If you are a regular Kuzak’s Closet estate sale shopper, you know the bevy of wonderful homes we have been able to share with you over the past year. Some of these estates have also come with some amazing classic cars, many of which we’ve had the fun task of finding new homes for. For example, one of our most recent beauties was a 1989 Porsche and Chris fell in love with a 1983 Mercedes 240d early this year. One of my personal favorite finds was a 1967 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia and what was even more special was that local Kuzak’s Closet enthusiasts, Doug and Rich, decided to take it home. A couple of months after they purchased it, I was floored when they pulled up to another Kuzak’s Closet estate sale with the vintage gem restored. Today on the blog we are sharing with you pictures of the finished product and the inspiration behind the project!
What is your style?
Classic California meets Scandinavian Mid Century.
When did you start shopping vintage and why?
Shopping at estate sales is something that we have been doing for the past nine to ten years. For us, it’s all about recycling America. We love the thrill of the hunt and always finding something new. Also, vintage things generally seem to be more well made and designed better than stuff made today. Almost everything in our house has a story. We love that the treasures we find add a lot of character and personality to our house and are in a fun way an expression of our own characters and personalities in our home design. From wall hangings, vintage European posters, pottery, dishes, clocks, the list goes on and on. There truly is a certain charm about shopping estate sale finds with a story.
What is/are your favorite thing(s) you have purchased from Kuzak’s Closet?
One of our favorite Kuzak’s Closet finds is a 1960’s Eames orange fiberglass rocking chair that has an amazing pop of color and overall unique style. Yet our recent Volkswagen Karmann Ghia purchase has given the chair a run for its money.
What was your inspiration and process behind purchasing and restoring the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia?
When we first saw the car we learned that the original owner was a school teacher in Arizona who drove the car less than 10 miles a day. The short commute and the dry air of Arizona was probably a key factor in the relative good condition of the car. Thus seeing the potential of the car, along with our appreciation for old classic things, made the Ghia a perfect project for us to take on. I also used to own a 1967 VW bug and as any VW owner will tell you, once you have owned one, you always have it in your system. After we purchased the car, Doug did research to find out who and how the car could be restored. We ended up shipping the car to the House of Ghia, a shop in Salem, Oregon that specializes in Karmann Ghia restoration. The process took a total of 4 months and we ended up very happy with the work, detail and craftsmanship that went into the almost 100% restoration. We now have a classic 1967 Castilian Yellow (original color) Volkswagen Karmann Ghia and love taking it out around town on the weekends.
Any tips for shoppers who want to purchase a vintage car?
Research, research, research! Even a basic knowledge about the vintage car you are interested in will help you decide on a car that is worth your time and investment before purchasing. Also you most likely will need to invest a sizable amount of money to bring it to it’s original state, even if its in good condition.
Check out our Mid Century Modern Home Design Post and Bar Up Cycle Post, showcasing some great vintage finds by other Kuzak’s Closet estate sale shoppers . If you have curated great style through Kuzak’s Closet estate sale finds and would like to be featured on the blog please contact me!
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