1972 Squareback Restoration

Fastback, Squareback, Notchback, T-3 Karmann Ghia.

Moderators: Sluggo, Amskeptic

Post Reply
User avatar
hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by hambone » Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:20 am

Gladys now has her Oregon plates and I can finally wash my hands of the whole fiasco. But apparently she's still running like a top so all is well.
Without that bill of sale, Oregon DMV wouldn't even touch the title transfer. What then? It gave me sleepless nights. Thank God the P.O. was so cooperative.
Now I'm almost broke again and the next project will have to wait. Punt, plan 27. This economy really sucks. "Living the dream", yes.
And now the Type3 section can go back to sleep! I really would like to restore another one though, they are very cool and useful cars with tidy little engines and mail truck sensibilities, at the cusp of New VW.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

User avatar
hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by hambone » Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:52 pm

Unfortunately the new owners aren't taking kindly to the foibles of a reawakening Squareback. It is causing them untold stress and they don't have the willingness to take the on the repairs themselves, so it goes to Halsey. It is causing a great rift between us.
If anyone is looking for a low mileage fully restored Squareback, PM me and I'll put you in touch with them. Honestly the car should go to someone who can give it the love it deserves. Along with this thread I can provide a parts list and full photo documentation. It is a very nice car and I was sorry to sell it.
There is nothing in this for me since it is no longer my car. I would like to be done with this fiasco however.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

User avatar
Sylvester
Bad Old Puddy Tat.
Location: Sylvester, Georgia
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by Sylvester » Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:27 am

What is happening to to the SB? What issues?
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue, I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod, The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

User avatar
Amskeptic
IAC "Help Desk"
IAC "Help Desk"
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by Amskeptic » Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:36 pm

Sylvester wrote:What is happening to to the SB? What issues?
It's the trunk hinges, isn't it? I knew it.
Colin :coffee:
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

User avatar
Sylvester
Bad Old Puddy Tat.
Location: Sylvester, Georgia
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by Sylvester » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:44 am

So there were issues that they did not have the mechanic savvy to fix, and they looked to you, and you said "Hey I sold that car". I can see where this could cause strife, family or no. If this had been an extra car, this would not have been an issue? It is a primary vehicle?
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue, I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod, The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

User avatar
hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by hambone » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:04 pm

The car was sold with the full understanding that I only drove it 6 miles after it sat in a barn since 1996 without windows or paint. I replaced everything (EVERYTHING!) that had failed with the best parts I could find. When it left my garage it was fully functional. I provided all receipts and a zillion photos. The car was sold a bit unfinished and they were to take care of the final touches (trim, carpet, etc.)

The expectation set was, for the first year or so, many strange things will fail and especially at first. Machines do not like to sit. I have been fully available as a mechanic and teacher, and have been very willing to help and have been there on numerous occasions including teaching their first oil change.

"Do not trust this car for the first few months!!! Things will fail!!!" Yes. I don't think the new owners are ready for these situations, and the car is really stressing them out. Every new issue is the fall of Usher instead of a chance to get their baby dialed in for a happy life. It is hard to make them understand that I am there to help, but not stress out because the car has been sold and they are the new parents. There is a strange sense of obligation that makes me very uncomfortable. There were strong accusations of negligence which hit me very hard - I take immense pride in my careful precision, whether building an engine or washing dishes.

The failure list: The fuel pump went bad, an injector, and the starter. All worked well until the car was on the road. I will not take responsibility for these THINGS FAILING but I am (was) there to help, lying in puddles watching worms float by as I rewire starter connections. Also there were deep concerns about fumes that were fixed by Halsey duct taping the heater box tubes. Something is wrong with the brakes now, but I had replaced both calipers with new, repacked the bearings, replaced the flex lines, replaced a rear wheel cylinder and all the shoes and pads (geez can ya see what I'm saying here????)

