My Karmann Ghia and 626 (56k be warned)
 

Just figured i'd show off my cars, if you've been paying attention to me, you'll know that my mazda is for sale and i'm looking to buy a Subaru SVX ASAP...

This is my 1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
This is actually the second time I've repaired it... it was all rusted to hell and we replaced a bunch of body panels and made some of our own... of course, we're not professional, so we used a bit of bondo, but it's all good, the car still looks great (imho). We also removed the bumpers and did a bunch of custom interior work... the engine's pretty filthy, but i'm in the process of rebuilding another engine that will be slightly more powerful than the stock 43hp. After i got it done the first time, i drove it for about 4 months, and in that period of time, managed to hit a deer, have the wheel fall off twice and tear up the fender (stupid volkswagen for not using right-hand threads), and my neighbor who has hated me since i was a kid decided to be an ass and back into it and push the unadultered nose in just to piss me off... so, second go-round, this is what it looks like:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...a/lazyeye2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Ghia/side.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Ghia/butt.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...owitsamess.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../backside2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...a/interior.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ia/stereo2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...a/IMG_2695.jpg

(the before pic)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ia/myghia2.gif

Now, my 1998 Mazda 626 LX has a 2.0L and a 5-speed and is my daily driver... I've done a little bit of work to it, nothing too drastic... i painted and mounted an aftermarket spoiler (low profile, i'm the only one i know of who has one), it's got clear corners, custom stitched e-brake and shift boots (a guy on my 626 forum used to make them), wheels from a Probe GT, LED Shift knob, meshed grille with a light-up emblem (i'm also the only one i know of who has done this), front strut brace, Kenwood CD/MP3 player, 12" Competition subs on a 2000w amp, sport pedals, blue windshield wiper arms, etc...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...6/IMG_2510.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...aninterior.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...6/626june4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...6/626june2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...26/stereo2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../626/subs1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...626/LIGHT1.jpg

and here's a nice shot of them together.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...hianmazda3.jpg


there are a lot of pictures there... hope they didn't crash your computer or anything...
and sorry about the quality on that glowing emblem pic... my old camera didn't like to handle blue light very well...

cool car this ghia, my neighbor has one in his driveway. I never see him driving it but it is a cabrio I think, i never had a good look at it. It is red... :rolleyes:
When will you trade this mazda for an SVX :D

Has anyone considered putting a Subaru engine in a Ghia?

i think its funny how the battery is nearly as large as the engine

I don't know about a ghia, i do know that it's been done with Beetles and Microbusses tho... i'd imagine somebody's done it with a ghia


That isn't a stock-sized battery... the original battery tray rotted out and we had to replace that piece of metal, and to re-inforce it, i welded up an angle bracket battery box and welded it into the car... that piece will never come out ever again... and it's strong enough to hold the big battery too. lol

In a word, yes. My father-in-law has two of them - one very disassembled coupe and a mostly running cabrio. We had my SVX in his garage to replace the transmission (it was a really, really big garage). The SVX was parked next to his Ghia, parked the other way around so both of them had their engines facing the same direction.

We both looked back and forth a couple times and just kind of chuckled.

So, I can say I've considered it. I just haven't actually done anything, nor am I likely to. :p

that karmann ghia is looking great.

A Porsche engine will definitely fit.. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ;) ;) :D :D

I have great memories from high school, with a certain young lady and a red Ghia Cabrio. :D :D :D Those were the days.

Does your wife know about this Randy? :D :D

If she does, she hasn't told me. :p

Nice little green ghia. :)

The 626 is quite clean and nice. How much are you asking? What is the mileage? Got keyless entry? :D