1956 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia (1200) - Conceptcarz 1956 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia Sold for $67,100 at 2011 Gooding & Company . The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe was in production until the end of 1959. They had an elegant front fender line which curved down to the headlight and squared taillight units that are unique to these vehicles. This Karmann Ghia was has been given a show-winning restoration. The 36 horsepower engine case was discovered to be original to the car, and it was fastidiously rebuilt. To increase performance, a period-correct Judson supercharger was installed. The engine offers approximately 60 horsepower and is mated to a four-speed gearbox. There are four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and a Torsion bar front suspension. In 2011, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California. It was estimated to sell for $75,000 - $95,000.

As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $67,100 inclusive of buyer's premium. By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2011 In 1950, Karmann approached Volkswagen with a design for a new vehicle. Karmann had a working relationship with Volkswagen that went prior to this project that included the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet. The idea was initially rejected by Volkswagen so Karmann approached the coachbuilding company Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin who built the first prototype of the vehicle, completing in 1953. In November of 1953, Nordhoff, the head of Volkswagen at the time, gave approval for the vehicle to be built by his company. On July 14th in 1955, the vehicle was unveiled to the public. There were basically three types of the Karmann-Ghia's built during its life span that included the type 14, type 34, and the TC. The type 14 featured a round body-style that received very little modifications through its production life-span, dating from 1955 through 1974.

Most of the modifications that did transpire were head and tail light modifications, bumper and side air vent changes. During which time about 340,000 coupes and 81,000 convertibles were produced in Osnabruck Germany. Manufacturing continued from 1962 through 1972 in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Brazil where 176 convertibles and about 23,000 coupes were produced. These type 14 models were basically unaltered for the original design except for different bumpers, taillights and vent windows. The Type 34, or 'Razor Edge', was produced from 1961 through 1969 during which time 43,000 examples were produced. It was introduced in September of 1961 at the Frankfurt Auto show. The Type 34 were 'boxier' than their Type 14 counterparts and cost more to produce. The interior was larger and better equipped, the structure was stronger, and the engine was faster. They were built in coupe design only, however in 1962 a sunroof could be had.

The engine was initially 1500cc in size but later increased to 1600cc. The 1600 TC, which stood for Touring Coupe, was produced in Brazil from 1970 through 1975. They were based on the design of the type 34. During its lifespan, 18,000 examples were produced. By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2006 A red sports car barrels through a deserted landscape, driven by a helmet-clad professional as an excited announcer extols the virtues of the commercial's featured automobile. Surely Volkswagen did not invent this archetypal format of romanticized car ad when they borrowed it to market their Karmann Ghia to bored TV audiences. Volkswagen's seemingly ordinary commercial included a twist ending, though. As the camera follows the sleek sports car deeper into the surrounding scenery, a paper wall emerges in the corner of the screen. Okay, okay—so this isn't really all that new of an idea either, right? The car will smash through the paper barrier and appear on the other side, some tired metaphor for the birth of a supposedly new automotive idea, looking even more glamorous and wonderful than ever.

But that's not how Volkswagen ended their commercial. Instead, their Karmann Ghia plows into the wall, not through it. The thin paper barrier stops the little car that couldn't dead in its tracks, as the driver repeatedly engages reverse and first gears in an attempt to smash through the wall. The announcer explains this phenomenon through his confident declaration that, 'The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is the most economical sports car you can buy… it's just not the most powerful.' Self-deprecating humor is not a traditional ingredient in the typically brash and boastful world of automobile advertising. Volkswagen, though, was far from a traditional company when it introduced its Karmann Ghia to adoring audiences, and its cleverly charming and endearingly modest ad campaign accurately represented the character and intent of their little, underpowered sports car. Based on the ruggedly simple but far from sporty underpinnings of their Beetle, Volkswagen's Karmann Ghia debuted with an underwhelming 36 horsepower and a swing-axle rear suspension prone to induce snap oversteer in frisky corners. This, perhaps, was not the recipe for a true sports car.

The Karmann Ghia had looks, though, and what the little German lacked in power and performance it made up for with an affable demeanor and delightfully low running costs. So while this spruced-up Bug might not have appealed to the more hardcore buyers of MGs, Triumphs, Alfas, and Morgans, the VW found itself plenty of friends and earned itself an impressive twenty-year production run. The name of the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia seems to give away much of the car's history. It was, of course, a Volkswagen and used standard Volkswagen mechanical bits. Karmann, a renowned German coachbuilder, fabricated its carefully constructed bodywork. Ghia, a prestigious Italian design house, penned its elegant shape. The story behind the car's development, though, was actually far more complicated than the easily-decoded nomenclature suggests. More specifically, the design of the Karmann Ghia remained for many years something of a mystery. Simply attributing the styling to Ghia would be inaccurate and unfair to the individuals responsible for the car's timeless contours.