Seriously, someone needs to buy this car. At this point almost everything is new, from seals to shine. It was a labor of love from many of the wise guys of IAC NW. I could NOT have completed this project without their help. It is not officially for sale, but I'm sure a nice cash offer would go over well.

Image

Image

Image

Image
Po little gladys po girl
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

User avatar
vdubzen
Getting Hooked!
Location: ABQ, NM 87110
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by vdubzen » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:46 pm

what price range did you sell the car?
1960 Karmann Ghia
1968 Deluxe Microbus
1973 Super Beetle
1974 Beetle

president, AAAVWclub.com

User avatar
Sylvester
Bad Old Puddy Tat.
Location: Sylvester, Georgia
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by Sylvester » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:15 pm

hambone wrote:It is not officially for sale, but I'm sure a nice cash offer would go over well.

Image
Po little gladys po girl
I remember years ago I went to a lady's house with a sandrail for sale. All I wanted was the engine, and it was a basket case in the garage where it had sat for years. She had no lost love for it, her husband was overseas and she wanted it gone. She kept asking me what would I offer for it, I kept thinking I have to tow it out of here, I have to tear it apart, I have to do it quickly, the frame will not get me anything once the engine is out, most likely a scrap yard. But I would not offer her any price because what was running through my mind was "$50.00", and I felt that would be an insult. So finally she said, "I guess I would take $950.00 for it". So $50.00 would have been an insult, I bet. I did not buy it by the way.

So, what would be a good offer without insulting the owners? I forget what you sold it for, if you mentioned that.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue, I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod, The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

User avatar
hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by hambone » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:37 pm

I sold it for 4K American, quite generous for an 87000 original mile barn find with solid pans and body and most mechanicals replaced or repaired. All new seals and new windshield too. Oh man. It took me MONTHS to prep it for paint...a money loser really, but I wanted to do it right.
Original NOS Boge front shocks from Hal! Oh man.
It has a sunroof but I didn't get it working. Ran out of $$$ and time. It's not perfect but a damn solid car.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

User avatar
Amskeptic
IAC "Help Desk"
IAC "Help Desk"
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by Amskeptic » Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:00 pm

hambone wrote:I sold it for 4K American, quite generous for an 87000 original mile barn find with solid pans and body and most mechanicals replaced or repaired. All new seals and new windshield too. Oh man. It took me MONTHS to prep it for paint...a money loser really, but I wanted to do it right.
Original NOS Boge front shocks from Hal! Oh man.
It has a sunroof but I didn't get it working. Ran out of $$$ and time. It's not perfect but a damn solid car.

PM Brothabran. Tell him I will give him a half day free Itinerant Air-Cooled sort-it-out if he buys it.
We might have to drive it across the country.
I've been known to do that.
Colin
(the "breakdown" list seems pretty small and dumb)
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

User avatar
hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by hambone » Tue May 01, 2012 2:48 pm

Apparently it has been sold. Weird, because these are my words on the ad!
VW owners for 3 months and then give up, what a crazy story.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... ortland-OR
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

User avatar
ruckman101
Lord God King Bwana
Location: Up next to a volcano.
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by ruckman101 » Tue May 01, 2012 2:54 pm

Jacked up the price.

Weird.



neal
The slipper has no teeth.

User avatar
hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by hambone » Tue May 01, 2012 3:45 pm

Samba ad too:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... id=1287945

Man they moved quickly, blew up and ditched the scene. I wish I knew where she went, I've got some parts to pass on to the new owner and maybe a tale or 2.
Good luck, Gladys. Welcome back. :sunny:
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

User avatar
Kubelwagen
Addicted!
Location: Portland, OR
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by Kubelwagen » Wed May 02, 2012 6:04 pm

Sigh. If wishes were dollars I'd have put her in my driveway!
Patience the 81 Adventurewagen

User avatar
hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
Status: Offline

Re: 1972 Squareback Restoration

Post by hambone » Wed May 02, 2012 8:29 pm

Me too my friend. I hated to sell that car.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

Post Reply