The Cal-look Lounge

Hello, out there.

I am working on my '62 Ghia project and haved looked at numerous Ghias on the web, and at shows, in order to find inspiration to the car. Cars like Mike Lowless' coupe are among the ones I have admired the most.

What I am wondering, is whether there are any "rules" when it comes to the cal-look style on Ghias?

I read with interest the cal-look community's affection to IDA's, no bumpers, choice of wheels, stance etc, but do most of these "rules" apply also to the Ghia?

My plans for the car is as follows.

6x15 detailed Fuchs all around
NOT 135s at the front.... (I want to be able to steer and brake also...)
narrowed beam and dropped spindles, however not lowered to the extreme at the front
near stock height at the rear
Pearl white paint
All chrome intact
1835cc, groiwng to a 2276 in the near future
NO IDA's :-)
Stock interior, minus the seats, where I will use some recaro's from the late 70's

Not that my target is to categorize my ride, but I would be interested in your guys' feedback regarding the "cal-lookability" of the Ghia in general, and the direction I am heading, in particular.

i cant wait to see someone build a proper full on cal-look ghia.......

dechromed, nose down, welded up nostrils,color coded headlight rims, T-bars, hot motor, india red or chrome yellow....or another of  those traditional cal look colors.....

real empi 8 spokes or fuchs alloys

the two red ghias in Volksworld issue 1 are still the coolest proper cal-look ghia's i've seen.

Jick, like those ideas alot, the plan was to finish mine for the EBI but it will have to wait just a little bit longer...
Keep an eye open on the project lounge this summer  ;)

sound cool dude....i'll look forward to seeing yours. ;)

Get you kicks from Mike Mabes Street is Neat Karman Ghia....built in the early 80's and the cover of Hot VW's California Look special issue......eleven oooohs with a small motor!!!! 8) 8)

pics?

The car you describe exists and was built some 30+ years ago.. Watch out for it this summer..

This one??

Oh yeah... THE cal-look Ghia...   ;D

Drooooooooooooling!!

Sweet,

this one is also one of my favourites:
(http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m68/grelland/rdlo-light.jpg)

70`s...

Wow that car is HOT!

If you wanna do traditional Ca-Look, Look at Roger Grago's, Frenchy's and Danny Gabbard's cars for inspiration.

Grago's ghia

Hey baboon?? I think I've seen that car before but I can't place it?

My opinion- I think Ghias and type 3's look shit without bumpers. Leave them on, but shave the guards clean. Shave the chrome, front emblem, rear script, and possibly the turn signals too. Removing the fresh air grilles tooks odd to me... it leaves too much metal on the front end with nothing to break it up. Since the Ghia is a coupe, I think it looks better with the suspension set a little lower and with slightly less rake than your standard cal look Beetle. Thats how I would do it ;)

Blimey, that was going to my reply when I finished reading the thread  ;D

The only thing we disagree on, is the rake. Ghia's look killer with a proper stance. The last thing you want is for the stance police to slap a citation on you!  ;)

 PERFECT.... thats how to do a ghia... ;)

here may be  ;D

more picture of karmann cal look ;D

 ;)

 ;)

 ;)

 8)

 ;D

 :o

 ;D

all pictures are from geezer  ;)

and this's my favourite picture  8)

i forgot this one  ;D

 ;)

(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid151/p6f835b46c679b8fcfb2b85cac36be54b/f5d109d2.jpg)

(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/p5c14b174cda7b0d414712530a032f8eb/f1b716a1.jpg)

(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid171/pff20a1fae9e087e35ab5ea87770ac7f6/f3de6457.jpg)

(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/p44d5038a4e814a85f3d29b97c14c5881/f1b7169b.jpg)

Love these Ghia's, the red low light's the mutts nuts, and I can't wait to check out Flatfires this year  ;D

In the shot with the three Ghias, thats Doug Mische (aka Crazy Pan Guy) down on the end with the long hair.
That first black Ghia with the semi-polished real EMPI 8's is stunning.  I remember it from the magazines back in the day.  Larry something wasnt it?

