TELSTAR: Return to Radical-Ness-Ness

SO,,,,,,,,,,

a couple of weeks ago, I'm behind the shop taking a leak, when I spy a Karmann Ghia (yep,,,,a Karmann Ghia)..behind the shop next door...Looking at the nose, I start thinking how similar it is to the shape I'm trying to build for the deck area of the Telstar. The dimensions appeared to be pretty close, so I grabbed my tape measure, walked next door, and checked out the situation out.

Sure enough, the dimensions were close enough to make it feasible. I asked how much it would cost me to whack the nose off the Ghia, and to my surprise the guy that owns the shop says "I'm not in love with that car,,,you can HAVE the nose.".....

A few days later, this is where I am....I feel like the car is where my original plans were leading me before before my numerous "sidetracks" and "styling experiments" temporarily played out...

here are some pics as of tonight,,,much yet to do,,but well on the way..

 

You're crazy Jim but I like it.

 

LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Dude that works !!!

 

Jim, That's quite the eye you have. Sure seems to fit the shape of the rear of Telstar. Looking forward to more changes as you make them.

Dave

 

If that Ghia nose is straight and has no bog in it, you have pissd off some restorers i would say...Id also say that looks great!!

 

that looks frikin awesome!! great idea!!

 

That flows very nicely. You could flow the tail light openings into the "mustache" areas of the Ghia.

 

I love it! i just wish this build had one thread from start to finish so i could subscribe to it.

 

I like the comment "a few days later, this is where I am" You get more done In a few days than I do in a few months!

 

I wish I had an eye for shit like that! Good job!

 

Love it! I looked at the pictures before I read the post and said that sure looks like a Ghia. Damn good to see the car coming back around. Keep it up man.

Are you still going to run those bumperettes you made?

 

The hood made for a nice pancake style trunk opening as well, I am curious to see it with the tail fins on.

So how did the roof off the Ghia fit? Don't even pretend like you didn't try it.

 

man, you cut up more cars than anyone i know. I like this design though, keep it up.

edit: can i pick through your cast-aways though? haha

 

that has awesome written all over it, already peaked too. I say keep those fins too, they look great

 

And they say quilting is dead

 

Crazy Jim!

 

Damn right ! that flows great, the perfect Ass ! !

 

Keep the nostril holes in the Ghia nose and fill them with custom tail lights.

That set on the left with both holes open is bitchin'.

Also, you do realize that you're gonna be dead before you get this car finished, right?

Every change seems to help, but every change pushes the completion date another year down the road.

One more change I'd suggest is to move the rear of the cockpit area back about 8"-10", so that blank panel between the cockpit and the deck lid won't be so long and flat. It looks funny to me the way it is now.

Either that, of maybe if you wrapped a belt line type formed bead two or three inches wide down the door tops and then up and over that filler panel area it'd break it up some.

Maybe something else entirely.

I just know that the big flat panel you've got there now looks funny to me.

 

My god man,what planet does your mind come from? Talk about coming at a problem from a different angle, that looks bloody marvellous. For some reason it puts me in mind of the first Corvette rear ends.

Keep on keeping on
Paul

 

Hard to tell what the finished result will look like, but I'd be afraid that if you don't fill the Ghia grill holes with metal, you'll still think "volkswagen" when you look at the rear of the car. Neat idea.

 

Instant pancaked decklid and rear panel. Smart thinking! I´m very impressed not only with how well that fills the hole, saves you a ton of work making a decklid, but that it really works with the styling. Triple win, with an extra thumbs up from me for added VW content! (Is the car OT now?) I hope your hood ornament/tailfin will be making an apprearance again.

 

I like it!!!

 

No doubt where we do our best thinking! Great job man can't wait to see it come together.
"Farfegnugen"

 

A.d.d.

 

Somebody finally found a good use for a Karhmann Ghia hood! I would have never thought of that Jim.

 

That is right on Jim! Putting a frontend on the rear is definiately thinking outside of the box. Now please dont cut it off next week!

 

I like that a lot, Very Kool! Please don't change it, that its purrfect.

Have a question for ya, for the guys that are coming to the LSR, is there a chance
that we can see the car in person? If not no big deal....

Happy Trails, Mick

 

Love the Ghia pieces on the Telestar........