1966 Karmann Ghia Coupe, Rust Free South African Import, 77,000 miles and Right Hand Drive.
Registered in January 1967, Ruby is actually a ‘single year only’ 1966 model. This is the ‘holy grail’ of Ghias as she still has all the beauty of the early models but has the later mechanical upgrades such as 12 volt electrics and disc brakes. She has just completed a full restoration including bare metal respray, engine rebuild with unleaded heads to 1641cc. She has been featured in ‘Volksworld Magazine’ and is simply stunning.
From her website……Hi, I’m Ruby. I was designed by a dashing Italian gent at Ghia called Luigi ‘Gigi’ Segre in the ’50s. You never ask a middle-aged lady how old she is, but hey when you’ve still got all your sexy curves and look this good at 46 then I don’t mind telling you.
Some of my oldest friends are Porsche 911s as both types were being built at the Karmann factory simultaneously in 1966. Any earlier and I would’ve been a 6 volt model with drum brakes, but I was lucky to get the latest upgrades to 12 volts and front discs.
I got my first plates on January 1st 1967 in South Africa. With Elvis, The ‘Stones, and The Beetles blasting out on my radio I was just the coolest gal in Johannesburg. Me and my first owner, Wendy, became best friends for over 46 years. We had such fun together. Some stories I can tell you, and some I can’t. You can make up your own mind which. 😉
Wendy and I moved to the UK in 2003. Boy is it cold here in winter! I’m so glad that I’ve spent most of my life in the sun, but I did get a little faded as a result. I missed Wendy when she passed away ten years later and Jason eventually bought me as a wedding car for his daughter. I was treated to a complete bare metal respray, engine rebuild and completely refurbished inside and out. Even though I’ve only done 77,000 miles, my engine was completely rebuilt and I was treated to some bigger barrels and engine bling. I started out as a 1300cc but I’m now a 1641cc. I even run on the newer unleaded petrol these days. Check me out in my photos. I’m now feeling even fitter and better than the day I rolled out of the Karmann Coachworks in Osnabruck on 16th March 1966.
Ruby is a vehicle from my own private collection and has been ‘Car of the month’ in the November edition of Volksworld magazine. Ruby’s Blog is on another website www.thekarmannghia.com where you can see the full restoration and the fun in living with a Karmann.
