While accident damage can be unnerving for even the most seasoned restorer to fix, it can also sometimes mean that a car was kept off the road for many years while it waited for its date with the body shop. This cheerful 1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia convertible took a hit to the nose after striking a deer but has remained in dry storage for over 20 years. Find the otherwise-nice project car here on eBay where bidding is just over $1,800 with no reserve. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Craig B. for the find.
The seller notes that this Karmann Ghia retains a clean title despite the nose hit, and what a great color! The interior photos appear to show brown vinyl / leatherette seating surfaces and the dash still looks quite presentable. The back seat looks relatively unused. The seller notes that the floors show evidence of amateur repairs, likely typical for vintage air-cooled VWs that haven’t yet been restored. Ironically, the car is located in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, which has to be a good omen for anyone listing a car for sale.
Despite being parked for 20+ years, the engine is not frozen, according to the seller. The Karmann Ghia comes with factory A/C and the seller confirms that the lines are not cut. Matching paint underneath the engine cover is always good to see, and the bodylines look straight despite the whack to the nose. Of course, making sure the firewall or frame rails haven’t been kinked is a must-do for any potential buyers, but I suspect it would have a branded title if the damage was that significant.
The one photo of the roof and rear of the car shows very presentable paint with original badges still attached. The convertible top appears to be holding up but it’s hard to tell for sure if any rips have appeared over the years. The Karmann Ghia also retains its larger safety bumpers, matching hubcaps and factory spare tire. There’s some evidence of the wiring being pulled apart in the trunk area, so there’s lots of other work to tackle here in addition to the cosmetics. Mileage is reported at just under 100K – is it worth restoring this deer-damaged example?
In away the deer saved this car. As it would have long ago been miled out and rusted out. First of all I wouldnt worry to much about the frame rails because this car doesn’t have any. From what I can see a good old school body man could pull the nose out and get everything back in alignment. I think there will be more work repairing the rust than repairing the body damage. I’ve always thought that these ghia’s are more stylish than the 356’s and they’re getting to be pretty scarce too.
I don’t mind accident cars, so long as they don’t have blood and pieces of meat hanging from the dash knobs.
No branded title because no insurance claim was filed?
Ya – but just think of it – that meat would have been hanging for a long time! Now just gimme a bucket of bondo and I’ll correct the light front end/oversteer problem! Seriously, this car is worth saving and repowering with good a Porsche unit.
By the by – happy Dominion , oops “Canada”, Day from an expat Canuck, eh(!?)
Then it would be…..jerky
I brought back a Ghia ‘almost’ this bad. It ended up with a type-4 converted engine, and yes, a ton of mud in the nose. I think the spare absorbed a lot of that hit. If I could find a ‘nice’ Ghia, it’d be a candidate for a Bergmann engine…..
It should at the very least come with the deer head mounted and ready to go on the wall of your mountain cabin.
If it was a hard top, I would leave the damage, add a roof rack and throw a stuffed deer on it.
Those dumb deers ( like they say on Lawn Guyland) do a lot of damage. Canadain is right, this car would have been long gone. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an A/C unit on a VW. I bet that sucks the juice (and on a convertible, yet?) It took a mighty whack, it was no fawn, the cowl is kinked, and I doubt the drivers door works right. I think it can be saved, might not go down the road straight, but about the only way to get into a K-G these days, without a 3rd mortgage on the house.
This a nice looking Porsche alternative…. except subtract 40K from the price. :-)
I worked in the auto insurance industry for thirty plus years on the company side. I also purchased and repaired several damaged cars. A “branded” title is almost like a Carfax report. The system is not exact. Each State and the District of Columbia has their own rules.
I have seen many cars with light damage and a branded title. I have seen rolling totals with clean titles. A clean title is a bonus. A branded title can be a hassle or not. As always do your homework and ask your DMV what has to be done. They will be very happy to answer your questions before there is a problem.
Deer crashes, ouch. Surprised we have not seen more here. And around here the odds just tripled. If you whack one I hope its the one with the spots on. Ended: Jul 04, 2018 , 10:13AM
Winning bid:US $4,239.00
[ 57 bids ]
Hi Mike! What a nice little ragtop for my
neice! Would’ve bid on it myself if my
bank acvount were heathier. Hope to get
a job writing for BF soon, then I’ll be able
to actually buy my neice a decent car
without breaking the bank! Happy 4th
everyone!
Hey Kenneth, Happy 4th to you also. I hope to see your byline here soon. Speaking of nice little ragtops, I just picked up a 2000 Z3 down in the Windy City to replace my 91 Civic. Take care buddy, Mike.
There were a surprising number of VW’s with Factory Air over the years, last one I had was a 74 Ghia and it was a working unit. Not that dad mileage wise but you definitely knew when it was on power wise but a nice novelty. Wish I still had it There were quite a number in my area but then in the South A,C is as important as a radiator on a water cooled car
Had a ’69 in the 80’s most pleasant convertible I’ve ever driven. Windshield shape directs the wind more like riding a bike where it doesn’t come around and part your hair in the back :) Anyway, the big issue with these cars is the one piece front end, the fenders are leaded in and to replace you need to cut the entire front end off and well in a new one. Doable but expensive also not easy to find a donor as most have already had the nose punched as the bumpers don’t protect it.
Nose repair on KG’s are tricky. A good body shop may actually replace the whole front clip.
When I worked for a VW dealer back in the 60’s we had a Karman Ghia parts chaser. The boss used to tell us to look for 427 vettes when we were out on the road< this beast had a full built EMPI engine with twin turbos. Supposedly pushing around 600 HP for short bursts. Let's just say it was a fun ride!!
The lack of a salvage title absolutely does not mean the frame is straight. Any car with liability only insurance would have simply been parked. Not sure why we would think otherwise.
Lucky it was a short legged deer, usually the deers body goes thru the windshield and kills someone.
I have always liked the K-G and a good friend back in the sixties drove a black on red 57 coupe, quite the fun ride back in the day. I myself drove a ’56 bug and can relate to the deer thing as I hit a mule deer (summer of ’67) on good ole US89 close to Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe. Damn deer did a number on my bug, took out both headlights and cave in the hood, but unlike this K-G I was able to do a quick repair and be back on the road in a couple days time. Parts were quite plentiful back then for the old oval window bug.
On this featured car I am with DanC and think the front clip should get a R&R, body shop pro could do it right, and me thinks worth it!
Parts car……No one can bring this one back to original at any price. Uni-body construction negates normal frame and fender/bumper repair. This is the worst example of a Ghia nose punch. Almost all Ghias suffered this fate, although in milder form. (Parking lot touch or fender bender at less than 15mph)
Classic Steel. More like $140k lol. And no they don’t look anywhere near as good as a 356 open car, nor do they run or handle even in the ballpark.