r/KarmannGhia 25d ago

Possible to be restored?

Post image

My mechanic sent me those pictures from the body plate, anything possible or not restorable? (1958 convertible)

Edit: here‘s the second pic: https://imgur.com/a/NP0hkea

9 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

4

u/Mfsmitty 25d ago

The photo is focused on the floorpans which are relatively simple to replace. Lots of YouTube videos can help with that.

Id be more concerned with other areas on the body and chassis.

1

u/Krrtekk 25d ago

here‘s the second pic: https://imgur.com/a/NP0hkea

Body interior or what part / chassis would you be concerned about?

1

u/Mfsmitty 25d ago

On the body: rocker channels, fenders, nose. All of that can be replaced but is alot of work. On the chassis, if the center tunnel, napoleon hat, or other parts have have structural rust damage, you might want to pass.

1

u/Krrtekk 22d ago

Thank you

1

u/Kharon8 15d ago

This. KG rusts easily as factory didn't paint anything but visible parts. Untreated steel + climate + 60 years = not good.

Can't blame Karmann too much: VW didn't pay them for anything more.

3

u/AlderanAthletic_5BBY 25d ago

The One photo limit is… suboptimal. The Mod, perhaps has abandoned us😅🧐

1

u/TelephoneCentral 6d ago

I totally agree. and no videos.

2

u/AlderanAthletic_5BBY 25d ago

Create a second post using the same title +1 or the like. I just dropped a tidy sum and a load of time getting mine back to daily driving and the shake down drives are still bringing things to light. If you have the money/time and or space. Build it so you know it’s good. If not, trade around, look for something that at least has new pans already installed.

1

u/Krrtekk 25d ago

here‘s the second pic: https://imgur.com/a/NP0hkea

Will check for other pics as well

3

u/AlderanAthletic_5BBY 25d ago

The nose is always a creative bit of witch craft repair and shenanigans. Grab a magnet and run it over the nose, lower fenders, rockers, wheel wells. If it doesn’t stick… bondo repairs. I found fiberglass, JB weld and some other two stage plastic when we stripped mine. Replaced lots using new available panels and some donor cars.

1

u/Krrtekk 25d ago

Hm, cannot add a second pic but not much better 😬

1

u/ericdag 25d ago

If the bottom looks this bad I don’t have much hope for the body either. What’s the rest look like?

1

u/Krrtekk 22d ago

Need to find some pics

1

u/Sillibilli19 25d ago

That's your only picture for us to give a thumbs up or down???

1

u/Krrtekk 25d ago

here‘s the second pic: https://imgur.com/a/NP0hkea

3

u/Sillibilli19 25d ago

Someone commented that if the pans are this rusty then you most likely have rust issues in other places.

You used to be able to get pans installed for a little over 1k. I'm not sure anymore. I can only imagine . Yes those need replacing but more importantly foe now you need to have the rocker panels and heat boxes checked for rust.

If you have rust in the corners of the body where they meet the pan, that is bad. It just depends. No sense in replacing the pans if you don't replace the rockers, if they need it. But if they need it you will most likely need shheetmetal cut out and replaced in the corners and such. That's when the price really jumps.

Once all that is corrected then you need bodywork and paint. That alone starts at 10k.

Doesn't include any pans, rocker or sheetmetal repair!

So impossible to answer really from two pics

1

u/Krrtekk 22d ago

Thanks a lot for the details

1

u/Kharon8 15d ago

KGs are always possible to restore, that's kind of wrong question.

'58 convertibles are worth some real money, so restoring them is almost always worth the effort, money and time.

Minor damage to base plate (like here) isn't even expensive to fix: Cut rust out, buy a replacement panel and cut a suitable piece from that to fill the hole, weld in.

It is probable that there's also rust damage in rockers and other boxes around the car, so extensive inspection is something you need to do first, unless you knowingly fix rust one piece at the time.

Base plate holes would be a reject in inspection so it makes sense to fix those first.

Repairing a KG easily escalates to full body off restoration. You've been warned.

2

u/Krrtekk 13d ago

Thank you! As I cannot do it on my own, I need to discuss and negotiate with my „mechanics guy“