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OTO X58
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Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3103
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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 Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:05 am Post subject: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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A friend of mine posted a video on Instagram that a friend of his might be selling a Ghia which looked like a lowlight. I messaged him immediately, and the seller sent me some pictures:
I had a business trip to LA scheduled in two weeks. So did the only logical thing; I cancelled my flight and threw a tow bar in the trunk of my car. 1000 mile round trip in my 1975 Volvo 242. The 6.0L LS swap made it easy.
As found:
Hitched up, I pulled a few blocks away to take a few pics and jump for joy.
The drive home was pretty uneventful, just really long.
Home safe, with all the other projects.
I don’t have a clear plan for this car right now. I bought it on a whim, and I’m not ready for a full blown project yet. So I think I’ll just keep it simple- clean it up a bit and get it running and driving. Once I cruise it around a bit, then I’ll decide the long term plan.
*Edit: What I know of the history of this car.
It came from South Dakota to Garden Grove, CA in the mid-70s. It kept its SD licence plates the whole time it was in CA, with the last known registration being 1985. It was rarely driven, just around the block occasionally to keep it alive. Sometime in the late 70s or early 80s, it was stashed in a garage.
The earliest owner that I know of was Donovan Thorpe, and he taught auto repair shop. The car may or may not have been worked on by his students. He may have restored the car in the mid to late 70s. He left the car to his daughter, who I bought it from in 2022.
I will update this as I gather more information from her.
_________________
RIP HBB 10.10.84 - 12.25.09
1958 Ragtop Bug Build - Subaru Swap!
1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia
1957 Dove Blue Kombi field find
Last edited by OTO X58 on Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:11 am; edited 1 time in total |
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John Moxon 
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Joined: March 07, 2004
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Location: Southampton U.K.
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Braukuche
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Joined: September 03, 2004
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 7:50 am Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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I’m betting it’s a late 56 titled as a 57. Does it have paddles or knobs for fresh air controls?
Looks like someone stuck some of the original 36hp components and put them on the replacement 40hp. Too bad the original engine is gone because probably all the sending units for that cool multi gauge went with it.
Seat covers and door panels look original, the cord upholstery usually fades to that color. I don’t see the rubber mats.
Paint looks original but lots of typical lower rust and fender wheel rot. But the body looks straight, how are the pans?
Funny but it seems like most of the 55-56 cars in the US are Gazelle.
That’s a potentially very valuable car once restored. It’s nice to see a lowlight for a change that’s not been lowered, rolling Fuchs or otherwise monkeyed with. Post some more pix if you can looks like a rare survivor.
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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LVGhia72
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Joined: April 22, 2020
Posts: 282
Location: Lost Wages
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 11:37 am Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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Nice find. I'm more interested in the Volvo with LS motor. Talk about an under the radar super sleeper. Whoa. Best of luck with the Low light.
Steve |
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OTO X58
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3103
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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| John Moxon wrote: |
That's a great find. When you have time enter details and pictures to the Lowlight Registry: http://www.kglowlightregistry.com/
It should be possible to pin down quite closely it's build date. :) |
Thanks!
I’ll add the info as soon as I have access. I’ll also order a birth certificate.
| LVGhia72 wrote: |
Nice find. I'm more interested in the Volvo with LS motor. Talk about an under the radar super sleeper. Whoa. Best of luck with the Low light.
Steve |
Thanks, Steve! I love that car, and use it for everything from dump runs with a trailer, towing cars, vintage road rallies, and even daily driving to sales calls. It’s been an awesome build. I have more pics of it on Instagram, usernamme Toms_Elleck
| Braukuche wrote: |
I’m betting it’s a late 56 titled as a 57. Does it have paddles or knobs for fresh air controls?
Looks like someone stuck some of the original 36hp components and put them on the replacement 40hp. Too bad the original engine is gone because probably all the sending units for that cool multi gauge went with it.
Seat covers and door panels look original, the cord upholstery usually fades to that color. I don’t see the rubber mats.
Paint looks original but lots of typical lower rust and fender wheel rot. But the body looks straight, how are the pans?
Funny but it seems like most of the 55-56 cars in the US are Gazelle.
That’s a potentially very valuable car once restored. It’s nice to see a lowlight for a change that’s not been lowered, rolling Fuchs or otherwise monkeyed with. Post some more pix if you can looks like a rare survivor. |
It has paddles for the fresh air controls.
Yeah, I wish the 36hp was still there. It has stale air heater boxes, and that 36hp distributor. Luckily, all the sending units appear to be there!
The interior may be original- although should it have white piping? Half of the rubber mat is there, but it’s hard as a rock and very brittle. The cloth seat centers are flaking apart- little white fuzzy hairs come off when you tough it.
I can see it was repainted, including the dash. Probably done in the early 70s according to the daughter of the original owner.
The pans are mostly good, with small sections under the back seat patched with flat steel sheet. The rockers are surprisingly good, the worst rot is at the back of the driver’s side. It’s also had the rear drivers area behind the wheel patched.
It is a car that was loved, but was treated like a normal car. Luckily, not too molested, just maintained and repaired.
I’ll upload more pics shortly.
_________________
RIP HBB 10.10.84 - 12.25.09
1958 Ragtop Bug Build - Subaru Swap!
1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia
1957 Dove Blue Kombi field find |
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calexican
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Joined: June 11, 2008
Posts: 730
Location: El Paso, TX
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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| Great photos! Awesome car, like braukuche’s gazelle, and a few others that have been showing up, it’s becoming one of my favorite colors, you’re lucky you have that nice interior. |
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OTO X58
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3103
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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I have a few more pictures from before I started cleaning anything. Interior:
I'm assuming this headliner is not original, right? Should it be cloth?
Rear seat upholstery appears to be original, but is that carpet original? The loop seems too large, but I am not sure.
