Three strikes and you're out! The 1967 Skylark left me stranded three times......gone!

The 1985 Fiero GT left me stranded twice...........been parked and retired. I was only borrowing it so it really isn't my call but one more strike and...........?

Bought a 1988 Karmann Cabriolet. Cherry red in color, black top, black interior with houndstooth grey/red/black insert. Plans are for mainly summer drives only but I hear they are marvelous winter cars as well.

I felt the price was just too good to pass up and literally bought the car over the phone, sight unseen based on the owners feedback of care, repairs and knowledge.

I must say it is an extremely relaxing car to drive and it still turns heads at 20 years old. I tried to take some pictures but my narcistic daughter and friends, not being able to stay away from a camera decided to jump in and cheese them up. I'll try and post pictures with some help.

A little trivia I found out on the Karmann site.


They made AMC Javelins.....over 300 of them?

They make or supply cars and parts for many, many manufacturers. Obviously VW but also the Chysler Crossfire rag tops, Porsche, Mercedes........

This is actually my second Karmann as the 914 Porsche is one as well.

Welcome to the dark side.....Muuuuhahahahahahahahah!
Ron look it is another convert!


(Actually my beetle is a Karmann too! only ...Lets se here...Carry the two...Counts on fingers...Thinks about taking off shoes**Naaah..might smell**...only 48 years old.)

Oh and by the way good luck getting that car away from Kelly!

Oh and by the way good luck getting that car away from Kelly!

It's a five speed! She can only drive an automatic and poorly I might add.

It's a five speed! She can only drive an automatic and poorly I might add.
How do you know that she can't drive a five speed. Maybe she made a wish on her Magic Genie Light! :tongue: :devil: :tongue:

Hopefully those days are over now. Do all daughters play the stereo so loud that any emergency vehicle or car noise problem would/could not be heard anyway?


I get in to move her car and get blasted away. When she gets in to my car for a ride, first thing she does is change MY radio stations. I'm a black man and you know what Chris Tucker says about touching a black man's stereo.

I always tell my 17 year old daughter that if she messes with the trucks stereo and dosn't put it back she will never drive it again. I'll also take the coil wire out of her car and she can take the bus to school. Needless to say I havent had that problem yet. (YET!) Mom won't let her touch her car. Needless to say neither of us want to listen to her Country western.

I'm a black man and you know what Chris Tucker says about touching a black man's stereo.
Oh yeah....Nice tan... :freak:

Hopefully those days are over now. Do all daughters play the stereo so loud that any emergency vehicle or car noise problem would/could not be heard anyway?
No, it's all teenagers :drunk:

Hopefully those days are over now. Do all daughters play the stereo so loud that any emergency vehicle or car noise problem would/could not be heard anyway?


*note to self:
If ever visiting mark, turn stereo down before entering his neighborhood, scratch that, turn it down about 5 miles away, just incase... it can carry at times


On my 83 Delta 88, i had to play my stereo loud, or ele i was stuck to hearing the power steering pump belt squeel :tongue:

No, it's all teenagers :drunk:


Not all teenagers. Not me :hat:

I am thakful that Ford stereos automatically drop the volume to about 1/3 when you start the car.. I forget to turn it down when I get hoem at night

You know what they say

If you think its too loud, you're too old

Not all teenagers. Not me :hat:
Does the MASCAR Go Kart have a stereo?

Welcome to the dark side.....Muuuuhahahahahahahahah!
Ron look it is another convert!


(Actually my beetle is a Karmann too! only ...Lets se here...Carry the two...Counts on fingers...Thinks about taking off shoes**Naaah..might smell**...only 48 years old.)

Mark drove the new ride over to my house. It's a nice VW. Mark does have good taste. The body is solid and the top is great. We have a 2000 Cabrio and love it. Gotta like going topless in a Karmann built car.

After a car show on Sunday we are talking about a VW club for the area. How about the: MICHIANA VOLKSWAGEN GRUPPE :thumbsup:

I'M IN! As a subtitle "Go Topless!"

Mark drove the new ride over to my house. It's a nice VW. Mark does have good taste. The body is solid and the top is great. We have a 2000 Cabrio and love it. Gotta like going topless in a Karmann built car.

