Germany has always prided itself as being masters of precision and engineering. The Italians on the other hand are the kings of passion and form design. So what would happen if they were to join forces? Volkswagen answered that question in the form of the Karmann Ghia.
After WWII and well into the early 50s, Volkswagen was enjoying the huge success from their inexpensive, air-cooled, rear-engined Beetles. The Volkswagen Beetle (officially known as Type 1 or Volkswagen Bug here is the states) sold record numbers of vehicles for Volkswagen worldwide including a massive amount of them being sold right here in the USA.
The only problem with the Beetle was its styling. It just didn’t look cool so Volkswagen commissioned the Italian design house, Ghia, along with a German coach-builder, Karmann, to make a 2+2 coupe and convertible that would use the Beetle chassis but designed to be much more handsome.
The Karmann & Ghia teams, led by then owner of Ghia Luigi Segre, began to create the new VW Karmann Ghia. Using the original Beetle they added some pretty dramatic design features to give the car a more attractive, sporty look. They used high-end materials like hand-shaped English pewter to form the rounded taillights, wood-grain dashboards, and plush leather armrests in the interior. The exterior got the new long sloped hood and an exquisite rear end.
By the time they were done designing the first prototype in 1963, no-one could tell it was based on the Beetle just by looking at it. The upper-middle class now had the option to drive a vehicle that looked much more expensive and sportier than it really was. While it looked like an Italian sports car it was still primarily just a prettier Beetle. Volkswagen had an immediate hit on their hands. The positive public response when the Karmann Ghia debuted made it one of America’s most-imported cars of all time.
When it first hit the market in 1955 the Karmann Ghia had the same 36 horsepower, flat four-cylinder engine that came in the Beetle. Due to its initial success not much changed during its production run. By 1961 the horsepower had gone up to 40hp, 50hp by 1966 and topped off at 53hp in 1967. By 1962 however, the Karmann Ghia did routinely offer power-operated sunroofs, fog-lights, and electrical clocks. 445,000 were produced from 1955-1974 and at one time it was the most exclusive vehicle you could purchase from VW. It was however replaced by the VW Scirocco in 1974.
Today the Karmann Ghia has created quite the cult following amongst VW enthusiast. According to Hagerty, the average value of the Karmann Ghia coupe has risen 102 percent in the past three years. For around $10,000 you can still pick up a pretty decent original. The cost of a good one is similar to most other classic collectors. The fewer miles, restorations and modifications that have been done, the more the vehicle will be worth.
They are the perfect vehicle for a first time classic car enthusiast. The German air-cooled engine and basic components are easy to find and relatively inexpensive to replace or repair. If you decide to look for one to purchase, there are a few pitfalls you will want to make sure you avoid. First, because of their simplicity there are a lot of them out there with home-made modifications. It would be a good idea to become familiarized with the engine and other basic mechanics before you go out looking for one.
Another pitfall of the Karmann Ghia is their susceptibility to rust. They are notorious for having less than stellar rust proofing technology. Look closely at the door gaps and foot wells. Be sure to pull out the front cardboard panels so that you can inspect behind them. Too much rust can dramatically change a vehicle’s value or even make it worthless.
This is the perfect starter classic for anyone that appreciates European engineering and design. They are really under-appreciated right now and we don’t think that is going to last very much longer.