched out
on the grass in front of the Royal Crescent.
22
The following year and things moved on and so did the Ghia – I got a company car, and
with a second child on the way, needed the money to move house. We sold it for
£4200 to someone from Swindon who had a very nice Cal look Beetle, and that was the
last we saw of it until the cover of the latest Karmann Komment. Seven years later we
again gave in to desire and bought another KG. After a similar succession of badly
described cars, we got a Lemon yellow rust-free 1970 coupé from Osterley. It was a bit
dearer than planned but you get what you pay for and it was a very tidy, useable car.
Ten years on and we still have it and, aside from replacing all the brakes this year, it’s
been really easy to own. After a few years of not using it much – kids too old to fit in,
too young to leave – we’ve started to use it more again going to the Volksworld show
and Dubaid this year. It still brightens up a car park and looks nice, although like most
40+ year-olds it’s a bit ropey close up!
At this year’s Volksworld Show
Anyway, back to the point - we wondered whether anyone knew what had happened
to EGC307H between us selling it and it turning up on the magazine.
Paul and Heidi Smith
23
Historic Advert (1972)
Magazine advert from May 1972,
courtesy of Karmann Ghia Club Brasil http://kgcbh.blogspot.co.uk/
24
To Bern and back in two KGs
As Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister, so I left to work in West Africa!
No connection, except that two years later, when my contract reached its conclusion, I
returned from my secondment in Mali back to my old job (Ministry of Agriculture) at our
Hull office. First trip to Hull Docks to see some cargo vessels, and people I had last seen
in 1979 called out – “been on holiday Mike – haven’t seen you for a week or two!!!”
However, some people we do remember better! A friend in Mali – a Swiss water-well
‘creator’ in a very dry country - became a life-long friend, and we’ve remained in touch –
his contract with the Swiss Aid Program finished about the same time as mine with our
Foreign Office.
Back in the UK, and we’d moved from Hull
to Lincoln. Peter visited us in his 1952
Citroen Light 15 from Bern – very first job
on arrival was to grease all the grease
nipples, and then have a cup of tea! He
came again to see us in Maidenhead, and
we saw him some years later in Bern for his
60th birthday, in our Citroen CX Pallas.
Late last year Peter invited us to join him,
still near Bern, for his 70th birthday. I could
see a nice Continental trip developing, so
floated the idea in the KGOC (GB) club/
magazine & website, waiting for the
expected masses to make contact. But,
unlike our Hockenheim trip of 2 years ago,
this time it was not to be a ‘full-house’, and
finally we set off in company with Derek
Frow and daughter Tina, and two very
lovely Karmann Ghias on a VERY wet
Sunday heading for the Chunnel in the
dark. It was a frightening spray-soaked
drive, and we reached the Shuttle grateful
for the slight lessening of the rain, and the
promise of the first early morning coffee.
On the train, we could begin to relax – only
another 1000 miles ahead of us – it can’t
rain ALL THE TIME can It? No, in fact it
didn’t, and we drove along the almost
deserted French motorways to arrive in
Reims mid-afternoon to our pre-booked
hotel – The Crystal. However, it wouldn’t
be normal if we didn’t try to make our
25
entrance into the hotel road unusual. We could see where we needed to be, so parked as
close as possible, only to find out as the evening progressed, that we were parked in a
no-parking pedestrian “square”. But from our vantage point in a very local bar/café we
watched the amazing interest the two KGs generated – perhaps because we shouldn’t
have been parked there!! The hotel was very good, and we’d planned to stay here again
on the return leg 10 days later. Incidentally, we had stayed previously in Reims, when we
did a Champagne region tour – great fun! The Reims cathedral is also superb – well
worth a visit if you are in the area.
From Reims we drove to Nancy and
explored some of this lovely historic and
town, including the world-famous Place
Stanislas with its gold-leaf wrought-iron
railings, making Nancy a UNESCO World
Heritage site, well-worth a detour to see
and explore. Which is what we did, and
then in the Karmanns again to head for
Katja and Goetz at Kaiserstuhl near
Freibourg. So England, France and
Germany in the first two days, without
much stress, and two beautiful cities and a
mass of photos to share – cor!! And...at a motorway stop for grub we saw an amazing
picture – Derek’s Ghia and motorbike equivalent in completely matching paint.