Several years before the Karmann Ghia's debut for 1955, Volkswagen had requested that Karmann design a sports car to be built over a Beetle chassis. Karmann developed several proposals, but all of these were rejected by Volkswagen. Luckily, Karmann head Wilhelm Karmann was friends with Ghia chief engineer and designer Luigi Segre. Karmann brought the Volkswagen project to the attention of Segre, who later surprised Karmann with a completed prototype styled and produced at Ghia in 1953. Karmann introduced Segre's project to highly impressed Volkswagen officials, and from that point on Ghia's initial design was further developed into the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. The designer of the lovely bodywork that emerged from Ghia's shops, though, was never officially identified. Virgil Exner claimed that the design for the Karmann Ghia was based upon his Coupe D'Elegance, a car he designed for Ghia, while the Ghia company itself stated that their own Mario Boano created the design in 1950.

Likely, the final design was influenced by both Exner and Boano, especially given the latter's work on stylistic predecessors to the Karmann Ghia such as the Alfa Romeo 2500 S convertible of 1949 and a Lancia Aurelia limousine of 1950 (automotive historian Jan Norbye identified the stylistic similarities between these models). Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Karmann Ghia's design, its shape proved immediately successful and enduringly beautiful. The earlier models, produced from 1955 to 1959 and now often called 'lowlights,' were the purest with their tiny taillights, smaller front grilles, and lower headlight mounting positions unaffected by later headlight height regulations. All subsequent Karmann Ghias maintained much of the original design's character and grace, though, as the car never faced a full redesign.

Volkswagen enlarged the car's taillights, raised the headlight mounting places, and widened the front grilles (used only for cabin ventilation as the engine was air-cooled and rear-mounted) for 1960, but even these changes kept intact the car's delightfully mouse-like face and superb proportions. Later models looked bulkier, with taillights that kept growing, bigger front turn indicators, and bulkier bumpers, but even the final models retained sheetmetal nearly as pretty as that of the very first models. Luckily, the discontinuation of the model after 1974 prevented the design from being marred by the infamous federal bumper regulations imposed in 1975. Though Karmann Ghia bumpers were enlarged in 1972, they remained far more attractive and better-integrated than the rubber units forced upon so many hapless little sports cars from 1975. Every bit as impressive as the Karmann Ghia's styling was its build quality. Karmann did a wonderful job crafting the car's timeless forms, hand finishing the bodies for an attention to detail unprecedented in such an affordable car.

Despite the cars' eventual propensity to develop rust problems, Karmann treated the Volkswagens with careful corrosion protection and sophisticated painting techniques. The flowing compound curves that defined the Karmann Ghia's excellent styling were shaped by Karmann with unerring finesse, and finished to a remarkably high standard. Initially offered only as a coupe, Volkswagen introduced a Karmann Ghia cabriolet for 1957 that continued in production alongside the coupe until the 1974 model year, after which the Scirocco hatchback replaced the Karmann Ghia model range. The cabriolet retained all of the coupe's great looks. Surprisingly, it also retained much of the coupe's all-season drivability, thanks to Karmann's advanced convertible top with its effective insulation and glass rear window. Never offered with more engine than a 60-horsepower, air-cooled flat four, the Karmann Ghia simply could not accelerate like a proper sports car—and with its substantial rear weight bias, handling was never ideal.

For 1967, disc brakes and a revised rear suspension endowed the Karmann Ghia with greater performance potential, but it remained the German tortoise amongst British and Italian hares. As the advertisements declared, though, Volkswagen never pretended that the Karmann Ghia intended to compete directly with real sports cars. Instead of raw excitement, the Karmann Ghia offered peace of mind: reliability instead of maintenance hassles; easily attainable parts and good service instead of spotty dealer networks; everyday usability instead of occasional fun. But despite these relatively staid traits, the Karmann Ghia also offered buyers something truly exciting—it provided its owners the chance to experience a car of exceptional style and undisputed quality. With roughly 360,000 coupes and 80,000 cabriolets produced, the Karmann Ghia brought the joys of owning a rare car to buyers who knew they really needed a common one. Sources: 'Karmann Ghia History.' Karmann-Ghias.co.uk n. pag. Web. 17 Jun 2011. Leppke, Cliff.

