Welcome to Down On The Street, where we admire old vehicles found parked on the streets of the Island That Rust Forgot: Alameda, California. Today we've going to check out a seriously rare machine that I found near the '60 Studebaker Lark: a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34. Or is it some kind of weird replica? That soft top sure doesn't look factory. I'm sure some of you VW experts out there can fill us in; I'm not even going to attempt to guess a year on this thing.

This is the first time I've ever found a DOTS car using Google Street View. A friend told me he'd seen a bright yellow IHC Scout with big tires on the island; he remembered the neighborhood, but not the exact street. I figured a vehicle like that would stand out on Street View, so I started looking... hey, what's that weird green car? A Renault Caravelle? I grabbed the camera and headed right over there.


This car is rough. Basket-case rough. In fact, I'd describe it as a Hell Project if it had any drivetrain other than air-cooled VW.


The rollbar and seat harnesses indicate possible rally hoonage in this car's past.