SP Rides: Shifting Into High Ghia
PHOTOS BY JERRETTE KAMAKA
OWNER: Taylor Matsumoto
YEAR: 1967
MAKE: Volkwagen
MODEL: Karmenn Ghia
ENGINE: 2010cc, dual 48s
DRIVETRAIN: 3rd & 4th Race trans
SUSPENSION: Selector Drop
WHEELS: Porsche Alloys
ELECTRONICS: R & D Sounds
INTERIOR: Al’s Upholstery, Ostridge
STEREO: Pioneer system, 3000 watt amp
EXTERIOR: Baby Blue with White Pearl
Growing up, Taylor Matsumoto remembers the excitement of being picked up and dropped off at school in her dad’s custom Dune Buggy that attracted the attention of all her classmates. The radical rumbling from the high performance engine could be heard from blocks away. The candy apple blue paint scheme would catch the eyes of everyone waiting to see Matsumoto jump in and ride off.
“When I was little and throughout my school years I thought it was the coolest thing in the world to have my dad pick me up from school in his Dune Buggy,” said Matsumoto. “And growing up in the VW community we would go on a cruises or enter a car show and just be surrounded by VW’s was really cool especially wearing a VIP pass at the shows.”
As Matsumoto grew older and closer to getting her drivers license she had her eyes set on one day driving her dad’s custom ride, but he had other plans for his daughter. By the time Matsumoto was in high school there were several Karmenn Ghias in the family’s possession and one of them was this 1967 convertible.
“I always thought I’d be getting his car and I told him that I was getting his Dune Buggy but he’d always say ‘no way you’re not driving my car,’” describes Matsumoto. “Then he asked if I wanted this Karmenn Ghia. He’ll build it, and I’ll get to pick the color. I never thought that I’d be involved in building my own car. How cool was that?”
The build was a family project that included the youngest Matsumoto, Tyler, who helped sand the body of his sister’s Ghia as it was prepped for painting. This was supposed to be graduation present but unexpected delays in the build made the completion date a few months later, which ended up being on her birthday. Since then this 1967 Volkswagen Karmenn Ghia has received five awards in various car shows.