'Styled for Success: Karmann-Ghia, VW's Carrera for the Common Man and Woman.' VW Trends Mar 2009: n. pag. Web. 17 Jun 2011. 'Origins of the Karmann Ghia.' KarmannGhiaConnection.com n. pag. Web. 17 Jun 2011. By Jeremy McMullen Volkswagen Celebrates 60 Years Of The Karmann Ghia Thanks to the Karmann Ghia, Volkswagen had a car in the mid-1950s in its line-up that was positioned above the Beetle, allowing the company to appeal to a broader customer base. It is now 60 years since that prototype was shown internally, on the occasion of the Paris Motor Show. The car went into full production in 1955. Today the one-off prototype is one of the stars of the Volkswagen Osnabrück Automobile Collection. The genesis of the car came from Wilhelm Karmann, who hired Luigi Segre of Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin to transform his idea into reality in early 1953—at first without even consulting Volkswagen.

Initially, a convertible sports car was envisaged, but the prototype was actually a coupe. In October 1953, the car was taken to a small garage in Paris and shown by Ghia to Karmann, who had traveled to the city for the Paris Motor Show. Wilhelm Karmann was thrilled, and in November of that year he showed the attractive small car to the otherwise conservative Volkswagen chief Heinrich Nordhoff. Karmann was able to do this because a close relationship already existed between the two Wolfsburg companies—Karmann had been building the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet since 1949. The prototype won over Volkswagen's managing director. Once the costing was worked out, a decision was soon made to go into full production. The delay between decision and production allowed for some body detail changes and interior refinements to be made, although the basic form remained as Ghia had designed it. Volkswagen Beetle running gear underpinned all 450,000 Karmann Ghias, known internally as the type 14, made between 1955 and 1974.

Últimately, Wilhelm Karmann's dream of a convertible version also became reality: at another internal presentation in Wolfsburg, the cabriolet—once again designed by Luigi Segre and his team—made a big impact. Full production of the convertible version began in 1957. By the time Karmann Ghia production ended in 1974, 362,601 coupes and 80,881 cabriolets had rolled off the line. Like the Beetle itself, the 'Beetle in a sports coat' was also a huge success story. The one-off coupe prototype is part of the Volkswagen Osnabrück private collection, but can be admired outside of the factory on special occasions such as the 5th Schloss Bensberg Classics (from September 6-8). The Karmann factory is now part of the VW Group as Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH and produces the Golf Cabriolet, the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, and the Volkswagen XL1.

Source - Volkswagen Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia | HowStuffWorks Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia With a sleek body over a humble VW Beetle chassis, the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia furnished a dash of sports-car spirit at a Volkswagen price. © Thomas Glatch The Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia, a sporty coupe and convertible produced between 1955 and 1974, was a most unexpected vehicle from a company that had built its reputation on the purely functional Volkswagen Beetle. The Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia was an automobile in which style and driving fun took precedence. Indeed, it seemed to make little obvious marketing sense when the German company sprung on the world the sinuously shaped Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia coupe in 1955. By 1974, however, when the last Volkswagen Karmann-Ghias were delivered to the U.S., 387,975 had been built, a fine number for a specialty car from an automaker not known at the time for driving excitement. Up Next Tatra Cars Not that the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia was in Porsche's league.

After all, Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia used the same chassis as the Beetle, the same economy-car mechanicals, even had the same air-cooled-engine thrum. But the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia had something no VW up to that time had ever had: style. The car's name summarizes a very complicated pedigree. VW in the early 1950s was a rapidly growing West German carmaker. Karmann was a long-established West German coachbuilder and already was building Beetle convertibles. Ghia was a top Italian styling house. Added to this alliance was an American connection -- one that some Europeans are reluctant to admit even today -- and the result was an unlikely recipe for success. The Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia story starts with Mario Boano and Luigi Segre of Carrozzeria Ghia. The Turin coachbuilders had done some confidential work for VW, suggesting refinements in Beetle styling that VW mostly ignored. Neither did VW seem to like any of the various Beetle proposals put forth in Germany by Dr. Wilhelm Karmann. An increasingly discouraged Karmann approached Ghia for inspiration.