Thats the smartest thing youve said all week  ;)
I agree 100%, gotta have bumpers and raking a Ghia is a silly as raking a 911  :)

Anyone ever notice that on the hood he spelled Volkswagen with an "O" ?
Or Possibly "McPeak" ?
Lol !

 :o you're right it's written volkswagon  ::)

Thanks? ;)

I'm with you 100% Zach. I kinda like the front with t-bars but they look crappy on the back and I'm not gonna mix bumper styles so it's blades with shaved overriders if I ever do a Ghia

Wow, this is great! Keep them coming !

I must say these pictures have made me rethink my choice of wheels, Fuchs look great, but almost all Ghias I know of in Norway run them...

Are the 8-spoke wheels in the pics mostly EMPI's, or maybe American Racing? What's the availability of these nowadays? (Excuse my ignorance on this subject, but I trust you all will wnlighten me and all others that dont have the knowledge)

As I said, keep the pictures coming  ;D

Hey Rick. I think you are right?

http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?topic=174.0

Ahhh that's it!

those wheels on the pictures are real empi 8 spokes no american racing

Thanks for great info !

Been asked to post these pics, so up for the ape.  Last seen in VW Ultra :)

:)

more pictures of cal look  ghia that's for you ray more idea  for your car  ;)
rgds
fabian

 ;)

 ;)

here's the caramel ghia from doug mische he was a member of the dkp II at that time nice cal look i've a color picture of this one i looking for a next post ok ray  ;)

more  ;D

That karmann from Doug M. is really cool...

I remember that car. It was nice!

more  ;)

 ;D

 ;D

love all the pics! there is alot to be seid 4 a nice ghia, respect :) :)

man!  that baby blue one is killer.....

really....whoever said keep the bumpers and nostrils should be ashamed!     ;)

No no no no no no no no no no no and finaly no, Jick, you're wrong accept it! Ghia's look wrong with t bars and they look really REALLY wrong without the nostrils  :o

Sorry Alfie, but I think Jick has it right.... but nobody dares it these days, hmmm maybe Ishould do on my project...

I'm still missing a Picture of the best looking Ghia ever build... ??? ??? ???

It's Black, used to be in DKPIII  and was owned by Danny G.... ;) ;D ;D

Frank

Danny was in  DKK

I AGREE, form and function is everything!

And later in DKPIII if the French feature in SVW Magazine about his Ghia is correct... ;)

Pics ???

Frank

hmmm I wouldn't swear to it but Bill might know.

Don't have any pics of it.

The Ghia in the new issue of HotVWs is very clean. Resto/Cal, but clean.

What function does removing the nostrils serve???

i agree on this one jick ;)

They are just a design feature... who needs fresh air anyway...?  ::)

so what you're really trying to tell me is that you're into resto-cals with big engines ?   :D ;)

and you stay out of this Bathing Ape..... ;D

Pics ???

Frank
here's the picture frank  ;)

thats very nice,nostrils and bumpers intact

final warning Ape......stay out of it. :D

small nostrils.....not so intrusive on the lines....ok, i'll allow it. but not the bumpers...surely people will agree that an outlaw 356 looks best without bumpers....shows off the bodylines much better........?

bumpers without overriders

Great debate,  pics with and without bumpers,  I like both but think front t bars do nothing, offer no protection so why fit.  The whole nostril debate has got me thinking as well, what do do, personnaly I think its a good dilema as they all look good if done right ;D

Surely the only Ghia is a low light  ;) And even they need bumpers, tried my t bars on my old low light and it looked wrong  :o

And yeah, we're a buckaroo club with big engines  ;)

