Rear luggage floor support

[bnam]

In this pic I’ve borrowed from WrennMetallWerks, you can see a support brace for the rear luggage floor. When did Ghias get that? My 65 does not have it. The car in the pic seems to be a 66 or later model.

Thanks,
Byas
_________________
1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL

[Era Vulgaris]

This photo on page 1 of the thread, based on the dash, would indicate it's a pre-66 car, as 66 didn't have the small radio opening or the in-dash ash tray.

[bnam]

You're right! And from the battery tray discussion we had, the tray looks like a 63 or older version. So, this is a pre-64 car. Then, was this brace present on all 63 and older cars? I don't see it listed in the parts manual which only has one part number for rear factory floors up to end of MY1967.

Update: I found a pic from the gallery from a 57 lowlight which has this brace:

And a user on FB commented that his 62 has the brace. Wonder when it stopped?

Byas
_________________
1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL

[sputnick60]

My'66 doesn't have it....

But the donor section that replaced the rear corner, likely a '60 or '61 does.

Nicholas
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[bnam]

Nicholas,
Wonder if there was some change made to the panel that resulted in it being stronger and not needing the cross brace. Is the profile or depth of the bead different between the two?

To me it seems the profile was a bit more circular in the earlier cars with the later being a bit more squared off. But that difference may just be from the angle/lighting or other photo artifacts.

Here's a pic from a 64 showing the brace and what seems to me like circular profile for the beads.

Thanks,
Byas
_________________
1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL

[bnam]

65 Seems to be the first year without the cross brace as seen in this pic (no my car)

There are also 3 extra beads vs the 64-earlier luggage floors.



The beads on the firewall seem to have a more squared off profile

_________________
1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL

[Era Vulgaris]

A pic of my 66 before the engine went in. The beads do have a squared off profile

_________________
Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD

Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue

[bnam]

So that confirms it. 64 and earlier had 10 rounded profile beads plus a cross brace. 1965 till 67 - 13 beads of more squared profile and no cross brace. Some other change then happens 68-70 and one last time from 71 on - based on part number changes.

Key takeaway for me, I don’t need to add a cross brace to my car. It didn’t come with one.

Thanks for help ing clear that up.

Byas
_________________
1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL