We seem to run across quite a few interesting VW Beetles here at Barn Finds, from well-preserved survivors to wild customs, and just about everything in between. However, Karmann Ghia sightings are less frequent, and our thanks go out to reader Scott for spotting this 1964 model here on Craigslist in Burien, Washington, and for sending in the tip. This is one of those instances where the seller bought the car to restore, but he found something else instead, so the Volkswagen is now looking for another home. The asking price of $8,000 may be in the ballpark for what you’re getting here, but the owner also mentions a best offer, so he’s probably willing to negotiate.
The seller is quick to point out that this VW isn’t perfect, but it is complete, and I feel he’s spot on in stating that this one’s a great base to start with. The paint is believed to be original, and considering the finish and I are the same age, it has survived better than I on the outside. A few areas of rust are mentioned along with a dent on the front end, but for the most part, this one seems to have a reasonably solid exterior. It would be tempting just to enjoy driving this car as-is for a while, then make a few cosmetic improvements after a few seasons have passed.
In terms of performance, this Karmann Ghia had the original engine removed and replaced with a 1971-dated dual-port 1600 motor, which the seller claims is running great. Some fresh parts include a new carburetor and starter, but with the 34,904 miles said to be actual, it makes me wonder why an engine swap was necessary. As easy as these cars are to work on, perhaps a former owner just wanted an upgrade, and the motor is said to still start up easily.
We only get a couple of photos of the interior, and they’re both sort of dark, but it’s enough to show that some new seat upholstery would be beneficial. Probably more important is that some shots are provided from underneath, and unfortunately, there is an area of rust on the floor behind the passenger seat, so addressing this should be on the priority list for the next owner. However, the seller says that with a few tweaks, this one could be a daily driver, so it’s likely a good candidate to work on while being driven. What are your insights on this 1964 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia?
Very poor interior pix. Definitely needs work on floor pan but for the price it looks like a good deal.
The ’69 and earlier Ghias are the ones to get in my opinion as they have the smaller front parking lights and tail lights. Later ones bowed to the safety gurus and spoiled the clean look of the early Ghias.
Looks like a good starting point but also a car to just fix and improve while you drive it.
The engine replacement might have just been for added performance (such as it is). However, these engines had only 3 quarts of oil in the sump and no oil filter. When I was wrenching on my own cars and professionally in the late 70s and early 80s, I changed my oil and filter religiously every 2000 miles. With the non-synthetic oils, a significant portion of lubricating capacity was gone by that time. The oft-recommended interval then was 3000 miles. Now with synthetics, even with dirt build up in the oil, the lubricating capacity is retained. Hence the 7500 mile intervals these days. Also, the machining with computer-driven manufacturing is much tighter and we are using much thinner oils 0w20 and 5w20 as opposed to the the 10w30/40 and 20w50 oils often used in the past.
In the Ghia’s case, if the oil went unchanged for a significant number of miles, it was not unheard of for an engine rebuild/replacement in the 35-40K miles region. That is not to say that these engines couldn’t go 100K if maintained, but often maintenance by those who could afford a used VW was an area of neglect. I’ve worked on a number of them and rebuilt a few. Oil changes, valve lash, and tuneups regularly helped keep them on the road. Failure to do so, kept them off the road.
Is the battery location the same as a Beetle, under the rear seat, on the passenger side?
That’s where the floor rotted out on my old bug years ago. Ha, was alerted by a motorist that my battery was dragging on the pavement.
The battery was next to the engine. You can see the cables/clamps on the right side. When I rolled my first Ghia in Arizona one black-ice night the battery flew around but was easy to put back in place and hook up again. I drove it from Seligman AZ back to the Bay Area with the back window and passenger side window blown out. If I kept it above 50mph it kept the rain out.
You were lucky. Going down to Germany for a Christmas party the Porsche factory was throwing for the PCA Germany Region in our Notchback VW when a rock went through the windshield and shattered it in a million pieces. Had been raining and it kept raining for the whole trip. Pulled off at the first chance, got the pieces out of the seats, put on our sunglasses and hit the Autobahn. When we got to friend’s house in Frankfurt they insisted we take our car to go to dinner. Wet but fun. Got the glass replaced next day with a proper safety glass unit. The party was great.
Someone will grab this at that price.The floorpan area can be quite easily replaced and the unercarriage should be cleaned up and painted, PO15 etc.I dont buy the 34 k miles but that does not matter…but its hard to see that is runs when it looks like the battery is missing (engine pic). As said these earlier KG’s are most valuable and , with some work on this car, its value would double.
I had a couple of Ghias, both 1968. When I rolled the first one on black ice in Seligman AZ it did a full 360, back on the wheels and I drove it back to the SanFran Bay Area. I found a replacement with a dual carb engine but it had a motorcycle-design feature, a wet clutch. Main seal leakage saturated the clutch making stop-and-go an adventure.
The 1600 dual port here is a nice upgrade–I had that model in my 1971 Type 2 but it still had the #3 cylinder overheat design so frequent valve checks/adjustments can help.
Compared to what else was available in the day, these were incredibly tight, went around corners like nothing else, went in the snow, but they did rust out. And an engine rebuild at 40,000 miles was not unusual for these or any other VW of the time.
In 1964 this ghia might have had a 1300cc motor but maybe only a 1200cc.
The swap was a good one by the way. It wasn’t the lack of an oil filter by the way. It was the fan shroud and oil cooler inside of that. Number 3 cylinder ran hotter and would burn the rings out of it and score the piston & cylinder.