We saw Katja and Goetz’s very new house (completed in early 2012!), the splendid views
west over the Kaiserstuhl, and of their German equivalent of the TGV swishing along the
nearby welded rail. Derek and Tina stayed in a nearby local hotel in Riegel – very
comfortable and friendly, with good secure parking - where we met each morning for
coffee and croissants.
It was from Goetz’s house that we drove to the wonderful French national motor
museum at Mulhouse in the Alsace Region. It is world-renowned for its unbelievable
collection of Bugattis. Asti and I had seen it a few years ago, now significantly
remodelled, with many new cars and other makes, and much more eye-catching display
settings, but still the biggest collection of Bugattis. I also lost my wiper arm (worked
loose, but I persuaded Asti to brave the fast city traffic to retrieve it from the road, and
with a little deft fettling it fitted enough to work till changed this week!)
26
The collection is wonderful, and not just for the cars. The main floor area is a series of
intersecting boulevards lined with Parisian-style “gas lamps”. The main special Bugatti
“hall” is unfortunately black ceilinged and walled, making these photos only by flash,
with all the drawbacks of flash photos for most small cameras. Otherwise it’s all a superb
museum! Although we were aware of some rain during our indoor Bugatti museum visit,
we left there for a lovely hot evening visit to the very attractive town of Colmar.
The next day we met Goetz and Juerg (from
Zurich and the Swiss KG Club) at the
popular lake resort of Titisee. Juerg “looked
after us” until near the end of our holiday.
We travelled together to Rheinfall of
Schaffhausen – superb waterfall (highest in
Europe). Onwards then to Lake Constance/
Bodensee, with its spectacular views of the
snow-capped Alps, and the sub-tropical
island of Mainau - a delight for us all, but
especially for our professional gardener
Tina!!.
Juerg showed us around Zurich
(unfortunately a day of heavy rain, but we
could enjoy the rare tram museum) and he
guided us all the way to near Bern, on rainsoaked motorways. Wet though the drive
was, we were dry in the cars, and the
following day was clear, and eventually
quite hot! The mountain scenery was
breath- taking, with much of that around
Habkern snow-capped. And of course, the
tinkling of the cow bells brought the scenes
to life!
The cars ran very well for over 1500 miles
each, cruising on motorways where possible
around 70 mph, and coping with the variable
weather. They attracted a lot of attention
and we saw a number of other classics as we
approached the Laon citadel town in France
– maybe next year’s Continental drive?
Certainly, this year’s Trip to Bern and Back
was one to remember for many years!
Mike Kelly
27
A few of the more vintage motor vehicles on display at the museum;
a fabulous Bugatti and a Royale Esder Roadster
Clockwise from top: some futuristic vehicles at the Mulhouse museum (what did happen to
the future? -Ed); in the Alps at Titisee; the two Karmann Ghias; Peter with Astrid; Juerg and
Goetz; Katja .
Clockwise from top: some
futuristic vehicles at the
Mulhouse museum (what did
happen to the future? -Ed); in
the Alps at Titisee; the two
Karmann Ghias; Peter with
Astrid; Juerg and Goetz; Katja .
28
The ideal 40th Birthday present?
Grant Walker recalls what was on his wish list
My love of all things Volkswagen started many years ago when I was about 14 and
on holiday with my parents in Newquay. Unknown to me our holiday coincided with
“The Run to the Sun”. It was the first time I’d ever really noticed a VW Beetle or a
Camper Van but the images of those brightly coloured bugs, vans and hot rods cruising
up and down the coast road made a real impression on me and one that would never
leave. Over the coming years I owned two Beetles: my first car a Texas yellow 1973
Beetle 1303S, and a couple of years later a fully restored 1965 Restocal two-tone beige
and cream Beetle. As I got older and my job started to take me further away from
home the Beetle had to be replaced with something “more sensible”. It was a sad day
when that car disappeared down the road.