After a car show on Sunday we are talking about a VW club for the area. How about the: MICHIANA VOLKSWAGEN GRUPPE :thumbsup:

I was thinking that myself. You know when clubs start, the parent chapter always says go small, maybe 5 to 10 at first so one person doesn't get overwhelmed and such. When you think how many northern Indiana guys have to go to Michigan or Ft Wayne when they really live closer to South Bend just because there is no South Bend chapter makes you wonder how many guys would jump at the chance? From HobbyTalk alone look at the experience we have not only with VW stuff but also how to run a club or event. Heck Ron was even President of his chapter and I do seem to have some organizational skills. Easton is the mechanical genius and we have the great educator in Laporte.

I'm sure willing to step up! Think about how our chapter could raise money selling special die-cast cars at shows. We'd actually have several advantages over others when you think about our potential.

AND THEN WE CAN TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!!!


Ooops didn't mean to release the world domination plans this early - Sorry...nevermind..

http://www.theautofest.com/files/DSC00507.JPG
Possible member??

Possible member??

Membership has it's privliges....WOW :eek: ....I took this picture and I still say WOWOW.

The Johnny Lightning Logo never looked better

Congrats on the new car Mark!! Give me another year or 3 to get to my VW project accomplished. Hopefully this weekend I'll have the base car.

There's a JL logo in that picture?
Chris, could you make the picture a little bigger next time. I can hardly see it. From outer space! LOL

I wanted to let you guys see the logo. Its all about placement!

All I'm going to say is that there is some girl wrecking a great car picture!!!!!!!

All I'm going to say is that there is some girl wrecking a great car picture!!!!!!!

Ha hes right there should be two girls!! :thumbsup:

sounds like a cool car Mark, congratulations! Too bad about the skylark... do you have any pics of the new VW and the old buick?

sounds like a cool car Mark, congratulations! Too bad about the skylark... do you have any pics of the new VW and the old buick?

Yes but I don't know how to post them.

I do... but not as big as Chris'.....

Evberything is bigger in LaPorte! Even my belly!

All I'm going to say is that there is some girl wrecking a great car picture!!!!!!!
There's a car in that picture? :freak: ;)

There's a car in that picture? :freak: ;)
Acutally they are both rather nice example of somthing fine.

From Mark:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060137/100-1.jpg


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060137/100-2.jpg

From Mark & Dixie.....

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060137/100-3.jpg


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060137/100-4.jpg

From Mark & Dixie.....

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060137/100-3.jpg


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060137/100-4.jpg
That isn't a Kat in the Hat Karmann Kabrolet is it? Dixie looks like she is being pretty tightly held!

Dixie is the only one I WANTED in the picture. Then those other two came up and took her hostage. She's been training for PSR racing and ready to go too!

Somehow a Dachsy just looks right in a Karmann, no?

OMG!!!! I thought you meant a Karmann Ghia.. but that is a VW Rabbit/Golf cabriolet!!! No wonder the little girls had to have their picture taken in it!!! :eek:



I am confused..... and somewhat embarrassed..... and confused....

Dixie is the only one I WANTED in the picture. Then those other two came up and took her hostage. She's been training for PSR racing and ready to go too!

Somehow a Dachsy just looks right in a Karmann, no?
German Dog in a German car! PERFECT! But can she reach the clutch pedal?

German Dog in a German car! PERFECT! But can she reach the clutch pedal?

amazingly yes she is just long enough.!!

OMG!!!! I thought you meant a Karmann Ghia.. but that is a VW Rabbit/Golf cabriolet!!! No wonder the little girls had to have their picture taken in it!!! :eek:



I am confused..... and somewhat embarrassed..... and confused....

It is a Karmann built car. So is my 2000 cabrio. I was once accused of driving a chicks car....cooolllll

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060137/Copyof100_0608.jpg

It is a Karmann built car. So is my 2000 cabrio. I was once accused of driving a chicks car....cooolllll

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060137/Copyof100_0608.jpg

Me too. When my friend Rusty came over to work on the GT we took Karmann to get the parts. He didn't want to because he thought we would look like two lovers in a less than manly car. Hmmmmmm?:p

Nice car.... My third car was a 93 VW, I really liked it. Learned to drive manual transmission with that, on the way back from buying it back to Ft. Gordon, GA. Had never driven a stick before that! :tongue:

Me too. When my friend Rusty came over to work on the GT we took Karmann to get the parts. He didn't want to because he thought we would look like two lovers in a less than manly car. Hmmmmmm?:p


yep....yep....yep.....

All VW Vert are manly. Just because I said so. If you disagree Molly and Dixie will have something to say during the PSR races to your entry.

All VW Vert are manly. Just because I said so. If you disagree Molly and Dixie will have something to say during the PSR races to your entry.


yep....yep...yep.:p