Gian Paolo Boano, Mario Boano's son, had recently bought a Beetle in Paris and driven it to Turin. The Ghia craftsmen removed the conventional two-door Beetle body, and within five months had replaced it with a newly fashioned coupe body shell. The prototype was transported to Karmann's factory in Osnabruck where, on November 16, 1953, it was examined by VW executives, including top man Heinz Nordhoff. The VW people were intrigued, and wanted to know more, especially about the styling. They'd be surprised to know its geniuses. The sporty VW took its name from Karmann, the German firm that built the body, and Ghia, the Italian design house that came up with the styling. © Vince Manocchi Go to the next page to learn more about the origins of the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia.

For more on Volkswagens and other great cars, check out: New Volkswagen Prices and Reviews Used Volkswagen Prices and Reviews Car Photos » Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Volkswagen Karmann Ghia 06.10.09 | 1 Comment The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia was produced between 1955 and 1974. It was built on VW’s Type 1 platform (which also served as the platform for the VW Beetle) and featured hand-made body work made by the German company Karmann. Available as either a 2+2 coupe or a convertible, the Ghia enjoyed resounding success and was even, at one point was the most-imported car in the United States. Most of the Ghia’s success is due to its combination of attractive styling and low price. Volkswagen was one of the world’s leaders in producing affordable cars following World War II, and they kept that philosophy in mind with the Ghia. The car wasn’t as inexpensive as its cousin, the Beetle, however. While the two cars shared the same basic platform, the front end body work of the Ghia was hand-crafted by Karmann.

The result was visually stunning and highly desirable in the market, but more expensive than the Beetle’s mass-produced body work. The Karmann Ghia first premiered at the Paris Auto Show in October of 1953, and the first production model rolled out of the factory in August of 1955. Volkswagen sold over 10,000 Ghias in the first year it was available, which greatly exceeded initial expectations. The Ghia continued to sell well throughout its life, and a total of over 445,000 Ghias were produced in its 19-year production span, which doesn’t include 41,600 Ghias produced by the South American branch of Karmann or the 42,505 Ghia Type 34 models (a high-performance, and much more expensive, variant of the Ghia). The Karmann Ghia was powered by a 1.6-liter flat four-cylinder engine (also called a “boxer” engine) that produced 60 horsepower.

The Ghia Type 34 received a smaller, but more powerful, 1.5-liter flat four engine while it was produced between 1962 and 1969. Eventually, the Type 34 was retired and replaced with the Porsche 914, which had a similar version of the same flat four engine under the hood. At the time, the Ghia Type 34 was the fastest and most expensive Volkswagen vehicle availalbe. In 1974, the Ghia was replaced by the Volkswagen Scirocco, but it was not forgotten. The Scirocco’s body styling had none of the attractive curves of the Ghia, instead adopting a boxier, more angled design. The Ghia has since become something of a collectors item in the classic car world, particularly the Ghia Type 34 due to their rarity. Volkswagen Karmann Ghia | Classic Cars Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Share Volkswagen Karmann The Karmann Ghia is a Volkswagen powered, coach-built automobile. The first Ghia was introduced in 1956. It used the chassis, suspension and drive train from the Type 1 Beetle.

The Karmann Ghia and Bug are mechanically and electrically identical from 1956 through 1974; their chassis are not interchangeable. The car was available as a coupe and cabriolet convertible. The Karmann Ghia is the only Volkswagen powered, coach-built automobile that carries the Volkswagen logo, and was officially sanctioned by Volkswagen AG. The Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia was a German-Italian joint effort introduced in 1955. Dr. Wilhelm Karmann, whose firm was building the cabriolet version of the Beetle, submitted designs to Volkswagen in hopes of generating new business. The designs were for a new sporty coupe, which Volkswagen ignored. Around the same time, Mario Boano and Luigi Segre of Italy's Carrozzeria Ghia had proposed some styling enhancments to Volkswagen. These too were ignored. Karmann approached Ghia directly, resulting in a prototype. Using a Beetle, Ghia developed a new body that was mounted directly to the Beetle's basic platform chassis. The prototype was sent to Karmann in late 1953 and used to impress Volkswagen's chief Heinz Nordhoff.

There were slight differences to the Beetle's body; the new coupe had slightly wider bodywork and a lower roofline. There was a bulge in the rear fenders and an extended lower-body crease. Some of these design features were shown on the Chrysler-Ghia d'Elegance Concept car of 1953. In 1955, the Karmann-Ghia was a very popular vehicle and would remain in production until July of 1974 after 283,501 coupes and 80,897 convertibles had been produced. This Karmann-Ghia is a late-production convertible that has been treated to a professional mechanical and cosmetic restoration. It is painted in red, has a white interior, and woodgrain dash and black convertible top. There are United States specification bumpers complete with override bars and the original-type ventilated steel wheels with bright hubcaps and whitewall tires. In 2009, this Convertible was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Amelia Island Auction presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $15,000-$20,000 and offered without reserve.