Fast forward nearly 20 years and I’m 39, married and fast approaching my 40th
birthday! I’d retained my interest in VWs and the urge to own another had grown
29
stronger. Over the years my taste in VWs had become more defined, and I really longed
for something older and original with only very subtle modification, if any. I was drawn
to the sleek and sexy lines of the Karmann Ghia. I’d always admired the car as a twentysomething but the reality of actually owning one was never really any more than a
dream. After several months of browsing websites and showing (read annoying) my
wife various pictures of Ghias she casually remarked “Why don’t you treat yourself for
your 40th? “ I was somewhat taken aback by the suggestion but didn’t need asking
twice! It was March 2011 and the search was on!
I placed a wanted advert on the KGOC forum for a 1960s Ghia in good condition.
Several months over the summer passed and by August I was starting to wonder if I’d
ever find THE ONE. Then, like buses, three arrived all at once. I narrowly missed out on
the first due to work commitments and distance. Why are they always 150 miles away
and not just down the road? The second car was also a good ride away but determined
not to be pipped to the post again, I made plans to view the car at the Beach Buggin
VW show. A couple of nights before the show another message and a few photos
arrived in my inbox. The asking price was for more than I was planning to spend, but
the pictures and description of the car were enough to whet my appetite and make me
ask for more details. And low and behold the car was just down the road from
Plymouth in sunny Bognor Regis.
Clockwise: Immaculate front
hood with original Hazet tool kit;
beautiful period interior
30
So that weekend we headed off to Portsmouth for the day, had a great time at the
Beach Buggin show and viewed the second car which was virtually the Ghia I’d had in
my mind’s eye when I penned the original wanted advert. Slightly lowered on original
Porsche Fuchs, it looked great and had I not lined up another viewing I probably would
have had it.
Later on in the afternoon, when my wife had seen her fill of VWs, we drove the 20 miles
or so to Bognor to view the third car. We met Simon and it soon became abundantly
clear he had VW blood running through his veins. We spent some time talking about
the show we’d just come from and some of his other VW projects, but for me the
anticipation of what lay waiting in the garage was building. Eventually the wait was
over and as soon as the garage door opened I knew in seconds that my search had
come to an end. Gleaming in the late Autumnal sunshine, the Ghia needed no sales
pitch or introduction; my heart was won. After an agonising 3 week wait while Simon
was off on holiday, I was finally the owner of my third VW and my first Karmann Ghia.
Clearly someone else is also pleased with Grant’s 40th Birthday gift choice!
And finally a bit of history about the car: it left the Osnabruck factory during May 1960
not long into the first RHD production, and headed for the warmer climes of South
Africa where it would spend the first forty or so years of its life. By December 2001 it
had made its way to the Island of Guernsey where it spent a further 9 years until it
finally hit the shores of the UK in 2009, where it stayed until I purchased it last year.
31
I believe the car had previously been lowered on dropped spindles and was running
Sprint Stars, probably the car I always thought I wanted, but in a move bucking the
current trend the car was put back to stock height by Simon and the cross ply white
walls were added. It now looks exactly as it would have done when it left the factory all
those years ago, and I have no intention of changing it. As far as I can tell it’s never
been welded but has had a good quality respray some years ago. It’s still running the
original 1200cc engine which has covered just over 86,000 miles, and although the
electrics are still the original 6v it starts on the turn of the key on all but the very
coldest of days. The interior is still all original and in remarkably good shape.
I have the widest of grins when I’m behind the wheel, as do most of the other drivers
on the road and passers by as they point and wave. My plans for the future are to enjoy
it as much as possible, and maybe look to add a few original accessories.
It’s great to be back in a VW and even better that is a Karmann Ghia.
Spec:Type 1 Karmann Ghia coupé RHD
Produced: May 1960
Originally shipped to: South Africa
Engine: original 1200cc
Electrics: 6 volt
Body Colour: L364 Strato Blue
Roof: L363 Arctic White
Interior upholstery: material blue
Tyres: cross ply wide whitewalls
32
Motoring Madness...........
Zut Alors! – what will the French think
of next??
Have you ever spent time in France
and wondered about the average
Frenchman’s consumption of red
wine?? I well remember some years ago
attending the wonderful motoring
weekend at Laon in France as part of
the KGOC contingent and reflecting that only in France would the day’s
driving events be preceded by the champagne reception!!
