The Cal-look Lounge

    I am on a lead for my old Ghia. I received and e mail from a VW fan in Japan telling me that he had seen a picture of my old Ghia in a magazine in Japan called Cal magazine Vol # 5 1988 and is showing a picture of the Ghia for sale. If any one has a copy of this issue if you could post a picture of the add showing the car for sale. Also Stephan may have contact with someone in Japan may help with the process. Any other leads is appreciated.

Thanks
 Frenchy

Hey Frenchy! Cal Magazine is no longer around. Too bad, it was a great magazine.
You may try to contact Satoshi at Street VWs. Shoot me your email address at stsphoto@earthlink.net and I will forward you the info.
Good luck!

Here you go! This was in a 1989 issue...
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/Photokernow/40810739.jpg)

(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/Photokernow/51a48df2.jpg)

Good luck, mon ami! :)

That's it!!! :o

$24.000 in ´89, wonder how much it would sell for today.

'89 was the height of the Japanese importing cars right before their economy crashed. Japanese investors were paying outrageous sums for cars from America. Then the stock market crashed and it was all over.

--louis

    Thanks Keith for your help on this one. No wonder I was not able to locate it in California. Now lets see if the owner would like to sell it back to me.I will have to do some homework for this.

Thanks !!
Frenchy

   Now if anyone has an extra copy of this issue I would like to have one.

   Thanks !!!

    Frenchy

Wow, that is too cool. I am betting that the ghia is intact and tucked away somewhere. Good luck, Frenchy!

PM sent  ;)

Who, cool that you trying to get it back.
Best ghia looker I ever saw.
Good luck with the search Frenchy.

    Thank you to everyone wish me luck it would be cool if the owner would be interested to sell it. All you need is patience. I also have received an e mail and talked to Stephan this afternoon and he has connection with the same person in Japan to try and locate the new owner. Stay tune for the return of the Ghia you never know.
 
    Thanks
    Frenchy

That is great Frenchy. Good luck!

--louis

GOOD LUCK DUDE

Good luck, Frenchy! I woudl love to see someone bring a noteworthy VW back to the states.

hope you'll be able to find where the ghia now resides.
i do however have difficulties when the comments of getting it back because you're the rightful owner. i think anyone who sells a car decides to take their hands off of it. unless it were stolen from you of course...

nevertheless, the ghia would be back in good hands to get the attention the car deserves.

good luck!

Belongs in Germany! ;D  Meeooowwww!

    The most difficult thing to do will be to convinced the owner to sell it back to me once I can locate him. If I am not able to bring it back I have another one waiting for me to start on. The engine,trans,wheels,front beam all done ready to go. Stephan has a few e mail out to Flat 4 looking the where about. Stay tune.

   Thanks
   Frenchy

Let's hope Russell doesn't see this and sneak in and buy it. More quality VW's to the UK soon then...  ;D

if you look back my posts you will see Im already chasing down a car in Japan......... and this has been ongoing for about 6 weeks !

Good luck,Frenchy  ;)

    Sometime it is hard to be patient. We will see the outcome on this. I will keep everyone posted on this.

    Thanks
    Frenchy

I'll be in Japan in December.. if i can help (goes for you too Russell) just let me know!

While your there have a look for Mike Billings 67 for me dude ;) :)

Do you know who has the car??? no problem to check it out for you dude!

I wish dude :( I would really like to know what happened to it though.

    I received a phone call this evening from Inspector Stephan who has been in contact with a couple of friends in Japan who are looking for the Ghia. As of tonight the Ghia was sold to three different owners over the years and apparently the car has been repainted dark maroon or red. I gave Stephan the VIN # of the Ghia to make it easier to locate all I can say is Thank You so much Stephan for all of your help in this adventure. Stay tune as this is going to get better. I may have to start building my raft to go and get this baby. LOL

   Thanks
   Frenchy

    Stephan if you could post the latest picture of the ghia that you have received from Satoshi this week for everyone to see the latest condition.

    Thanks
    Frenchy

Frenchy's Ghia, sometime during the '90s.
Still not found, though...