As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for $13,200, including buyer's premium.In 1950, Karmann approached Volkswagen with a design for a new vehicle. Karmann had a working relationship with Volkswagen that went prior to this project that included the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet. The idea was initially rejected by Volkswagen so Karmann approached the coachbuilding company Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin who built the first prototype of the vehicle, completing in 1953. In November of 1953, Nordhoff, the head of Volkswagen at the time, gave approval for the vehicle to be built by his company. On July 14th in 1955, the vehicle was unveiled to the public. There were basically three types of the Karmann-Ghia's built during its life span that included the type 14, type 34, and the TC. The type 14 featured a round body-style that received very little modifications through its production life-span, dating from 1955 through 1974.

Most of the modifications that did transpire were head and tail light modifications, bumper and side air vent changes. During which time about 340,000 coupes and 81,000 convertibles were produced in Osnabruck Germany. Manufacturing continued from 1962 through 1972 in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Brazil where 176 convertibles and about 23,000 coupes were produced. These type 14 models were basically unaltered for the original design except for different bumpers, taillights and vent windows. The Type 34, or 'Razor Edge', was produced from 1961 through 1969 during which time 43,000 examples were produced. It was introduced in September of 1961 at the Frankfurt Auto show. The Type 34 were 'boxier' than their Type 14 counterparts and cost more to produce. The interior was larger and better equipped, the structure was stronger, and the engine was faster. They were built in coupe design only, however in 1962 a sunroof could be had.

The engine was initially 1500cc in size but later increased to 1600cc. The 1600 TC, which stood for Touring Coupe, was produced in Brazil from 1970 through 1975. They were based on the design of the type 34. During its lifespan, 18,000 examples were produced.A red sports car barrels through a deserted landscape, driven by a helmet-clad professional as an excited announcer extols the virtues of the commercial's featured automobile. Surely Volkswagen did not invent this archetypal format of romanticized car ad when they borrowed it to market their Karmann Ghia to bored TV audiences. Volkswagen's seemingly ordinary commercial included a twist ending, though. As the camera follows the sleek sports car deeper into the surrounding scenery, a paper wall emerges in the corner of the screen. Okay, okay—so this isn't really all that new of an idea either, right? The car will smash through the paper barrier and appear on the other side, some tired metaphor for the birth of a supposedly new automotive idea, looking even more glamorous and wonderful than ever. But that's not how Volkswagen ended their commercial.

Instead, their Karmann Ghia plows into the wall, not through it. The thin paper barrier stops the little car that couldn't dead in its tracks, as the driver repeatedly engages reverse and first gears in an attempt to smash through the wall. The announcer explains this phenomenon through his confident declaration that, 'The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is the most economical sports car you can buy… it's just not the most powerful.' Self-deprecating humor is not a traditional ingredient in the typically brash and boastful world of automobile advertising. Volkswagen, though, was far from a traditional company when it introduced its Karmann Ghia to adoring audiences, and its cleverly charming and endearingly modest ad campaign accurately represented the character and intent of their little, underpowered sports car. Based on the ruggedly simple but far from sporty underpinnings of their Beetle, Volkswagen's Karmann Ghia debuted with an underwhelming 36 horsepower and a swing-axle rear suspension prone to induce snap oversteer in frisky corners. This, perhaps, was not the recipe for a true sports car.

The Karmann Ghia had looks, though, and what the little German lacked in power and performance it made up for with an affable demeanor and delightfully low running costs. So while this spruced-up Bug might not have appealed to the more hardcore buyers of MGs, Triumphs, Alfas, and Morgans, the VW found itself plenty of friends and earned itself an impressive twenty-year production run. The name of the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia seems to give away much of the car's history. It was, of course, a Volkswagen and used standard Volkswagen mechanical bits. Karmann, a renowned German coachbuilder, fabricated its carefully constructed bodywork. Ghia, a prestigious Italian design house, penned its elegant shape. The story behind the car's development, though, was actually far more complicated than the easily-decoded nomenclature suggests. More specifically, the design of the Karmann Ghia remained for many years something of a mystery. Simply attributing the styling to Ghia would be inaccurate and unfair to the individuals responsible for the car's timeless contours.

