Ghia Body Panel Need Some Advice

[jdbrandt]

Hello,

This is my first time posting here. I have done a little bit of research(many years lurching around) on STF's, Samba, and in my Big Blue Book(Bentley). I have bought a new to me 1961 ghia project for a restoration. It has some issues with rot in the usually spots, lower quarters, fender flares, and right of the driver side headlight. I started to D/A sand the body down to bare metal and lo and behold I found massive amounts of holes covered in metal mesh, galvanized sheet metal, and Bondo. I basically got Fu@#%^ in the A$$ and I was not offered anything before I was taken. I have a parts body from a 1970-1974 era ghia that I have that would be usable for some of the panels. What I would like to do is use as much of the good sheet metal from the 1961 and patch it with the 1970-1974 era ghia body. Is this going to be feasible / possible with some decent body skills to do this? From what I have read it is, just want some more options before proceeding. The other question that I have what are the differences between the body's (1961 and 1970-1974 era) besides the front turn signals, rear taillights, rear bumper reliefs, fender flares, the door skins, and the bumpers?

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Sincerely,

Jeremy

[Rbob]

For the most part the body panels are the same. Tail lights and park lights are different. My site shows what I did to a '70. I fabricated the fenders from flat stock. It is a lot of work and probably not for the beginner? I can assure you that if you do it, you won't be a beginner anymore:) www.SPENCERFABRICATION.com.

[doc]

I think all Ghias were really hand built cars. No two are really the same. And they had to massage the metal pieces at the builder to get everything to fit. SO, you can fix an old one with a donor car. But as Rbob points out you will have to have some tools and some expertise or access to same. You be the judge. It'll be a big job to get correct.

You might think about looking for another "better" body and dropping the whole thing on your chassis. Ghias are still around in fair numbers. Just a thought.

You also might take your car to a good local shop and ask them what it would cost to fix. You might wind up dollars ahead at the end.

When one finds themselves on the wrong end of a car deal (sorry ), doing your homework will really pay off. Anything can be fixed.

Thanks for posting. You can find help here.

Good luck,

doc

[FJCamper]

Hi JDBrandt,

The answer, of course, is you can do anything if you're willing and able to put the work into it.

What you're asking about here is a lot of work because of the Ghia's many curves. A master sheet metal man could slowly graft different body pieces together, hammering and forming, filling and sanding.

The Ghia took old-world craftmanship right up to the end of production. The parts were hand fitted. And many of them changed very slightly over the years, from the front fender changes in the low-headlight models to the ever-changing rear fender contours.

All I can say is good luck -- yours will be a labor of love.

FJC

[Soul]

For the most part the body panels are the same. Tail lights and park lights are different. My site shows what I did to a '70. I fabricated the fenders from flat stock. It is a lot of work and probably not for the beginner? I can assure you that if you do it, you won't be a beginner anymore:) http://www.SPENCERFABRICATION.com.

Those ducts are bad arse! The rest of your work kicks arse too!

[Rbob]

Thanks Soul,
The more I do, the better I Get. Just finished a turbo install on the Ghia. Some fun!

[noslzzp]

For the most part the body panels are the same. Tail lights and park lights are different. My site shows what I did to a '70. I fabricated the fenders from flat stock. It is a lot of work and probably not for the beginner? I can assure you that if you do it, you won't be a beginner anymore:) http://www.SPENCERFABRICATION.com.

Those ducts are bad arse! The rest of your work kicks arse too!

This is smoking!! I love it.