RE: You Know You Want To: Subaru'd Karmann Ghia

[chrisw1991]

only1ian said:

Does anyone know if this would be road tax free? Or would the import date and modification count against it?

It would be tax exempt I think, could be wrong though.

[chrisw1991]

RemarkLima said:

Surely the argument to make about sticking modern running gear in a classic is quite simple:

If the technology was available at the time, they would have put that lastest kit inside the car. The body and design is the part that really is / was dependant on era IMHO.

Still, fully originals should be kept for a museum.

Not sure if I agree with that in the case of the Karmann Ghia, Volkswagen never attempted to make it a sports car it was all about the looks not the performance.

I think this period advert sums it up perfectly , you have got to love VW adverts -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiBNtGSzrp4

[RemarkLima]

chrisw1991 said:

RemarkLima said:

Surely the argument to make about sticking modern running gear in a classic is quite simple:

If the technology was available at the time, they would have put that lastest kit inside the car. The body and design is the part that really is / was dependant on era IMHO.

Still, fully originals should be kept for a museum.

Not sure if I agree with that in the case of the Karmann Ghia, Volkswagen never attempted to make it a sports car it was all about the looks not the performance.

I think this period advert sums it up perfectly , you have got to love VW adverts -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiBNtGSzrp4

I'm not talking about sticking in a 500bhp turbo nutter motor, but like the article, a modern, power inline with current trends motor. It's the kind of engine VW would stick in if they made the car now - sure it'd probably be a 1.4tfsi or somesuch but you get the point.

[Skodaku]

Are there any interesting engine swaps on Citroen DS cars out there ? Not monster silly stuff, but in the same spirit as this VW.

Always thought it would be a nice idea.

[Jaged]

I do like the KG very much, it is a real Classic design.

But that from the photos that looks like a bodge-up to me.

So only a 5 I'm afraid.

I have to agree with those who say a well sorted air cooled VW upgrade would have been better.

[Twincam16]

Skodaku said:

Are there any interesting engine swaps on Citroen DS cars out there ? Not monster silly stuff, but in the same spirit as this VW.

Always thought it would be a nice idea.

I know at least one bloke who, at great expense, shoehorned an SM Maserati V6 into a DS.

[Chris1973]

chrisw1991 said:

Nice, but you can't replace the beautiful clatter of an aircooled engine, which is one of the main reasons I love aircooled VW's so much.

Me too! I have no problem with people doing what they want to there cars, but I prefer the air cooled vibe.

[aka_kerrly]

Pothole said:

hora said:

Front or rear wheel drive?

Really?

Indeed, rear engine front wheel drive car, that is the sort of ludicrous idea a Rover engineer would come up with.

In case some people aren't aware the Subaru boxer engine can be fitted into a variety of VW bugs, campers and buggys. There are even off the shelf conversion kits available but there are some people who choose not to use these for example http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... is a fantastic read.

[jamespink]

Cant see anything to not like here, especially as the wheezy old lump puts out about 40 brake! Nice balance and a lovely rebuild, very tasty!

[jamespink]

Or if you don't need the rear seats... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTAC8nAjtpQ

[Dr Interceptor]

jamespink said:

Cant see anything to not like here, especially as the wheezy old lump puts out about 40 brake! Nice balance and a lovely rebuild, very tasty!

Might only put out 40bhp, but there's something lovely about the way a VW air-cooled flat four thuds its way along at 60mph - just as it was designed to do on the new German Autobahns in the 1930s/40s.

[vixen1700]

Dr Interceptor said:

Might only put out 40bhp, but there's something lovely about the way a VW air-cooled flat four thuds its way along at 60mph - just as it was designed to do on the new German Autobahns in the 1930s/40s.

Absolutely, loved the way my old 1600 GT Beetle drove at that speed, it had such a lovely reliable hum about it, you just had total confidence in it doing exactly what it was supposed to do.

[Renn Sport]

aka_kerrly said:

Indeed, rear engine front wheel drive car, that is the sort of ludicrous idea a Rover engineer would come up with.

In case some people aren't aware the Subaru boxer engine can be fitted into a variety of VW bugs, campers and buggys. There are even off the shelf conversion kits available but there are some people who choose not to use these for example http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... is a fantastic read.

Yep, even I managed to squeeze a 3.3 litre flat 6 under my rear engined Vw Caravelle hobby wagen.

[blearyeyedboy]

aka_kerrly said:

Indeed, rear engine front wheel drive car, that is the sort of ludicrous idea a Rover engineer would come up with.

You laugh, but I spoke with an engineer who told me that he used to work for Rover and that this was one of the ideas for the first BMW-era Mini. The idea was that the driveshaft would become part of the crash structure and provide a predictably handling yet safe-for-its-weight Mini. Fascinating to talk to the chap.

[Silver Smudger]

sisu said:

They just bought a Porsche Boxter and put the fenders skins and bonnet from a early Karmann Ghia. So the car has all the appearance of a Karmann Ghia, but all the best bits of a Porsche Boxster.

Love that!

[22rgt B Squadron]

Nicer if kept original. Very tatty along the bottom edges of the sills, lower rear corners and plenty of new thickly applied underseal on the floorpans. Lots of surface rust and filler in these areas most likely. Very overpriced.

[Ocellia]

Ah, memories of how the original Citroen DS was possibly going to use a Corvair Flat Six air-cooled engine!
Switching to the 'What would you have in your £100K garage?" might involve a ....Subaru? ....flat six put in there?

[stuartmmcfc]

I used to have a 71 Karmann Ghia and although pottering along at 60mph was lovely, getting to that speed took forever, and on todays roads was a complete nightmare.
I'd had this conversion like a shot if I could have afforded it.