Celeste Calderon

1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe

This Karmann Ghia has been part of my family since the late 1980s, when my dad bought it from a neighbor. It was rebuilt by my dad alongside his father, my grandfather (a master mechanic), and became my dad’s daily driver from 1989 to 2001.

That car carried him (and us) across the desert and through Southern California from Mexicali and Calexico to San Diego, Los Angeles, and Tijuana,  often in extreme heat, with no air conditioning, and at the slow, steady pace classic Ghias are known for. Many of my earliest memories are tied to that car: long drives, border crossings, desert roads, and music playing softly in the background.

When the engine finally gave out, the Ghia returned to its original home at my grandmother’s house in Calexico, where time, sand, and heat preserved it until it was passed on to me in 2022. Since then, my dad and I have been searching for the right hands to restore it, someone who understands that this isn’t just a car, but a family heirloom with history, soul, and intention behind it.

The restoration will be extensive and slow, but meaningful. This car has lived many lives already, and we’re excited to see what the 

next chapter becomes.