However – things appear to be changing and in typically French fashion the Gallic
reaction is – over-reaction! New laws will now make it compulsory for drivers to carry
not one but TWO “Do-it-Yourself Breathalyser” kits. Apparently the idea is that you
always have one spare if you “fail” the first test! They will enable motorists to see if
they are under the French limit of 50 mg per 100ml of blood - which is 30 mg lower
than in the UK.
This is the latest in a series of requirements imposed on drivers by the French
Government. The Daily Telegraph’s motoring correspondent David Millward wrote in
February: “The laws will make the equipment compulsory for all cars on French roads
from July 1, with anyone caught without the equipment facing an 11 euro (£9.20) fine.
Around three million Britons a year take their car abroad and the new offence comes
into force on July 1 as the holiday season approaches its height”.
Stories are already abounding of French police demanding that UK drivers carry these
items – before the deadline. The going price seems to be around the £2 mark for
devices complying with French safety standards. No doubt the profits from the fines
and the sale of the devices will go to swell the coffers along with the money made from
the sale of warning triangles and fluorescent vests!
Opinions differ: “The new French rule is a genuine attempt to reduce the number of
alcohol related-accidents,” said Neil Greig, the IAM’s director of policy and research.
“France’s lower limit means it’s very easy to be over the limit the morning after as
well.” Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety, added: “They are not a good idea;
because a driver’s metabolism means that the alcohol level doesn’t peak until 45
minutes after drinking. You could pass a test in the car park after an agreeable lunch
and then fail when stopped by the police three-quarters of an hour later. The only
sensible advice remains if you drink don’t drive and if you drive, don’t drink”.
33
Ghias In The Movies
Inspector Clouseau (1968)
Director: Bud Yorkin. Starring: Alan Arkin, Frank Finlay, Delia
Boccardo, and, dans la scène Parisienne de la rue, une voiture
glamourous: un Karmann Ghia coupé vert pâle et blanc.
A string of robberies has occurred in Britain and it’s up to Inspector Clouseau to catch
them.
34
Sam McElroy’s re-purchased ’72 coupé
I was in touch with Clive recently and he kindly arranged a valuation for me to
present to my insurance company. More great news - the car went for MOT
yesterday, and amazingly passed first go. This is the first time the car has been
MOT’d despite being 40 years old.
By way of a quick refresh, the car is a 1972 Type 14 rhd coupé and had one lady owner
from 1972 until 1980. I purchased it then with 22,000 miles on it and used it as a daily
driver for 2 years, putting on a further 24,000 miles. I then sold it to a VW collector with
46,000 miles on it in 1982.At some point he decided to restore it and stripped it down,
putting on two new genuine front wings and nose cone about 25 years ago. For some
strange reason he lost interest and the car was left sitting with virtually no paint on it,
no glass in it, and lots of parts lying in 3 cardboard boxes. It was stored in a corrugated
steel barn for about 25 years until unfortunately the collector owner passed away.
By a stroke of fortune I was able to repurchase the car from his family in 2007. It still
had 46,000 miles on it, and incredibly he had not re-registered it so I was still
technically the owner! It was in a very sorry state. I stripped the car to a bare shell, and
left it with a local classic car restoration guy who repaired the metal work (new sills,
35
rear wheel arches, rear valance, fitted Californian rust-free offside door and engine lid),
then painted car in original colours of tangerine and black.
The shell was returned to me in 2008 and I completed the restoration of all mechanicals
and interior over four years until completion- complete new braking system, new
shocks all round, new stainless steel bumpers, soundproofing, new carpet set, new
headlining, renovated seats and door cards, GT wheels refurbed and fitted, engine
stripped, tinware repainted, new flywheel oil seal, gearbox oil seal, new oil cooler, new
clutch kit, ignition system replaced, card refurbed, new NOS fuel pump, new fuel lines,
floorpan and arches painted and waxoyled, tank refurbed and painted, new sender
unit, dashboard repaired and painted, dials renovated, new light reflectors, new front
indicators NOS, new NOS nostrils, new NOS rear lights, new seals all round, Vintage
Speed roof rack - I am sure there’s more !
