VW Karmann Ghia 1600. RHD 1960.

VANESSA

VW Karmann Ghia 144. 1600

Manufactured 8th August 1960

Left factory on 15th August 1960 for South African export

Since my Husband passed away I've been unable to maintain Vanessa on my own and I'd very much  like her to go to a home where she will be fully restored and used.
She is my most prized possession. starts and runs well. she has a sweet soul. enjoys a drive and has always guaranteed to put a joy in the heart of everyone she's met.

Vanessa was bought back to this country from South Africa by my husband in 1992 and spent the next ten years in dry storage.
She was removed from there and taken to Essex in 2005 to be made roadworthy by the wonderful Mike & team at German Engineering Services who carried out the following:

Replaced Shock absorbers back & frontRenewed all bushesReplaced steering damper & bushesChamfered front brake shoes to stop snatchingRemoved front & rear brake drums. cleaned & replaced + rebalancedReplaced OSF brake hoseReplaced sills both sides.
Mended fuel GaugeEngine removed. unseized fully serviced. tuned and replacedReplaced gearbox mountings. re align gear selector shaft. Throttle cable & linkage + clutch assembly
Valve clearances adjusted. + new plugsreplaced rocker cover gasketsChoke unit repaired and resetCarburettor removed. stripped & cleanedreplaced fuel line + add in-line filterFuel tank removed & cleanedNew crankshaft oil seal & flywheel o ringIncludes DVD of works done

In 2007 Vanessas front steering & braking system was stripped and rebuilt by Stacy Hancock of Chard. This was done as I had too much play on the steering and the king pins were worn.

Since 2005 I have only covered 1500 miles. Two years ago I decided to have her resprayed and most of the preparation work has been done. unfortunately the person who promised to finish this job has failed to do so and I am no longer willing to trust anyone else to finish her.

Vanessa is now home with me under cover but not currently in a garage. she must be sold soon to prevent any further exposure to our terrible weather.

 She has all her original lights. carpets. scripts. glass. bumpers and chrome dressings. There is a louvre chrome set for the rear grill and new rubber seals for front and rear windows.

As to her history. this was stolen/lost during a house move. She was purchased when new by an elderly lady who lived in Durban. In 1973 they were involved in a hijack which left Vanessa with damage to her front passenger wing and bullet holes to the rear drivers side corner of the roof.

At this time venessa was sold to someone who fitted a larger engine. filled the front wing and resprayed her burgundy with cream above. (She was originally olive green)

She was bought by Mike Ettershank from Joburg and cared for very well until my husband bought her in 1992. One of the photos shows her pictured in an article written by living magazine. (copy included)

Next job to do is new Torsion bars. although she drives well. she sits very low behind which can make a very light ride on the front.

Please ask any questions and come and see her if you wish. we are in Taunton. Somerset.

Please message me for contact details.

I have set the reserve at £3. 500

Kind regards

Susan Hobbs

On 04-Mar-14 at 11:36:06 GMT. seller added the following information:

 Some more info for you as follows: The log book is present and dated 12 04 05. Vanessa stayed in storage from her arrival in 1992 -2005. during this time DVLA lost track of her and sold the registration number (BLX 621T) as an age related plate and to this day is still stuck on the backside of a Rover somewhere. Had our circumstances been different at the time. I would have chased this up and got it back but we didn't have any time. My husband Ian was terminally ill and the reason behind taking her out of storage and sending her to Mike Woodham in Essex with the instructions to get her roadworthy ASAP was so that Ian could have a final trip out in her before he died. We had to get her Taxed quickly and paid for her to take a Q plate (Q323 LDV) which could be issued in days. We didn't have time to get an age related one without proof. this being the birth certificate from The Stiftung Auto Museum in Germany which I obtained later in 2008 (process took 6 weeks). I was going to register her as historic when she was finished but that's a job for the new owner now.

Few more things. There is a split (about 4 inches) underneath the nose. this was done when being unloaded from her trip to Essex.

I do not have the door seals or the original dash top.

I am unsure if the hubcaps are original. need someone to confirm this. They feel too light to me.

One of the front indicator lights is cracked (the orange bit) 

Please don't ask me for a buy it now price. with respect to other interested persons. the auction will run it's course.

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