Here's my long neglected Ghia, still with it's 1200cc, 36 horsepower engine. Built in 1960, in tatters by the mid '70s. Put back on the road in the early '80s. Driven regularly for a few years, then less and less until it only saw sunlight a few afternoons each summer, eventually becoming a solid but tired car that just sat in a garage for a bunch of years.

I inherited the car years ago and decided to put it back on the road once again, but with some changes. The plan was to build a vintage hot rod Ghia using mods that could have been done back when it was new.

I replaced the front beam, installed front brakes off a 356A, and then bought a Porsche 1600N engine to rebuild and put in it. While tearing the engine down, I discovered some small cracks in the case, and evidence of a major malfunction at one point. Click here for more details. Between the body being in worse shape than I had thought, and the engine needing more work than I thought, I made the decision to get the car driveable and start using it instead of spending another year or two building it.

That never happened though. The car was put in storage and it's a classic case of "out of sight, out of mind". Aside from a few details, the car is ready to be put back on the road as is; 36 hp engine, original wheels, etc. With the new front end and brakes it should drive alright. I have acquired another case for the Porsche engine, so there's still a chance it will be Porsche powered at some point. The "new" master cylinder has since given up the ghost while in storage, so I bought all the parts to convert it over to a dual circuit system. They've been in a box on the shelf for over a year now...

UPDATE: July, 2007. My Mustang has been sold, and the Ghia has been towed back home to take over it's place in the garage. No longer out of sight, out of mind, I've already started ordering parts again. First step is to finish the dual circuit brake conversion, then add a new battery, and it's time to drive. I've made my decision on which wheels to go with, but haven't pulled the trigger on those yet. Shouldn't be long until it's back on the road. (Where have I heard that before?)