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Choosing A Beam For Your Beetle Or Karmann Ghia: OGbuilt, ECObuilt Or PRObuilt?
Every Airkewld assembled beam for the Volkswagen Beetle and Karmann Ghia starts the same way: 7.5" adjustable, narrowed up to 4" from stock, built on quality-controlled German components. Where the three tiers split is what gets added on top — and what that costs. Here's exactly what you're buying at every price point, from $1,299.99 to $5,899.99.
See The Price Breakdown ↓Let's Start With The Elephant In The Room: Your Budget
Click any point on the line below — from $1,299.99 up to $5,899.99 — to see exactly what that gets your Beetle or Ghia before you scroll to the full feature chart.
The most affordable way into a properly built, quality-controlled front beam. Original German components, audited and assembled — steering box sourced separately or added below for $400 more.
View OGbuilt Options →- ✓ 7.5" Adjustable, narrowed up to 4" from stock
- ✓ Sport Shocks
- ✓ German Ball Joints or German Link Pins & King Pins
- ✓ Quality-Controlled Control Arms & Spindle Assemblies
- ✓ Black Oxide Hardware
- — Steering System (optional add-on, see next stop)
- — New Torsions (original German cores only)
- — Smoothed welds, Powder Coat, Steering Damper
- — No exterior crating or free terminal shipping
- — Air Ride is not available on this tier
Which Beam Is Right For You?
Whether you're keeping a numbers-matching Beetle stock-look or building a slammed Karmann Ghia, here's how most buyers land on a tier:
Same quality-controlled German core components as every other tier, without paying for finish work or a steering system you may not need.
New torsions, a steering system, cleaned-up welds, and free terminal shipping — the sweet spot for most drivers who plan to run the beam as-is, unpainted.
Powder coat, NOS steering box internals, a heavy-duty cap, and stainless hardware — the only tier that can be built for Air Ride or upgraded with a disc brake kit.
Every Feature, Side By Side
What each tier checks off on your Beetle or Karmann Ghia beam, straight down the line.
| Feature | OGbuilt from $1,299.99 |
ECObuilt $2,299.99 |
PRObuilt from $3,499.99 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5" Adjustable | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stock, Narrowed Up To 4" | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sport Shocks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| German Ball Joints or Link Pins & King Pins | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quality-Controlled Control Arms & Spindle Assemblies | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| New Torsions | Original Only | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering System | Optional Add-On | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smoothed & Cleaned-Up Welds & Castings | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Damper | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Powder Coat | — | — | ✓ |
| Hardware | Black Oxide | Black Oxide | Stainless Steel |
| NOS Steering Box Internals | — | — | ✓ |
| Heavy-Duty Steering Box Cap | — | — | ✓ |
| Exterior Crating For Shipping Protection | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free Terminal Shipping | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air Ride Compatible | Not An Option | Not An Option | Available Option |
Note: the Disc Brake Kit shown at the $5,899.99 stop above is a PRObuilt upgrade and isn't a standard line item on any tier — see the budget slider for that pricing.
Two Things Worth Flagging Before You Choose
OGbuilt ships without exterior crating and doesn't qualify for free terminal shipping. ECObuilt and PRObuilt both ship in exterior crating and are offered with free terminal shipping.
If Air Ride is part of your plan, PRObuilt is the only tier that offers it — it is not an option on OGbuilt or ECObuilt at any price. View Stage 2 (Air Ride) PRObuilt options →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Optional" mean for OGbuilt's steering system?
OGbuilt is priced as a beam only. If you already have a steering box and column, or plan to source your own, the base $1,299.99 price is all you need. If you'd rather have it installed for you, add the OGbuilt Steering System for $1,699.99 total.
Why isn't Air Ride available on OGbuilt or ECObuilt?
Air Ride is only offered on the PRObuilt tier. If Air Ride is on your build sheet, start with the Stage 2 (Air Ride) PRObuilt beams instead of Stage 1.
What's the difference between German Ball Joints and Link Pins & King Pins?
They're two different front-end designs used across air-cooled VW model years, not a quality difference — every tier is built with quality-controlled German components either way, matched to your application.
What's included in Free Terminal Shipping?
On ECObuilt and PRObuilt, your crated beam ships to a freight terminal near you at no extra cost. OGbuilt does not include exterior crating or free terminal shipping.
Why does PRObuilt cost more even before the Disc Brake Kit?
PRObuilt is the only tier finished in powder coat with stainless hardware, and the only one built with NOS steering box internals and a heavy-duty steering box cap. It's also the only tier that can be built for Air Ride.
Ready To Build Your Beam?
Use the Beam Selector to spec your exact Beetle or Karmann Ghia, wheel and tire fitment, and ride height — then choose the tier that fits your budget.
Go To The Beam Selector →