Several years before the Karmann Ghia's debut for 1955, Volkswagen had requested that Karmann design a sports car to be built over a Beetle chassis. Karmann developed several proposals, but all of these were rejected by Volkswagen. Luckily, Karmann head Wilhelm Karmann was friends with Ghia chief engineer and designer Luigi Segre. Karmann brought the Volkswagen project to the attention of Segre, who later surprised Karmann with a completed prototype styled and produced at Ghia in 1953. Karmann introduced Segre's project to highly impressed Volkswagen officials, and from that point on Ghia's initial design was further developed into the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. The designer of the lovely bodywork that emerged from Ghia's shops, though, was never officially identified. Virgil Exner claimed that the design for the Karmann Ghia was based upon his Coupe D'Elegance, a car he designed for Ghia, while the Ghia company itself stated that their own Mario Boano created the design in 1950.

Likely, the final design was influenced by both Exner and Boano, especially given the latter's work on stylistic predecessors to the Karmann Ghia such as the Alfa Romeo 2500 S convertible of 1949 and a Lancia Aurelia limousine of 1950 (automotive historian Jan Norbye identified the stylistic similarities between these models). Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Karmann Ghia's design, its shape proved immediately successful and enduringly beautiful. The earlier models, produced from 1955 to 1959 and now often called 'lowlights,' were the purest with their tiny taillights, smaller front grilles, and lower headlight mounting positions unaffected by later headlight height regulations. All subsequent Karmann Ghias maintained much of the original design's character and grace, though, as the car never faced a full redesign.

Volkswagen enlarged the car's taillights, raised the headlight mounting places, and widened the front grilles (used only for cabin ventilation as the engine was air-cooled and rear-mounted) for 1960, but even these changes kept intact the car's delightfully mouse-like face and superb proportions. Later models looked bulkier, with taillights that kept growing, bigger front turn indicators, and bulkier bumpers, but even the final models retained sheetmetal nearly as pretty as that of the very first models. Luckily, the discontinuation of the model after 1974 prevented the design from being marred by the infamous federal bumper regulations imposed in 1975. Though Karmann Ghia bumpers were enlarged in 1972, they remained far more attractive and better-integrated than the rubber units forced upon so many hapless little sports from 1975. Every bit as impressive as the Karmann Ghia's styling was its build quality. Karmann did a wonderful job crafting the car's timeless forms, hand finishing the bodies for an attention to detail unprecedented in such an affordable car.

Despite the cars' eventual propensity to develop rust problems, Karmann treated the Volkswagens with careful corrosion protection and sophisticated painting techniques. The flowing compound curves that defined the Karmann Ghia's excellent styling were shaped by Karmann with unerring finesse, and finished to a remarkably high standard. Initially offered only as a coupe, Volkswagen introduced a Karmann Ghia cabriolet for 1957 that continued in production alongside the coupe until the 1974 model year, after which the Scirocco hatchback replaced the Karmann Ghia model range. The cabriolet retained all of the coupe's great looks. Surprisingly, it also retained much of the coupe's all-season drivability, thanks to Karmann's advanced convertible top with its effective insulation and glass rear window. Never offered with more engine than a 60-horsepower, air-cooled flat four, the Karmann Ghia simply could not accelerate like a proper sports car—and with its substantial rear weight bias, handling was never ideal.

For 1967, disc brakes and a revised rear suspension endowed the Karmann Ghia with greater performance potential, but it remained the German tortoise amongst British and Italian hares. As the advertisements declared, though, Volkswagen never pretended that the Karmann Ghia intended to compete directly with real sports cars. Instead of raw excitement, the Karmann Ghia offered peace of mind: reliability instead of maintenance hassles; easily attainable parts and good service instead of spotty dealer networks; everyday usability instead of occasional fun. But despite these relatively staid traits, the Karmann Ghia also offered buyers something truly exciting—it provided its owners the chance to experience a car of exceptional style and undisputed quality. With roughly 360,000 coupes and 80,000 cabriolets produced, the Karmann Ghia brought the joys of owning a rare car to buyers who knew they really needed a common one.

