Photographing the Zappa Ghia at Pegasus Airpark
A custom electric 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia photographed for a Bring a Trailer listing in Queen Creek, Arizona.
The custom electric 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia known as the Zappa Ghia.
A classic Volkswagen shape, a fully custom electric powertrain, and a private Arizona airstrip made this one of the most distinctive automotive photography assignments I have completed.
Pegasus Airpark provided an aviation setting that complemented the car’s unconventional engineering.
Capturing the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
I photographed this custom electric 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia near Queen Creek, Arizona, for a vehicle being prepared for a Bring a Trailer listing. Known as the Zappa Ghia, the car was custom-built by Derek Kreger of Kreger Fabrication and combines vintage Volkswagen styling with a purpose-built electric drivetrain, upgraded suspension, modern braking, and a completely customized interior. A previous auction description reports that the build uses Tesla Model S battery modules and a custom Volkswagen Type 2 transmission.
The Zappa Ghia name distinguishes Derek Kreger’s one-off custom build.
A custom electric interpretation of a Volkswagen classic
The Zappa Ghia is not a conventional restoration. While the recognizable Karmann Ghia profile remains, nearly every area of the vehicle has been reworked.
The gasoline engine was replaced by a fully electric system, and the rear compartment now contains the electric-drive and cooling components. The previous auction description also identifies Tesla Model S battery modules, a custom transmission, upgraded Cool Rydes suspension, Wilwood front brakes, Eibach springs, and Fox shocks as part of the build. Modification List can be found here.
The body is finished in a metallic pewter color that changes noticeably with the surrounding light. Its rounded surfaces reflect large portions of the environment, making the selection of shooting angles especially important. The overcast morning conditions helped soften those reflections and reveal the car’s curves without creating harsh highlights across the hood and fenders.
Opening the rear compartment reveals the custom electric-drive installation and supporting hardware.
Why Pegasus Airpark fit the vehicle
We photographed the car at Pegasus Airpark, a private aviation community near Queen Creek. Its paved runway, hangars and aircraft provided a setting that felt appropriate for a vehicle built around unconventional engineering and electric performance.
Rather than using the airplanes only as background decoration, I composed several photographs that placed the Karmann Ghia directly among the aircraft. These environmental images establish a sense of place and give the gallery a visual identity that would have been difficult to achieve in a standard parking lot.
The customized cabin features black upholstery with contrasting gray diamond-stitched inserts.
Balancing auction documentation with portfolio photography
Photography for an online collector-car auction serves a different purpose from a typical editorial or commercial car shoot. The photographs must make the vehicle visually appealing while also accurately documenting its condition.
The session included clean exterior angles, body panels, wheels, glass, lighting, interior materials, controls, identification information, and the custom electric components. I also photographed the VIN information and the undercarriage, as these views are particularly important to buyers evaluating a heavily modified classic vehicle.
For a build like this, the mechanical photographs are part of the story. Showing the electric components, wiring, cooling equipment, and fabrication helps prospective buyers understand that this is much more than a cosmetic modification.
The customized body retains the recognizable Karmann Ghia silhouette while introducing extensive exterior modifications.
Inside the Zappa Ghia
The cabin continues the car’s custom theme with black and gray upholstery, diamond-stitched inserts and modernized seating. The contrast between the vintage body shape and the updated interior is one of the build’s defining visual features.
Close photographs of the upholstery, dashboard, controls, center console, audio system and rear storage area help document both the workmanship and the condition of the interior. These detail photographs also break up the exterior gallery and give viewers a more complete sense of what it would be like to sit inside the vehicle.
Photographing a one-off build accurately
The most important objective was to show what makes the Zappa Ghia different without exaggerating or concealing its condition. The gallery includes polished hero photographs, but it also documents the vehicle from practical auction angles.
Accurate photography is especially important with a custom electric conversion because buyers need to evaluate both the original vehicle and the quality of the modifications. Clear photographs reduce uncertainty and allow the seller’s written description to be supported by visible evidence.
Automotive auction photography in Phoenix and Queen Creek
I provide professional automotive photography for collector cars, custom builds, electric conversions and vehicles being prepared for Bring a Trailer and other online auction platforms.
Sessions are available throughout Phoenix, Queen Creek, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale and surrounding Arizona communities. Coverage can include exterior and interior photography, detailed condition documentation, VIN and data plates, undercarriage photographs, engine or electric-drive components, service records and vehicle videos.
See more of my work as a Phoenix Bring a Trailer photographer.
Project details
Vehicle: 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Build name: Zappa Ghia
Builder: Derek Kreger of Kreger Fabrication
Powertrain: Custom electric conversion
Location: Pegasus Airpark near Queen Creek, Arizona
Assignment: Photography for a Bring a Trailer submission
Coverage: Exterior, interior, electric components, VIN, details, and undercarriage
Photographer: Paul Tumpson
Frequently asked questions
Do you photograph vehicles for Bring a Trailer in Queen Creek?
Yes. I provide automotive auction photography in Queen Creek and throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, including exterior, interior, VIN, mechanical-component, undercarriage, and condition photographs.
Do you photograph electric vehicle conversions?
Yes. Custom electric conversions require both polished exterior photography and detailed documentation of the battery, motor, cooling, charging, wiring, and fabricated components.
Where was the Zappa Ghia photographed?
The vehicle was photographed at Pegasus Airpark, a private aviation community near Queen Creek, Arizona.
Can you photograph a vehicle outside the Phoenix area?
Yes. Travel availability depends on the location, vehicle, and required auction deliverables.