 :o :o if someone’s got the tar I've got the feathers I think we need to organise a lynching posse!

who the hell would put scallops on a car like that its sacrilege  ???

With the lack of nose grilles, I'd guess there was a slight front ender and it was an alternative to fixing it properly... :(

Wow! What a transformation! :'( :'( Stop...my eyes are burning.

oh shit  that guy had no taste , pfff sad to see one of the best ghia turning that way

yeah it hurts. especially for you Fabs as i know you are a very big fan off that car. i can understand why.

yep nicolas  :'(

 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :'(

 :P That sucks. If somebody find the car, I hope he will put it back to his former glory.

At this point it probably would be less work to find another ghia and clone the original ?

Maybe.  :-\

But it never be the original...Maybe you should just put clone 5 spokes on your car.  Been having to shovel snow yet ?   Bill

    I have a 1966 Ghia that I bought 8 years ago in case I was not able to find the original one. Also the engine , trans and wheels are all already to go for the new Ghia project. At this point I will wait and see how much I can buy the car once it is found. Replacing the nose if in fact it had been damage at one time it will be a challenge. I can have Buddy Hale and Matt Howard to this for me these guys are artist. Lets wait and see. Thank You to everyone reading these post I know it will get better.

    Thanks
    Frenchy

have you found some new herculeon plaid for the new ghia project or a similar one ??
 
fabs

 i just had a comment on my blog after posting the picture of your ghia
 k-rot from vintage autohaus in france said that the picture of your ghia in 88 was at vintage garage  in japan , and he bought a car from him a 356 and said may be they had some archives from your car or a track ???
just ask the shop or stephan
rgd
fabs

    Thank You for the information.

    Frenchy

I've been on the search for automotive grade plaid lately... the only stuff out there is old NOS stock.

"I've been on the search for automotive grade plaid lately..." Me to dude  ;) :)

Here's what I've been thinking of  :o

I have a friend who had his interior redone from a '70s bus interior. It came out pretty nice.

--louis

here's another nice pattern :)

Good luck, Frenchy on your search for the original Ghia.  The one that made us see, callookers don't have to be beetles, but can be very cool looking KG's.

Philip Steenackers
Founding member of the Flatline Lowriders since 1997
1966 Old School Bug
1957 Old Speed Ghia (under construction)
lowlight@scarlet.be
http://flatline-lowriders.skynetblogs.be

   Thanks to all of you fan this is going and get better.

   Frenchy

when i'm in japan during December i'll ask the Japanese Cal Lookers to snoop around for your ghia, fingers crossed it may still be around...

   Thank You  Kobus for your help here is the VIN#147342282.

    Good luck
    Frenchy

cool, i'll try to get it tracked down!

Frenchy, is there any pictures of your ghia here in Japan with the japanese licencplate on it???

    Hi Kobus

    I am not sure but Stephan may know through his friend that live there. All we know is that the front end of the car as you can see on the previous post shows a picture of the car as we know with the front grilles covered up and the front end painted green. Possibly Mr Kamura from Flat Four maybe able to help you.

    Thanks for looking

    Frenchy

OUCH.....

   My birthday on Saturday 12/13/08 would be cool if the news were that the ghia was located and the owner had a price set. This would be a great birthday to remember LOL

   We will see

   Thanks
   Frenchy

I hope so for you....
Fingers crossed
 ;)

   I have talked to Satoshi a good friend of Stephan and I this past weekend at Bug In 34 he will look into my ghia once he returns to Japan.


    Thanks
    Frenchy

    Fred

    My 1973 orange beetle was sold in San Bernardino in the mid 80' and it had original Empi 8 spokes on it. This one did not go to Japan. As soon as I get news on the ghia I will let everyone know.

    Thanks
    Frenchy

Hi Frenchy,

I go to Japan about once a year on bussiness.  During one of my trips there I located a VW speciality shop.  I have their bussiness card at work and will send you the contact info.  When I was there about two years back he had a lot of US based VW's.

...Ed.

    Thanks Ed

    That will be great. I am very anxious to start on the ghia that I have in my back yard but I need to be patient and see if the one in Japan may turn up soon.

   Thanks again
   Frenchy

Is there in between more info about that car?