So now we are to remove all designe features? I like to think the opposite way. Start with the stock car, and alter/remove the things you want in order to serve the purpose you're seeking. Bumpers can be removed due to weight issues, same thing with rear seats, sound deadening etc, but pulling out your welder and removing nostrils, just because they are design features... I dont buy it :-)

I made the switch from Beetles to a '64 Ghia in March of last year.  I couldn't be happier.  For me I wanted to do something different and yet I wasn't looking to get out of VW's.  I thought about making a manx street/strip buggy, but thought better of it and bought the Ghia.  Its a very original car with a well documented history.  I've kept everything and will someday restore it back to stock.  But for now I'm having fun. ;D   I run a 2054cc engine, IDA's, old school Lonnie Reed Wedge Ports and other goodies. ;)

Future plans call for wheels and my "big" motor.

Sounds like something Mike Lawless said ;)

Glad you found your way here David, welcome :)

HYE EVERYBODY LET ME SHOW MY CAR A 1965 BUT 1966 MODEL

I USE A LOT OF EMPI STUFF ON THE CAR
 MY NEXT PROJECT IS TO FIT OG MAGNESIUM  EMPI BRM AND MY SPEEDWELL SPRINGKIT CARB ON A 16OOCC SINGLE PORT ENGINE

and maybe get rid of some chrome  ;) :)

Nah, the stock chrome is cool.   8) ;)

one hell of a ride steve! awesome  8)

here's another picture from the doug mishe caramel ghia,  but this time doug has changed the wheels  fuchs and exit riviera  ::)
 

Why are you running Cal Look Rubber on the front and rear Windows? when you left all the Other Chrome on the Car???

Here is my latest project. I know  it will be a year or so before it hits the road. This is also my first ghia, so the assembly could get interesting. And the five spokes have to go.

NICE PAINT KEEP GOING FOR THE FINAL ASSEMBLY

I saw these Ghia's on last weekends Mai Kafer treffen at Hannover.

(http://www.restolooker.nl/scriptdata/photo-albums/album19/2007_188.jpg)

(http://www.restolooker.nl/scriptdata/photo-albums/album19/2007_217.jpg)

More pictures on www.restolooker.com

Before the flames

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7db22b3127cce83f055d55b4a00000016108QYs2zhyyZ-)


after :)

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5dc24b3127cce9fb633cfa02500000016108QYs2zhyyZ-)

Dyno and I were looking at Old Photos today, and came upon these photos of his old "69" Karmann Ghia! 

Susy

Roger Grago's Ghia might have been a little influence on me...
(http://muchos.co.uk/members/neil hab2/adr003.jpg)

 ;)

waouuuwww great pictures  dyno  ,thanks suzy for the scan  and to share then with us
i want more pict of that car  ;D ;D
cheer
fabian

I have a few questions about callook ghia's,
I'm bussy building one myself, but I see that all the T-bars infront are flipped up side down, and I don't like that too much, but I also saw that some bugs have the buggy bumpers, and that fits perfectly on a ghia I think, But now my question,
how callook are the buggy bumpers? and what to do with the rear bumper? T-bars or also a buggy bumper?
I hope someone can help me!

Yust found this pic and thought I share it with you...Nice n.plate  ;)

awesome!
that pretty much looks like the ghia i've built in my head already  ;D

that's roger crago ghia when lenny copp had this one
here's other pict of the car

You cant mess with the lines on a ghia, keep the bumpers on, keep the nostril vents in place, just get the rims and stance right and you have a killer ride. Some work without the side trims, but it depends on the colour.

exactley,i do like the bumpers minus their overriders as well ;)

anybody out there ride with dyno in that ghia? frickin E ticket. I remember one night dyno and I where going to some ralley in his car, we were setting at a light,when a car load of cholos pulled up next to us. I told dyno to honk the horn when the light turned green, they looked got the finger and a f you. then we were out of there. thank god the car didnt brake

ROFL!

