Air cooled V Water Cooled

[Thom89]

The big question is 'how would you do the Ghia?'

The Golf is clearly stunning and a lovely example.  Restoring to OEM was a great idea, as the car was perfectly functional for the period and the period was sufficiently recent for it to be effective and extremely enjoyable as a vehicle today.

But would you want an OEM Ghia?

Dreadful brakes
Lame power output

Is this what you would want?  Is this what you would do with a Ghia?  Or would we see some more of your flair and character in mods on this project?

There are some fantastic modifications you can do to it, whilst retaining an original feel to it, although that may be missing the point for you.

Is a Ghia what you want?  Have you run through the complete set of the aircold ranges and found something that tweaks your buttons?  Let's face it, although they're all woefully under-powered the Ghia is something of a girl's car, too.

Interesting points, I like originality, whether its restored to OE, or heavy with patina... My ideal Ghia would have to be a So Cal, or SA import, preferably a 58/59 Lowlight, unmolested, unrestored, and thats how it would stay, only changes would be a narrowed front end, sitting on dropped spindles, and a disc brake conversion, banded rear wheels, and 356 hub caps..

Thom

[i_am_me]

personally i would love a ghia or a camper,but i wouldnt leave an underpowered aircooled lump in them,
i go for a more modern 911 lump,watercooled and plenty of power and torque

[Diamond Hell]

My ideal Ghia would have to be a So Cal, or SA import, preferably a 58/59 Lowlight, unmolested, unrestored, and thats how it would stay, only changes would be a narrowed front end, sitting on dropped spindles, and a disc brake conversion, banded rear wheels, and 356 hub caps..

This does not find favour with me, not that it matters one iota.

Surely you can find a fresh take on this, like the Brian Burrows Squareback did a few years back?

[tdi_blu]

Think ive seen your mk2 at cov meet could be wrong but if its the one lovely motor but Ghia all day long....

[Thom89]

My ideal Ghia would have to be a So Cal, or SA import, preferably a 58/59 Lowlight, unmolested, unrestored, and thats how it would stay, only changes would be a narrowed front end, sitting on dropped spindles, and a disc brake conversion, banded rear wheels, and 356 hub caps..

This does not find favour with me, not that it matters one iota.

Surely you can find a fresh take on this, like the Brian Burrows Squareback did a few years back?

Brian Burrows Squareback?  Silver iirc.. very nice car, but that must have been a 50/60k build and overkill as I remember it... I love the look that you get on old, and vintage race cars, thats what I would want to duplicate, somewhere between Rat, and Historic

Thom

[Thom89]

Think ive seen your mk2 at cov meet could be wrong but if its the one lovely motor but Ghia all day long....

Yep, was a regular at the Cov meet, not managed to get over this year, due to a family illness...
May shoot over next week

Thom

[SoundillusioN]

Same but i'd be tempted to convert it to water. 

Buy a T25 - save yourself the bother 

  Yeah but they're fugly. I jest. If I did it would have to be a Syncro, unless I could find one of these of course:

Type 2 Syncro 

[archie837]

Go for the Ghia. You still don't see that many about.

I'm looking to discs on the rod, but it has the same 5 x 205 stud pattern so looking about £600 an end to swap, unless you swap hubs, but that then loses the nicer stud look.

Power wise, there's plenty of stuff you can do to make em a bit quicker. Nowhere near golf power without massive monies, but a 1641 kit with a set of twin carbs should see you doing ok for everyday use.

[Horney]

Tough call, both have their appeal.

I guess though the Golf has been 'done' and now you need something to get your teeth into?

Nick

[Guy]

Same but i'd be tempted to convert it to water. 

Buy a T25 - save yourself the bother 

  Yeah but they're fugly. I jest. If I did it would have to be a Syncro, unless I could find one of these of course:

Type 2 Syncro 

careful... you're talking DH's language there!