Is this a Bug radio plate, with those bumps on the sides? They would align with the dash trim in a Bug it looks like.
This key wallet is really cool!
Multgauge details:
I don't think there was any sort of sender to measure amps- it looks like that wire just goes into a harness wrapped in electrical tape which I haven't peeled back yet.
Fuel sender
Oil temp sender
The distributor is a VJU4BR8
_________________
RIP HBB 10.10.84 - 12.25.09
1958 Ragtop Bug Build - Subaru Swap!
1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia
1957 Dove Blue Kombi field find |
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OTO X58
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Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3103
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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I read that early lowlights didn't come with side mirrors, so they were dealer installed. The mirror they chose for this car just seems so huge and ugly, I'd really rather replace it with something that suits the Ghia better. They also mounted it so that the antenna is right in front of the glass, for some reason. I took it off for now, until I figure it out.
The sticker on the back had to go:
It has the wrong badge installed, but there was a bat ear emblem with a broken tang in the glovebox.
This is the worst of the rot:
I'd love to find a replacement used and cracked lens:
The fuse box had a little bit of hackery, which I removed. There were inline fuses added to each position in a loop. The far right side was soldered to. I ordered a replacement fuse box, but I may remove this one and see if I can clean off the solder and reuse it. I'll preserve the paper label.
Sekurit glass on all 4 side windows!
The rear window looks to have been replaced. And the windshield has no markings.
I did a very light cleaning of the interior using Dawn dish soap dilluted, and a small nail brush to scrub the vinyl. I also misted the soap onto the cloth, and extracted it with a small upholstery extractor. The cloth is very delicate and coming apart. The vinyl is still pretty soft, leading me to wonder if this car has been recovered in the near past. I think that it may have undergone a restoration in the early 70s. Either way, it turned out a bit cleaner:
_________________
RIP HBB 10.10.84 - 12.25.09
1958 Ragtop Bug Build - Subaru Swap!
1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia
1957 Dove Blue Kombi field find |
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OTO X58
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Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3103
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 8:59 pm Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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I gave the body a good cleaning. It’s actually still dirty- I’ll need to scrub it again before starting to try and buff the paint. I also used oven cleaner to strip the silver spray paint off the bumpers. Gave them a slight polish with some super fine steel wool. One step at a time.
I also started to hammer out the dented nose. Of course there’s a big brace in the way, which makes things harder. But it’s starting to look a lot better. Lucky for me, the metal seems to want to go back where it’s supposed to. Before and after:
Hard to see in that last pic, but the little rib it coming back! It was pretty flat before.
_________________
RIP HBB 10.10.84 - 12.25.09
1958 Ragtop Bug Build - Subaru Swap!
1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia
1957 Dove Blue Kombi field find
Last edited by OTO X58 on Wed Mar 16, 2022 9:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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OTO X58
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Posts: 3103
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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Took it down to the DMV today for a VIN inspection, got the registration completed, and got my plates! I’d love to take this over to the Kelley Park show.
Went with a broken Smile plate frame- seems about right.
The Ghia really looks great next to our 62 Biscayne wagon.
_________________
RIP HBB 10.10.84 - 12.25.09
1958 Ragtop Bug Build - Subaru Swap!
1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia
1957 Dove Blue Kombi field find |
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Braukuche
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Joined: September 03, 2004
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 9:28 pm Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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Looks like the seats and door panels have been redone as well as the headliner, which should be stretch wool. You are right the rear seat is original.
Have you peaked under the front seat covers? Maybe the original covers are under it.
That’s so cool you have all the sending units, do the gauges work?
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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OTO X58
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Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3103
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:43 pm Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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| Braukuche wrote: |
Looks like the seats and door panels have been redone as well as the headliner, which should be stretch wool. You are right the rear seat is original.
Have you peaked under the front seat covers? Maybe the original covers are under it.
That’s so cool you have all the sending units, do the gauges work? |
Yeah, not original. I’m just glad they are really close to stock appearance. I’ll take a peek under the front covers- that’s a great idea!
I haven’t messed with the gauges yet, but I did notice that none of the grounds at the gauges are connected. That’s a really great sign actually, because this car was set up as Positive Ground for some reason. I’m reversing that, and going through the harness front to back. Fingers crossed that the gauges work when I get to them!
_________________
RIP HBB 10.10.84 - 12.25.09
1958 Ragtop Bug Build - Subaru Swap!
1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia
1957 Dove Blue Kombi field find |
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lasslo
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Joined: September 01, 2004
Posts: 206
Location: sweden
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2022 2:45 am Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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Love the car, really a time capsule...
I think your headliner is org, I have the same headliner in my early 57, org Gazelle. Lots have been changed in my car, but the headliner is original. At least untill I´m proven wrong  
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57 Karmann Ghia |
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Marcdeb
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iowegian
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2022 3:39 am Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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It would look great with one of them "Alfa Romeo" grills on it.  |
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John Moxon
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rich caramadre
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Braukuche
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2022 7:17 am Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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That’s for a 58, 56 used stretch wool. My late 56 production year Ghia still had fragments of it. The few original cars I’ve seen had them as well.
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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consvws
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Joined: April 07, 2009
Posts: 950
Location: Roseburg, OR
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2022 8:23 am Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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I have a rear license plate bracket just like that, never knew what it was for. First time I've seen one on a car.
Awesome car BTW!
Conrad |
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rich caramadre
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2022 9:05 am Post subject: Re: 1957 Gazelle Beige Ghia Find |
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Ok Thanks for the info Braukuche. I seem to learn something new about these cars every day.
| Braukuche wrote: |
That’s for a 58, 56 used stretch wool. My late 56 production year Ghia still had fragments of it. The few original cars I’ve seen had them as well. |
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