36
The DVLA had to inspect the vehicle when completed as they had no record of it, to
confirm that chassis number and engine number was original; new registration
document was issued recently retaining the original registration number.
The engine fired up four weeks ago for the first time in 30 years and runs beautifully,
MOT was applied for and passed yesterday. Just need a tax disc now!
37
Ninove, Belgium, 10-11th March
Martyn Crew reports...
Cracking weekend. Def back on my list
next year.
I took the camper which was a little more
comfortable than sleeping across the front
seats in the KG! The autojumble wasn’t the
best but I still managed to find something
to spend my money on and ended up with
a te koop number plate! Don’t ask....
If
you want to see any more pics from
Ninove I’ve posted a few on the forum.
38
39
Star in a Kar(mann)
Dermot O’Leary and his tempestuous German mistress - why his car’s
got the ex-factor
Some months ago this article appeared in the well-known journalistic organ the
“Mail on Sunday”. Devotees of “the X Factor” will recognise Dermot as one the
hosts of the show. He is apparently well-known for his run-ins with Simon Cowell.
Anyway he can’t be all bad - look at the car he drives! Not too sure about the
description of “My tempestuous Italian Mistress” but I reckon there might those club
members who have the KG instead of (in preference to??) the mistress!!
Incidentally repeated requests to the DM for permission to reproduce have produced
no response whatever – so we decided to “Publish and be Damned!!” (as somebody
once said). Or as somebody else once said – this is published with the help and
cooperation of absolutely no-one!
‘A girlfriend dumped me, out of nowhere. This had been our favourite car, the one we
always fantasised about having, so when she left me I just went, “Sod you, I’m gonna
buy one”,’ said Dermot O’Leary. “It was a spectacular piece of retail therapy.” It’s a
Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, a beautiful cross between a Beetle and a Porsche. “It does
look gorgeous, but it’s actually quite a tempestuous mistress. For a German car, it’s
very Italian. And it’s quite difficult to drive – no power steering, so it feels like a lorry.”
40
Daily Mail version of KG History - VW aimed to cash in on the post-war boom with a
sports coupé built on the Beetle’s chassis. Coachbuilder Karmann was brought in, in turn
enlisting Italian design house Ghia. Nearly half a million Karmann Ghias were sold
between 1955 and 1974, but the UK price (£3,100 in 1968) was very high due to vehicle
import taxes designed to protect the UK car industry. A restored Karmann Ghia will today
probably set you back around £8,000
“I bought a single train ticket to this little garage in Hemel Hempstead that specialises
in them. I turned up with a cheque book and said, ‘Which car am I going to drive away?’
The guy there looked at me as if I was mad, and said, ‘I need to work on them first’.”
“I was disappointed, but I bought a little white one and he sprayed it black and changed
the interiors, changed everything. I rang him every week but he told me to be patient.
Five months later, when I’d almost forgotten about it – and got over the girlfriend – he
called me and said it was ready.”
Dermot paid £6,000 for the car, and about the same for the renovations. He was just
starting out on his television career then, but is now the host of the biggest show on
the box, the hugely popular The X Factor.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2027403/X-Factors-SimonCowell-Cheryl-Cole-Dermot-OLearys-German-mistress.html#ixzz1o9Clg5Zc
Pictures are by Simon Barker
41
WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? WHY?
On the following pages you will find information on Events, Services
and Products available to you and your families as members of the
KGOC(GB). We encourage you to tell suppliers and service providers
that you are members and that you are in touch with them because
they have advertised in the “Karmann Komment”. In many cases
you will be entitled to a discount. It pays to ask!
If you would like to advertise anything which you feel would be of
interest to fellow members we’d be pleased to hear from you.
Contact [email protected]
WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? WHY?
42
Parts News
Stainless steel luggage racks
Over the years we’ve received many enquiries for quality repro luggage racks which
correctly fit the engine deck lid of a Type 14. Well, fellow-member Francis Coates (no
stranger to these pages) has had a sample stainless steel luggage rack made for his
‘vert. He reckons it’s superb quality, absolutely faithful to the original (which are ‘raked’
to funnel airflow into the deck vents in order to maintain engine cooling if luggage is
carried), fits without need to drill through the engine lid (it bolts up through the vents)
and, best of all, won’t rust!
