| Author |
Message |
DaveB9
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2021
Posts: 210
Location: UK
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
 |
|
I only have a video of the underside in the final Raptor coat. It isn't as textured as Raptor can be, but is still quite distinct from the topside. Hopefully it will keep the Ghia rust free for a long tome to come.
The last areas of pitting on the upper body were finalised and the separate panels and parts got into final primer.
These were the last photos I got before going to collect it. I stayed overnight in a nearby hotel and the next morning got a few texts saying they were still polishing it, but by midday I was allowed up to see it, even though some front panels were still being polished! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
DaveB9
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2021
Posts: 210
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 2:18 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
This is Gavin Jones polishing the final lacquer on the front wing:
I chose to have the insides of the rear wings painted in Raptor and you can see the contrast with the engine bay here. The aluminium side panels will close this area off.
I was really pleased with how straight the body is. Reflections of roof beams in the bonnet are a good test!
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DaveB9
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2021
Posts: 210
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
The next step was getting the body back on the pan and that went surprisingly easily with four of us carrying it and another helper guiding us to line it up.
A rare shot of me here, doing up body to pan bolts. Again, you can see the Raptor up to the sides of the petrol tank support rails, contrasting with the gloss on the top of the rails.
Massive thanks to Hayden again for lending the use of his van and towing the hired trailer to Cornwall and back. Finally, it's home again. The doors are only temporarily hung, the bonnet and engine lid not yet on. I'm scared stiff of damaging it during reassembly, but really looking forward to building it back up.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rome
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004
Posts: 9689
Location: Pearl River, NY
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:56 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
| INCREDIBLE! Absolutely top-notch body and paintwork. And your rims go so well with it now. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Loren
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2004
Posts: 1705
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
| Wow! Your Ghia looks great. Can't wait to see it go back together. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DaveB9
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2021
Posts: 210
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
| Thanks for the comments. Gavin and Kelly have a great reputation here in the UK and deservedly so. Many cars they do are mirror finished inside quarter panels and other places you'll never see, but they totally got that for me longevity and total coverage were the priorities. That said, there are some lovely shiny surfaces that will be disappearing under carpets! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11018
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:30 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
Nicer than original for sure.
_________________
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Era Vulgaris
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2012
Posts: 1698
Location: Raleigh, NC
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 2:30 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
The paint looks amazing. Having owned 2 black Ghias as well as several other black cars, black more than any other color will turn into a mirror when photographed, and there's no hiding the quality of the finish in those reflections. They're either laser sharp as yours is, or they look like an impressionist painting when there's orange peel!
_________________
Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD
Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tri356
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2005
Posts: 320
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:13 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
Bravo! Top-notch! I always look at the way light reflects off of these surfaces, to get a sense of the care put into the bodywork. Congratulations, you have to be super happy!
Mike |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Moxon 
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13964
Location: Southampton U.K.
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 3:24 am Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
Black Ghias always present well and well painted Black Ghia present spectacularly.
Just look at Rinie's '56...
or Kevin's 1958 Karmann Convertible...
or Peter's '65...
Is my black Ghia painted well? Not particularly, it had a late '80s respray that was not finished until 2012 when I had the orange peel removed, but it always shows well.
It still surprises me when people ask what colour they should paint their Ghia, the last colour to be suggested would be Black.
You're going to love the reaction you'll get Dave, never fails. 
_________________
John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TRS63
Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2017
Posts: 1008
Location: Stuttgart - Germany
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DaveB9
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2021
Posts: 210
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
| John Moxon wrote: |
Black Ghias always present well and well painted Black Ghia present spectacularly.
Just look at Rinie's '56...
or Kevin's 1958 Karmann Convertible...
or Peter's '65...
Is my black Ghia painted well? Not particularly, it had a late '80s respray that was not finished until 2012 when I had the orange peel removed, but it always shows well.
It still surprises me when people ask what colour they should paint their Ghia, the last colour to be suggested would be Black.