Type 34 Karmann Ghia 1965 VW Karmann Ghia Type 34 hatchback prototype In September 1961, Volkswagen introduced the VW 1500 Karmann Ghia, or Type 34, based on its new Type 3 platform, featuring Volkswagen's new flat 1500cc engine design, and styling by Italian engineer Sergio Sartorelli. Due to model confusion with the Type 14 1500 introduced in 1967, the Type 34 was known variously as the "Der Große Karmann" ("the big Karmann") in Germany, "Razor Edge Ghia" in the United Kingdom, or "European Ghia" (or "Type 3 Ghia" among enthusiasts) in the United States. Today the name Type 34 is recognized as the worldwide naming convention. The second automobile model in the world to have this option, an electrically operated sliding steel sunroof was optional in 1962. The styling offered more interior and cargo room than the original Karmann Ghia.

It featured an electric clock, three luggage spaces, built-in fog lights, round tail lights, upper & lower dash pads, door pads, & long padded armrests. It was the fastest production VW model of its day. Until it was replaced by the VW- Porsche 914 , it was the most expensive and luxurious passenger car VW manufactured in the 1960s — back then you could have purchased two basic Beetles for the price of one Type 34 in many markets. The comparatively high price meant it never generated high demand, and only 42,505 (plus 17 prototype convertibles) were built over the car's entire production life between 1962 and 1969 (roughly 5,000 a year). Today, the Type 34 is considered a semi-rare collectible with values ranging from US$25K (nice original or restored) to $8K (driving project) to $3K (non-driving parts car). Values in Europe are the highest with an unrestored original Pearl White 1962 Coupe selling for US$34,000 in Germany in late 2010.

Although the Type 34 was available in most countries, it was not offered officially in the U.S. — VW's largest and most important export market — another reason for its low sales numbers. Many still made their way to the USA (most via Canada), and the USA has the largest number of known Type 34s left in the world (400 of the total 1,500 to 2,000 or so remaining). Like its Type 14 brother, the Type 34 was styled by the Italian design studio Ghia. There are some similar styling influences, but the Type 14 Ghia looks very different from the Type 34. The chassis is also a major difference between the cars: the Type 14 shares its chassis with a Beetle, whereas the Type 34 body is mounted on the Type 3 chassis and drive train (the same as in a 1500/1600 Notchback, Variant (Squareback) and Fastback) — all distinguished by the standard 1500 pancake engine that allowed a front and rear boot. The Type 34 is mechanically the same as other Type 3s.

All bodywork, interior, glass, bumpers, and most of the lenses are unique to the Type 34. The Wilhelm Karmann factory assembly line which assembled the Type 34 also produced the VW- Porsche 914 (known as Porsche 914 in the USA) — the Type 34's replacement. Karmann Ghia TC As an alternative to the Type 34 Karmann-Ghia coupé, which Volkswagen had introduced to Europe in 1961, Karmann-Ghia do Brasil looked to Ghia in Turin for a reworked version of the Type 14 at the end of the 1960s. At the time Ghia employed Giorgetto Giugiaro, the famous Italian designer and he was set to work on the new Brazilian Karmann Ghia. The result was the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia TC (Touring Coupé), internally known as the Type 145, which was introduced in 1970. This model looked much like an Italian impression of a Porsche 911 and was a roomy 2+2 coupe with a modern and comfortable interior.

Underneath it was similar to the Type 14 though actually the platform of the Volkswagen Variant was used rather than that of the Volkswagen Beetle . The main difference was the engine: the Type 145 TC was fitted with the 1584 cc flat-four air-cooled boxer unit from the Type 3 instead of the 1192 cc unit of the Type 14. The car had 65 hp (48 kW) @ 4600 rpm and a top speed of 86 mph (138 km/h), compared to the 34 hp (25 kW) and 72 mph (116 km/h) of the Type 14. 18,119 TC models were produced during its production run from 1970 until 1976. It was only offered in South America and wasn't exported off the continent. There is a prototype that is part of the factory museum collection of Karmann in Osnabrück, Germany. Gallery History of the type 14 Karmann Ghia general No car model produced by the Karmann Company is as rememberable as the Karmann Ghia type 14.

The Karmann Ghia type 14 is produced for 19 years, a fairly long lifetime for such remarkable car model. The production of this car begins in August 1955 and ended in 1974. During this time, the type 14 Karmann Ghia got many minor changes throughout the years. Newer motors, new safety measures, etc. the design The first discussions for a coupï¿½ based on a VW Beetle base took place in 1951 between the Volkswagen director Heinrich Nordhoff and Willhelm Karmann. The fist designs were made by the Karmann Comany in Osnabrï¿½ck, Germany. One of these designs was a sketch for a two-seater, which later evolved to the first Karmann Ghia. In cooperation with the Italian Ghia styling studio in Turin, a first prototype was produced in Italy and shipped to France where Wilhelm Karmann saw the car for the first time. Soon the Volkswagen director was introduced to the car and the decision to build the "Karmann Ghia" was made in a very short time.