You wouldn’t expect such an item to be cheap and, of course, you’d be right, but if it’s
quality you’re after, then the photos should tell their own story. Francis tells us that the
maker will only produce a batch of no less than 10, so if ten owners wish to order, he
can proceed. And cost? Around £250.
Interested? Then contact Francis at 01608-643856 or [email protected]
Floorpans
Another subject of numerous enquiries. To quote
from the advert by Gerson in Florida on The Samba
website: “People were asking for these, so here they
are, EARLY Ghia pans, these are hand made pans,
right now we have 5 sets made, depending on
demand we will make more......these are big, heavy
pieces, cold rolled 18 gauge, nice and thick!!!! fix your
ghia right, use the correct floors.......$320 each”
We’ve no first-hand knowledge of these in order to
comment on quality or fit, but they do sound pretty
good.
See: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1310179
43
London & South East Area Activities
A total of 26 cars, including 5 Karmann
Ghias, joined in our Drive-It Day on Sunday
22nd April in Kent & Sussex. We had a day
of glorious sunshine despite the terrible
weather during that month. There was a
great variety of cars including vintage,
veteran and classic. The oldest was the
1929 Ford Model AA Breakdown truck. If
you are in the Rye / Tenterden area the Mill
Toy and Model Museum at Northiam is
well worth a visit.
There is a new show, The Kent VW Festival, over the 27 – 29 July weekend which costs
£10 per person, with free camping if you want to stay.
Details at www.kentvwfestival.co.uk
Grill & Chill has moved to the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood (Kent) over the weekend of 21
– 23 September. Pre booked entry is £12.50 per person or £15 on the gate, with
camping £5. http://grill-n-chill.co.uk/tickets/
Janet Richardson 01892 730366
[email protected]
Southern area
A brilliant time was had at the Vintage Nostalgia Show held in south Wiltshire on 25th27th May. A full report will appear in the next magazine.
The next event in the area is the Classics at the Castle at Sherborne Castle in Dorset
on Sunday 15th July. Unfortunately, we have had to pull out of this one due to a friend’s
wedding but if you are interested, visit: www.merlinevents.com
The German Show 2012 will be held at Beaulieu, National Motor Museum on Sunday
22nd July 2012. See www.beaulieu.co.uk for more information or find The Germans
Show on Facebook.
Mike Shaw
44
The Pershore Plum Festival
August Bank Holiday 2012
Why not come and visit the Vale of Evesham for
August Bank Holiday 2012?
We are planning to put together a great
programme of activities to take advantage of the
world famous Pershore Plum Festival in
Worcestershire.
We plan to be based in the old market town of
Evesham on the river Avon, where we are
surrounded by lovely countryside and there is
plenty of local history to explore.
www.eveshamtown.co.uk
www.evesham.uk.com
Proposed programme
Sunday 26th August 2012
Late morning
KGOC GB Karting Grand Prix at AKS Karts, Worcester www.akskarting.com (Cost TBA)
Afternoon
Scenic route to Gloucester Quays (www.gloucesterquays.co.uk)
Historic docks with a large antiques centre and discount outlet shopping mall
(reserved KG cars only parking at the Quays)
Evening
Monday 27th August 2012
Evening meal - venue to be decided
All day
Arrive at Pershore Plum Festival Classic Car Event
Pershore Abbey grounds (£3 per car - 2011 price)
Last year there was a great turn-out of VW’s and
KG’s – why not come along and join us??
www.plumfestival.org.uk
Why not come along and enjoy a quintessentially British summer event?
