What happens when you combine German engineering with Italian design? The Karmann Ghia was a vehicle that blended those elements into a compact car that sold in huge volumes between the mid-1950s and mid-1970s.
The Pick of the Day is a 1964 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia coupe listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Click the link to view the listing)
“This two-owner Karmann Ghia has 14,299 miles since new,” the listing says. “Original owner was an elderly lady who purchased it new and put it in storage in 1978.”
Simplicity is the name of the game with this Karmann Ghia, both inside and out. Its cream exterior does not evoke much excitement, and the skinny whitewall tires are probably not geared toward performance. But in the big picture, that’s the point of the car: It is attractive yet unassuming.
A magazine ad for the Karmann Ghia said, “Volkswagen – Italian style.” It continued to say, “The Karmann Ghia goes to show you what happens when you turn a Volkswagen over to an Italian designer. It comes out with a noble Roman nose, graceful curves, and a low silhouette.”
The Karmann Ghia was produced in relatively high volume – over 445,000 units, in fact – throughout its lifetime. It was available in both coupe and convertible variants, and its drivetrain was mechanically similar to that of the much more ubiquitous Volkswagen Beetle: a rear-mounted flat-four paired with a manual transmission. “Runs like a top – always starts and goes,” the seller says.
The good news from a cost-of-ownership perspective is that Volkswagen replacement parts are both readily available and inexpensive. So, the Karmann Ghia’s Italian design doesn’t come at a high expense. And because of those perks, there remains a strong enthusiast base for the car. One resource is the Karmann Ghia Club of North America (KGCNA). The club’s magazine is called Karmann Chronicles.
If you’ve ever thought about getting in on the Karmann Ghia game, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a car that still has fewer than 15,000 miles on it. “Selling it due to age,” the seller says. “I have 20 cars and am 82.”
When it was sold new, the Karmann Ghia coupe listed at $2,295 and the convertible at $2,495. Today, you have the opportunity to buy a 60-year-old version for $35,200.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, you’ll find it at Pick of the Day.
Source: www.classiccars.com