These pictures of this Karmann Ghia were taken over the course of a few years beginning in 2006, if my camera is to be believed, it was located beside a dirt alley blocking the door of an old wooden barn type garage behind a home in Northwest Evanston, Illinois, just North of the Sanitary and Ship Canal. A few years ago when I went to photograph it and it was gone, and the house was up for sale.
Somehow, this car managed to escape getting the almost-trademark bashed-in or Bondoed Karmann-Ghia nose.
I seem to remember some Bondo, is that filler under the left headlight, or possibly factory lead?
That could be Bondo but where Karmann-Ghias used to get dinged was right on the middle of the nose.
My first car, when I was 16, was an 8-year-old ’66 K-G, 50 hp, 1300, possibly of similar vintage to this one. It is about the only car I’ve owned that I still kind of miss. It had been repainted from off-white to orangy-red, to fire-engine (resale) red. While it wasn’t in that bad shape for a $600 car, the rockers were already starting to bubble, weatherstripping was losing ground, and a few other issues. I’m amazed the body on the one above was as good as it appears to be, sitting outdoors all these years. It doesn’t look like the garage was getting any better care than the car was. Looks like a parts car to me.
Two unrestored originals. The garage is actually more impressive … built around 1920, minimally maintained, still straight and firm, still shedding snow evenly, no sign of rot. Low mileage: those doors haven’t been opened often. Wonder if there’s another unrestored original inside?
Was thinking the same thing! I have a similar sized double-wide garage, built around 1880, used to be an old barn/coach house that got severed from the original property and became part of the property on which sat the house we purchased last year. It has a barn-style roof with a loft that’s not really tall enough to be useful for anything but storage. I have finished 3/4 of the downstairs for my woodworking shop where I build custom rocking chairs for a living.
Pity about the poor car. Not really my cup of tea but still sad to see it in such unloved condition. Wonder whatever happened to it.
Decrepit air-cooled VWs are always visually interesting…. It is a shame I can’t physically fit into a Karmann-Ghia, I’ve always liked them. Too small for me
Beautiful pics. Hopefully it was saved to be a parts car rather than crushed. It looks to have a severe case of Flintstone floors.
Very nice; really enjoyed the visual trip over time. Two of my favorite things, too: I’m a lover of both of these subject matters. I’d like to have that garage; it’s a keeper. And I’d love a K-G, but a rust-free West Coast one, please.
I’d love to have that garage! The Karmann-Ghia might be too much of a project for me though. It did have a picturesque quality sitting there, though, and I do wonder what was within the garage? Probably just storage, but one dreams of something more interesting. A Samba that hasn’t seen the light of day for about 30 years, perhaps?
I didn’t expect, but I’m pleased the garage elicits such love. I think I’ll do a series of my favorite garages of Chicagoland.
Here’s one I wanted, but sadly it too is departed.
Going, going, gone..sad to see!
Karman Ghias are worth serious coin these days they became collectable here quite some time ago and Ive seen some really beaten ones skim bogged painted and sold for stupid money, Why that one was ignored is a mystery.
Poor old thing .
It was toast , rockers , floor and rear 1/4 gone .
I’ve had several ‘Ghias . 50’s through end of production , all looked nice enough but they don’t ventilate well and the very same heater that allows one to be toasty warm in a Beetle , didn’t do diddly squat in a ‘Ghia no matter how many tricks I tried .
In Summer they were worse .
My Mom was born and grew up in Evanston .
-Nate
Love the Ghia, and I hope somebody salvaged some usable parts of of it! You are close to my dad’s childhood home there.
I had a Great Aunt with a pronounced German accent and I can still hear her saying, Oh Ja, my Kaarmann Ghia, dat vas a car!
Count me as a fan.My favourite art teacher Miss Turner had one the same colour til the rust monster saw it off.
My sister taught me to drive a stick shift on her KG.
Polar white with plenty of grey bondo around the nose and left front headlight.
Had a ’65 Ghia with a bashed in nose and headlamps. Bought it that way cheap, the exact amount I don’t recall anymore. Messed with bodywork in auto shop trying to pull it out but it was really needing a front clip. Got pulled over by school by local CHP who was famous for harassing the kids, the mile long fix it ticket sent it to the junkyard, minus it’s engine. No rust, though.