To register your interest in the above, please e-mail Clive Sharpe at
[email protected]
45
EVENTS 2012 CAPITALS for those events in which we are involved
JULY
1st (Sun)... STANFORD HALL, Northamptonshire,
Contact Stuart at [email protected]
6-8th (Fri-Sun)... Dubs at the hall, Holt Hall, Norfolk
www.dubsatthehall.co.uk
Contact [email protected]
21-22nd (Sat-Sun)... British Volkswagen Festival (BVF), Three Counties Showground
Malvern, Worcestershire
[email protected]
28-29th (Sat-Sun)... KENT VW FESTIVAL, Chillifarm, Nr. Dover Kent, CT15 5AH
www.kentvwfestival.co.uk
AUGUST
5th (Sun)...TATTON PARK, Knutsford, Cheshire
Contact Gareth Robbins [email protected]
17-19th (Fri-Sun)... VW Festival, Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds, LS17 9LDV
[email protected]
SEPTEMBER
31st- 2nd (Fri-Sun)... VW Action , Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants.
NN29 7XA
www.vwaction.co.uk
This is a summary of just some of the shows, both VW and general classic, to be held in
2012 and to the best of our knowledge is correct at time of going to press. For further
details of those listed, please contact any of the organisers for specific events, by e-mail:
[email protected] See also Club Events on our website: www.kgoc-gb.org
If you have information of any event, local or national, in the coming year that you
feel may be of interest to other members, please let us know. You can also post a
message on the website Message Board.
46
47
TUDOR WHEELS LTD
Specialist Wheel Renovation
The finishing touch to any KG.
VW Steel wheels a speciality
We also renovate Vintage and Classic Wheels
Spokes / Wires / Rostyles / Alloys
Prices From Only £38 - No VAT (Currently)
Call Richard on 07801 069261
Email – [email protected]
Web – www.tudorwheels.co.uk
48
50
Grant
Grant. Retained Business Manager. Adrian Flux.
I'm as passionate about cars as you are, which
is why I think you'll love our insurance deals.
Adrian Flux Insurance Services has been built around the
enthusiast markets and understands that people who are
passionate about their cars take good care of them.
Because we share your enthusiasm we offer fantastic,
tailor-made insurance deals based on your own personal driving
history and requirements. Call us today to obtain a no
obligation quote for your Karmann Ghia.
FREEPHONE 0800 089 0035
Quoteline hours: Mon to Fri 9am-7pm | Sat 9am-4pm
adrianflux.co.uk
Passionate about insurance
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
American
Performance
Classic
Hot Hatch
4x4
Standard
Modified
TYPE 34 SPARES
ALL PARTS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS ONLY
NEW PARTS
PRICE
Repair Sections SILLS EACH L & R
OUTER SILLS CENTRE SECTION ONLY EACH
FRONT WING LOWER SECTION
(OVER A POST)
FRONT WING LOWER SECTION
(OVER A POST)
REAR WING OVER SILL
REAR WING OVER SILL
REAR WHEEL ARCHES PAIR
HEADLAMP BOWL
Rubber Seals
FRONT WINDSCREEN SEAL
REAR SCREEN SEAL
FRONT BONNET SEAL
FRONT BONNET CATCH DEFLECTOR PLATE
SIDE WINDOW/ROOF SEAL
Headlamp Seal Grey
LHS Front Indicator Seal
RHS Front Indicator seal
WIRING COVER REAR OF FRONT INDICATOR
Side Marker seal
Rubber stop for side window repair
LHS Front Vent Wing Seal
RHS Front Vent Wing Seal
Upper door seal to A post left
Upper door seal to A post right
LHS Rear Quarter window seal
RHS Rear Quarter window seal
Roof/Rear Quarter Window seal
Air Deflector plate seal
