Thursday, May 18, 2017

Door Dinged: 1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 14

The Volkswagen Type 14 Karmann Ghia  was built as a 2+2 coupe and convertible from 1955 to 1974.  The mechanical components were borrowed from the Type 1 Beetle with styling by Luigi Segre of carrozzeria Ghia and coach-built bodywork from Karmann. Find this 1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 14 offered for $4,500 in Woodland Hills, CA via craigslist.

 In the early 1950's VW went to German coach manufacturer Karmann in search of a higher-end offering.  Beetle production was well underway but as the post-war standard of living was slowly increasing, so were the tastes of consumers.  Karmann turned around and contracted Italian coach builder Ghia to come up with a design.  When production began in 1955, demand outstripped supply by 2-1.  Even though hand formed bodies added substantial cost to the sticker price, consumers were lining up with orders.


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10 comments:

  1. I was all over this until I saw that it was an Auto-stick. For those who have never driven one, let's just say they're a little 'touchy". As in, you touch the stick and it figures you're going to shift so it engages the clutch.

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    1. My best friend in high school had a Bug with auto stick. OK at first, but then my knee started nudging the car into neutral more and more often. We finally figured it out when I went from 5'-9" to like 6'-2" over the summer after 11th grade.

      Alas, I could probably fit a lot better now. You know how it is, eh H?

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  2. Always loved these cars. Mom had one of these in pearl white when we were living in Cali and I was only a few years old in the early 70's. Still some slick lines after all these years. I think they look good both restored and, dare I say, in retromod form... sometimes.

    [image src="http://coolcarz.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-084312-31392054.jpg" width="500px"/]

    [image src="http://car-from-uk.com/carphotos/full/1357320582196446.jpg" width="500px"/]

    [image src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3947/15477861107_40e48e1064_b.jpg" width="500px"/]

    [image src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3782/13431296894_7aa04f93fa_b.jpg" width="500px"/]

    Whenever I see this car I think if the movie Gattica for some reason...

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    1. @JG 750 - Nice selection of photos. Thanks for posting those.

      Karmann Ghias look so much better to me now than they did back in the day. I would be much happier to drive a well turned out KG than any Porsche 356. Not to mention that you could run rings around the 356 for a very reasonable budget. And no "purists" would be ragging on you.

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    2. [image src="http://clipartix.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Thumbs-up-clipart-cliparts-for-you.jpg" width="200px"/]

      As much as I dig the 356, you nailed it with no "purists" would be ragging on you. :D

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  3. I had a friend who had a few VeeWees he then bought a used autostick Bug i knew those had a bad reputation ala Joan Jett so i was shocked he bought it. Did not take long before he took it to a local VW shop and had it changed to a stick that had problems also after the poorly done conversion.

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  4. Those pictures from craigslist are down right scary i see plenty of Trouble.

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  5. [image src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a106/sscott55/550ghia.jpg" width="400px"/]

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    1. Have always liked that drawing. Looks like it should be the Singer entry model

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  6. A chill just ran up my spine... a KG by Singer? That would be too cool.

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