DANNY... ALWAYS THE TROUBLE MAKER! LOL 

dyno's turbo Ghia and your black KG are my favorites.

Howdy guys. My first time on this forum. As for debate with or without bumpers? I favour full bumpers. Cal-Look? Maybe not. On this particular car, I reckon that my opinion is the only one that matters. I don't like t-bars on Ghias. But that's just me!
(http://home.comcast.net/~mlawless29/vegas1.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~mlawless29/WKRFamoso3.jpg)

Hey Mike! Good to see you here!

A sweet DKK car, owned by Cory Oldroyd early 80's

Welcome to the Lounge Mike.  Nice to have you here!

Hi Mike! Welcome to The Lounge!

that ghia owned by Cory Oldroyd looks nice :o
does anyone has some more pictures of it?
glauco

Cory checks in from time to time... maybe Worm will nudge him. His Ghia was very cool!

More DKK Ghias...

Dee Phillips... Love the License Plate

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2616436218_cc2f78fa5c.jpg?v=0)

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Tod Fuller

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2616436788_0d3e2e3628.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/2616434772_390377f1db.jpg?v=0)

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Henry Mayeda

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2615603453_66c19f2f80.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2616434756_54c83f5da5.jpg?v=0)

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Danny Sikich

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2616434160_35556dc2cf.jpg?v=0)

---

I reckon when you're running the kind of numbers you are your opinions pretty valid.  ;D

Love this view of the car!  8)

(http://home.comcast.net/~mlawless29/WKRFamoso3.jpg)

Just talking to a friend about Cal Look Ghias and remembered about this thread. Any new ones in the works? Old ones re-discovered?

Picked up this '71 a month or so back, my youngest Daughter's. Going to tidy up a few things on the ragtop & start up on the ghia

That's cool Bill, on two fronts - one, that looks like a nice solid base to build a good car from, and secondly that you've got your daughter is into VWs. What are the plans with regards to wheels, paint etc.? Those 8-spokes look to have much more positive offset than the ones on my old one (top of the page!) - i always likes 914 2-litre alloys on Ghias.

It is a very solid car. First off it is autostick, so we are going to pull the engine & trans and have Greg Brinton put a clutch tube in it. Mechanicals will be very stock for a while with the exception of a adjustable beam. Wheels will be either 2L fuchs or fuchs replicas, depending on budget. Paint will be down the road, my Brother has agreed to paint it but it will be a bit. Just a simple little cal looker. I am really glad we bought it, I think prices on any Ghia will be out of reach in the near future.

Mine been around for a while -- previous owner had it in VW Trends in Aug '97 and I've changed a few things on it since I got it in 2012

(https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1704874.jpg)

The previous owner put a couple pics of it up on Facebook last week.

Bella? A car already? Good grief, how time flies! It seems like only yesterday I was holding her in my arms the day after she came home... I feel old.

18yrs ago this month, time has really gone by. Buying the Ghia was a total lark, but it was too good to pass up.

could someone (as in Speedwel for example) get me some more foto's of Tod Fullers karmann ghia? not the cabrio, but the one from this picture

[attachment=1]

Really loving this car..

Thank you,
Glauco

Here’s a pic of my 57 cal look lowlight before I sold it I would drive it to shows and
Swap out of it. 

[attachment=1]

Wow, I have not posted here for a long time. If you look back to the start of this thread (in 2007) I asked for inspiration for my Ghia restoration. Now, some 15 years later it has been on the road for some 10-12 years and I use it as my daily driver, and I have had a number of engines in it.

Here is a shot from SCC last year when I run an AMR500-supercharged 1600cc and this year I am planning on puttng back my good old 2110cc oxyboxer.

I did a 16.9 on the 1/4 mile with that engine

Since last year I have added a set of genuine porsche fuchs 7x15 at the rear and deep6 at the front.

Great inspirations in these pages :)

Photo courtesy of Roger Iversen

 ;D

That was a nice one Maurice….