1957 VW Low Light Karmann Ghia

1957 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Additional Info:

This is a rare, early Low Light Karmann Ghia. This car would be a good candidate for restoration, a great start for a Cal-Look Low Light, or it could be used as a driver with a little work. There is not a “buy-it-now” price at this time. This is the first time I have offered this car for sale, and I set what I think is a reasonable reserve price.

STIFTUNG AUTOMUSEUM VOLKSWAGEN ZERTIFIKAT: As seen in the pictures, the Volkswagen birth certificate comes with the car. The original color was L41 Tukan Black with Blue Grey upholstery. This Ghia originally came with the following options: M018 Larger reflector in brake / indicator light, M020 MPH speedometer, M067 77 Ah 6 volt battery, M128 White wall tires, M138 sealed-beam headlamps, red tail lights, hazard warning lights without headlight flasher, and M950 Laminated glass windshield.

HISTORY: This Ghia was first sold in 1957 in Los Angeles, California. At some point it moved to Nevada and comes with a clear Nevada title. It has been in storage in my North Florida warehouse for a little more than four years. The odometer reads 48,299 miles but the true mileage is unknown. It is being sold mileage-exempt because of the age of the car.

MECHANICAL: I recently cleaned the fuel tank, flushed the fuel lines, changed the oil and oil screen, and got the car running and driving again. The engine is not original - it looks like a 1600cc engine and has dual carburetors. It runs pretty well but could use some tuning. Included in this listing is a video of the engine running. The engine leaks a little oil like most old VWs. The brakes and clutch feel good, and the gearbox shifts well through all the gears. This car was converted from the original 6-volt system to 12-volt. The steering and suspension feel good. It also looks like it has an adjustable front beam.

BODY / FLOORS / PAINT: The floors appear to be original and have typical rust, but less rust than would be expected on a 67 year old Karmann Ghia. It looks like the previous owner welded new steel inside the floorboards and it feels like a solid repair. The spare wheel well is solid. The front hood, engine lid and doors open, close, and latch in reasonably good alignment. The paint is old, and the body has chips, scratches, and dents. There is rust in common areas like the lower rocker panels. There is also a mild flare in the rear wheel wells to accommodate the wider wheels and tires.

INTERIOR / CHROME: The interior is in decent shape for a driver. The previous owner installed Procar seats and seat tracks. They function very well and are more comfortable than original seats. I was surprised at how much extra leg room there is when the seats are slid back. The chrome and bumpers appear to be original with normal age, rust, and wear.

GAUGES / ELECTRICAL: The gauges are not completely original. The battery light and oil pressure lights work as they should. There are some added gauges, but not all of them are hooked up. The fuel gauge isn’t working - I'm pretty sure it needs a new tank sending unit. The headlights, high beams, running lights, turn signals, and brake lights all work, but the hazard flashers aren’t functioning. The dash lights are working with the exception of the lights in the speedometer. There are running lights located in the front nose grills - I'm not sure if that was a feature of these very early cars, or if they were added later.

TITLE TRANSFER AND PAPERWORK: I am a long-time classic car hobbyist and a licensed Florida car dealer (Classic Investment Motorcars Inc.) This means that you must complete the required sales and title transfer forms with me, which can be done in person or through the mail. The car cannot be released until I have received all completed paperwork and payment in full.

DOCUMENTATION FEE: A flat fee of $100 is added on all vehicle purchases to help cover postage, paperwork, vehicle preparation, and other costs. Please understand that this fee cannot be waived. This fee applies regardless of whether you are an individual or a dealer.

SALES TAX: If the vehicle is shipped out of Florida by common carrier or freight forwarder I will not need to collect sales tax (you will take care of that where you live.) If you live in Florida, or pick up the car in Florida, then I am required to collect applicable sales tax and tag/title fees. If you live in another state and pick up the car here, most states will give you credit for the sales tax I collect (in this case the sales tax rate will be the lesser of 6% or the rate that applies to you in your state.) Please feel free to contact me before bidding to find out how the tax rules will apply for your individual state.

DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT: A $500 non-refundable PayPal deposit is due within 24 hours of the end of the listing. The balance must be paid by cash, cashier’s check, or wire transfer within seven days. All cashier’s checks must clear my bank before the vehicle can be released. If the buyer does not pay in accordance with these requirements, I may, at my option, re-list/remarket the vehicle and the deposit will be forfeited by the buyer.

SHIPPING: Arranging and paying for shipping is the responsibility of the buyer. We are happy to cooperate with the shipping company you choose.

THIS VEHICLE IS BEING SOLD AS-IS, WHERE-IS, WITH NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. Please feel free to come inspect the car in person or to have it inspected by a third-party inspection service. Cars are shown by appointment only, but we are available most days. Please note that if you are the winning buyer, you will have entered into a contract to complete the purchase in accordance with eBay rules. The sale location is Bell, Florida, Florida law governs, and venue lies exclusively in Gilchrist County, Florida.

Please feel free to call or text me at 352-283-0268 or message me through eBay if you would like additional information.

On Oct-11-24 at 16:10:38 PDT, seller added the following information:

Some additional information in response to a question I received: The pan and body are original to the car and the VIN numbers are matching on both as you can see in the pictures. The front axel is an adjustable front beam that accepts the four lug wheels. The rear axel is an original swing axel that accepts the old style wide 5 wheels, but has adapters installed to accept the 4 lug wheels. I think these are common modifications that can be put back to the original setup if desired.