Door Handle 4 pieces
Rear Hood lock seal
Rear Light Base Seal
REAR LAMP TO BODY SEAL
Bumper bracket seal set 4 pieces
Overrider seal 62-65 set 4 pieces
Overrider seal 66-69 set 4 pieces
52
£130.00
£25.00
PATTERN
£8.00
REPRO
PATTERN
REPRO
£25.00
£20.00
£45.00
£60.00
£65.00
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
£50.00
£50.00
£25.00
£15.00
£35.00
£30.00
£25.00
£25.00
£5.00
£5.00
£20.00
£25.00
£25.00
£30.00
£30.00
£17.50
£17.50
£20.00
£15.00
£20.00
£5.00
£6.00
£8.00
£50.00
£12.00
£12.00
Licence plate seal set of 4
Heater elbow
Large Bump Stop
Small Bump Stop
NEW
£16.00
£2.75
£2.00
£2.00
Lenses
FRONT INDICATOR LENSE N/S
FRONT INDICATOR LENSE O/S
REAR LENSE EUROPEAN
REAR LENSE US
£15.00
£15.00
£30.00
£35.00
Miscellaneous
FOGLAMP BULB 6V or 12V
SILL TRIM Pair incl Clips
SILL TRIM - TYPE 3 SALOON SAME PROFILE
SUN VISOR CLIP PAIR
INTERIOR LIGHT
WOOD FINISH FOR 67-69 DASHBOARD
£3.50
£85.00
£20.00
£25.00
£30.00
£40.00
NEW
SECONDHAND PARTS
ROOF
N/S REAR WING
N/S/R QTR GLASS
CHROME SIDE PLATES (SEAT)
GLOVEBOX LID WITH KEY
PADDED DASH TOP
BUMPER MOUNTING IRON REAR
BUMPER RIGHT REAR CORNER - POOR
BUMPER LEFT FRONT CORNER - POOR
BUMPER RIGHT FRONT CORNER - POOR
BUMPER RIGHT REAR CORNER
BUMPER LEFT FRONT CORNER
BUMPER RIGHT FRONT CORNER
OVER-RIDER LEFT REAR - ALLOY
OVER-RIDER RIGHT REAR - ALLOY
OVER-RIDER RIGHT FRONT - ALLOY
OVER-RIDER - LEFT REAR - STEEL
OVER-RIDER - RIGHT REAR - STEEL
CIGAR LIGHTER 6V
WIPER MOTOR 6V
STEERING COLUMN
All these parts are available from the Type 34 Spares Secretary:
Mark Poulton, 15 Daniell Way, Great Boughton, Chester CH3 5XH
[email protected]
53
£50.00
£10.00
£7.00
£3.00
£10.00
£30.00
£10.00
£10.00
£10.00
£10.00
£60.00
£60.00
£60.00
£10.00
£10.00
£10.00
£10.00
£10.00
£5.00
£50.00
£10.00
TYPE 14 KARMANN GHIA PARTS AVAILABLE FROM THE CLUB
Type 14
Spares
Stock
available
New
VW Skeleton Key Blank (67 – 70)
VW Skeleton Key Blank (70 – 74)
Qtr Pillar Weather Strip
Front Indicator Rubber Mount (60 – 64) (in pairs)
Convertible Guide Pin Boot (Pair)
Quality Repro Headlight Chrome Ring (64 – 74 (euro style)
No Plate Light Housing Chrome Mould End Clips (Pairs)
Driveshaft Boot
Second hand
Tail light lens (71 – 74) (hella) (31cm length) second hand has slight crack on reversing light lens
Tail light base (71 – 74) (hella) chrome good needs cleaning (311 945 231 F/G/H)
Speedometer (MPH) (1966) VDO requires new glass - slight rust on face around
warning lights. Chrome bezel fair (111957023E)
Rear windscreen – coupe
Club
Price
1
2
3
3
1
1
2
1
£5.50
£5.50
£7.00
£12.00
£5.00
£28.00
£8.00
£5.00
1
1
£2.00
£3.00
1
1
£10.00
£15.00
Please contact ALAN BECKETT, Type 14 Spares Secretary, for availability on
0161 483 0465, evenings and weekends. Parts are only available to Club Members who must
quote their membership number when ordering.
“THE CONTENT OF ANY WRITTEN MATERIAL SUPPLIED OR PUBLISHED BY THE KGOC(GB)
MAY NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE WRITER, THE EDITOR, THE
COMMITTEE OR THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS OF THE KGOC(GB)”
COST OF JOINING THE KARMANN GHIA OWNERS CLUB(GB)
The first year of membership includes £8.00 Joining/Admin fee.
If you join in
£(UK)
£(EU)
April to September
£30.00
£40.00
£45.00
October to March
£19.00
£24.00
£29.00
Annual Subscriptions:
UK Members
£22.00
EU Members
£32.00
Non EU Members £38.00
54
£(Non EU)