1 post tagged “1966”

I have 10 days to complete the restoration of my new project, 1966 California Black Plate Karmann Ghia Coupe.  Wow I hear some of you say, this is truly California dreaming or is it Californication ....

A few months back in time .... I had a bright idea, why not salvedge IMO one of the more unique designs to come of our the coachworks that you old ones will know as Karmann.  The idea was simple, I'll use my technology insights to locate hard to find original parts and with the help of my mechanic  will have a restored beauty on he cheap!

4 months later $000's of dollars later I have given my self a 10 day deadline to find the 10 missing parts using the 10 online vendors who have thus far managed to keep me sane throughout this project.  But what the F*** is a bowden flex tube or a backing plate?  Use search, google/wikipedia I hear you cry ... not that easy since the 1966 model was the only model to have "different" parts for its assembly.  Now that I know what a backing plate is, where do I find a used one 'cos hey don't make 'em new any more.  So I call my trusted online sources this is how the conversation goes time after time after time:

me: hey I need a backing plate for my Ghia

bob: 66 right?

me: right

bob: "laughing his ass off" ... good luck did you try mike"

me: he is next on my list ...

hang up.

This is where SEARCH sucks ... there someone at a little mom & pop shop that the internet has not quite reached who has my bloody backing plate and I NEED it NOW!

Can you image 20 years ago that the fixed like phone not having reached some houses ... well that is now the case with the internet.  And don't say eBay to me either ... the parts I'm looking are Ten buck items, the shipping is set to $35, we'll talk about eBay later.

More in the car saga later, in the mean time check out the pictures of a freshly painted Ghia!