VW Karmann Ghia Gold Portfolio 1955-1974

Book excerpt: The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia represents one of those unique collaborations between three companies in two different countries: the Volkswagenwerke in Wolfsburg, Germany and Wilhelm Karmann in Osnabruck, Germany, and the Ghia coachworks in Turin, Italy. It also represents the efforts of four men who have all gone down in automobile history for their achievements: Heinrich Nordhoff at VW, Wilhelm Karmann at Karmann, Mario Boano and Luigi Segre at Ghia. From the moment the pretty coupe walked onto the world's stage it went straight into the motoring Hall of Fame. Interestingly, where most coupes of the time had some pretense towards being sporting, generally with a mildly hotted up engine, the Karmann Ghia was simply stock VW Beetle from the mechanical point of view. In other words, it was still a 72-75mph car, it just looked great doing it! And that is why owners loved it. By 1961 VW introduced the Karmann 1500 based on the Type 3 platform to supplement the original. It was nowhere near as successful and was withdrawn from production in 1969, long before its older and more famous sibling. There is a strong and enthusiastic following for the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia coupe all around the world, a movement that seems to grow each year.