You're going to love the reaction you'll get Dave, never fails. |
I've drooled over all three of those cars before, as well as yours John, as the reflections always look amazing in your photos. I figured it couldn't be original paint, but hadn't expected it was a 1980s respray. Someone did a good job colour sanding it!
Yes, I love black Ghias, but probably wouldn't have chosen it had it not been my Ghia's original colour. I have never owned a black car before (I haven't owned many cars at all - I keep them too long) and I am nervous about how hard they are to look after, especially as I live in a hard water (high limescale from chalk) area, where anything shiny has to be dried after washing ... All tips on black paint care appreciated! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Moxon
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13964
Location: Southampton U.K.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 3923
Location: In Molinya Orbit
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 3:50 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
| John Moxon wrote: |
| DaveB9 wrote: |
| All tips on black paint care appreciated! |
Don't take it out in the rain.  |
Don’t use anything abrasive to polish it. Get a professional to periodically wax it until you learn how not to scratch it. Rinse the car while it is still wet. Use an extra bucket to rinse the several washing pads/sponges you will use. Put the washing pads in the washing machine each time you finish up. Don’t rub hard anywhere. Don’t use an automatic car wash especially avoid those with harsh chemicals or rotating brushes.
Nicholas
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Evil_Fiz
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2011
Posts: 1051
Location: Jacksonville, FL
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:29 am Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
| DaveB9 wrote: |
| ... All tips on black paint care appreciated! |
- Use the "Gray Dean one-bucket method" (Search YouTube)
- Use high-quality, edgeless microfiber towels and remove the tags if present
- Use a high-quality car shampoo, or better yet, a polymer-based cleaner such as Optimum No-Rinse (ONR) to aid in mitigating hard water
- Use a water de-ionizer if you want to get neurotic and spendy
- Use a low-power/electric pressure washer or a hose-end battery-powered pressure washer
- Blow dry the car rather than dowl dry
- DO NOT wax fresh paint for at least 3 months. The longer you wait, the better. This allows the paint to breathe and fully cure
- Only use a high-quality Carnauba wax. This will protect the paint while allowing it to continuously breathe
_________________
“…It's not just about what's interesting. It's also about what's helpful, and it's helpful even if it helps just one other guy working on a Ghia.”
kiwighia68
See my build on TheSamba at:
The K_R_A_K_E_N_N : a 70 Ghia Convertible reinterpreted |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
obus
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2001
Posts: 11096
Location: just off Garden State Parkway Exit 81
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DaveB9
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2021
Posts: 210
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 7:30 am Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
| John Moxon wrote: |
| DaveB9 wrote: |
| All tips on black paint care appreciated! |
Don't take it out in the rain. |
I thought you lived in the same Country as me! I can't only drive it once a year ...
Thanks everyone else for the tips - I'll look into some of those suggestions. I saw the purified water cleaner in a copy of Octane and that might be going a bit far ... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Moxon
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13964
Location: Southampton U.K.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DaveB9
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2021
Posts: 210
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:17 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
Wow, well mine will certainly live a more sheltered life than my beetle or camper, but that is some serious weather-watching for England, John! Then again, a car as original and unmolested as that deserves some serious curating I reckon. The reflections look super straight to me there.
I don't own a modern car, never have done, so my VWs get 12 volt conversions, radial tyres, lots of underbody wax, Vaseline on the chrome in winter and lots of abuse, poor things!
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11018
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: My first Ghia project |
|
|
| DaveB9 wrote: |
Wow, well mine will certainly live a more sheltered life than my beetle or camper, but that is some serious weather-watching for England, John! Then again, a car as original and unmolested as that deserves some serious curating I reckon. The reflections look super straight to me there.
I don't own a modern car, never have done, so my VWs get 12 volt conversions, radial tyres, lots of underbody wax, Vaseline on the chrome in winter and lots of abuse, poor things!
|
Glad to know I not the only other nutter out there who doesn’t own a real car and drives nothing but antique German cars. Though you get extra props because I live in San Diego!
_________________
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
