Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

Vehicle Description

The Karmann Ghia – The dream car of the 50s

This Karmann Ghia was produced eight years after the start of production of the convertible (1957). Insofar some modifications are already included. Thus it has the larger headlights and “nostrils”, an armrest on the driver’s side, a windscreen washer system and a headlamp flasher.

The car was re-imported from the US and had been restored there a few years ago, unfortunately not very professionally and not in perfect quality (e. g. US-painting with inadequate preparatory work and partly varnished seals). Technically, the vehicle is in good condition and equipped with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder boxer engine. Brakes and clutch function properly. The underbody is rust free and the bumpers are new. The chrome is complete. The on-board voltage was converted from 6V to 12V. Convertible top and interior present themselves pretty neat.

This is a accident/ restoration car that needs repair before registration/ roadworthiness.

The prototype – presented at the end of 1953 – wowed the client and was also favourably accepted in Wolfsburg: The serial development of a 2 + 2-seater coupé was decided and the production of the Karmann Ghia was launched in August 1955. On the 38th IAA the Karmann Ghia Cabriolet was presented. The vehicle was produced in Osnabruck from 1st November 1957 and priced at DM 8,250.

Karmann united with this vehicle the solid engineering of the Beetle with the elegant body of Italian design. To reduce the tilty and the oversteer tendency, the Karmann Ghia was fitted from the start with a front roll stabiliser. An enlargement of the front seat area has been achieved by the wider body compared to the Beetle. The running boards were omitted.

A total of 50,000 units were built, many of them went to the United States.

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