production Due to the distinctive, organic shaped lines of the Karmann Ghia, it took almost two years to get the car in mass production. This preparation of the production was made in close cooperation between the Karmann Company and Volkswagen. The actual presentation of the production model to the public was in 1955. The production of the car started in August 1955. The first models had a 30HP air-cooled flat 4-cyl. engine taken from the Beetle model. The base of the car was a modified Volkswagen Beetle base to which the bodywork of the Karmann Ghia is bolted on. The price of a Karmann Ghia at introduction was set to 7.500 DM. In 1956 the 10.000th Karmann Ghia is produced on 22nd October 1956. This is just 14 months after the introduction in 1955. In 1957 the Karmann Ghia convertible is introduced at the 38th International Motor Show in Frankfurt and the production started at the 1st of November of that year.

The price for this convertible is jus 750 DM more than de coupï¿½ model. During its production life, the design slightly changed with the years, mostly due to changes in security demands. The production of the Karmann Ghia type 14 ended at the 31st of July, 1974. © Alle rechten voorbehouden. VW-Karmann Ghia .nl is niet aansprakelijk voor eventuele onjuistheden en/of onvolkomenheden. Neem voor vragen en/of opmerkingen contact op met info@vw-karmannghia.nl Karmann Ghia - Everything about the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia ...changed to a more powerful 1600cc unit The Mostly UK Guide to Buying A Karmann Ghia A lot of people ask me which Ghia is good for me? and this page outlines what my opinions of that are. They are just that though and not everyone is going to agree. I've tried to angle this for people in the UK, but a lot applies wherever you live. Which Ghia is for you depends on your circumstances.

If money really is no object and you're looking for a second, 'occasional' car, then the early classic 50's models are undoubtedly the most collectable and their prices reflect this. If the car will be used daily or at least 3 or 4 times a week, then the later cars with more powerful engines and greater creature comforts are the better bet. The latter option is what I chose and I actually prefer the looks of the later cars (though the wood-effect dash seemed to be a slight regression). Whatever style you choose, remember to check for corrosion thoroughly as even the last Ghias are now well over a quarter of a century old. Time takes its toll, so accept nothing on face value. Early "lowlight" (pre 59) note rear optional 'spats' The KG owners club is a really good place to start - they're at you can join online. It's a good place for info and advice, also carries some cars for sale too. You don't have to get involved in any "anoraky" stuff if you don't want to, they send a newsletter out bi-monthly and they are the very best source of cars, parts and services such as insurance, maintenance and general advice.

I joined the club years before I found my car! A perfect early to mid-60s coupe The best bargains can be had in the private sales, but the biggest risks lurk there too. Take someone along who knows what to look for (and wont fall head-over-heels with the first rusty car they see). Bodywork is all-important, so get the very best you can afford. Mechanicals are pure VW Beetle, so everything is simple if you want to learn (look for the "How to Keep your VW alive" book, by John Muir - easier to read than the "Haynes" manuals) - if you don't then there are lots of air-cooled VW specialists around - Tip - avoid modern VW dealers, most would never have even seen a KG and sadly know little of air-cooled stuff. Instead use the list of specialists in the KGOC GB's handbook and newsletters. 69-71 - Still classic styling but with more power and refinement. This one made to 'look early' with 2-tone paint.

There are some KG dealers, notably "KG Motoworks" in Mansfield, Notts ( ) which is run by a chap called Martin McGarry (who also is involved with the KG owners club) and his cars come highly recommended, but the price does reflect this. His current stock listings are on his site, as are dozens of pics, so you can get to see what you really like etc - I borrowed some of Martin's photos to illustrate on these pages. His cars really do look superb and must rank amongst the finest available. So, do you want a coupe or a cabriolet...? - Again, a coupe may be best suited as a daily-driver, as it is more secure, has slightly more rear room and has better rear 3/4 visibility, than the cabrio with hood/top up - something more of a hindrance with left-hand drive cars in the UK. In general though, LHD cars are fine for UK roads. It's easier for Brits to drive LHD because the gear-shift is with the right hand. I've driven left-hookers for years with no problems at all (except I sometimes get in the wrong side, with all the shopping etc...

d'ohhh) 72-74 - Coupes seem to carry final changes better than cabrio's did - both still look cool though. Typical prices for good cars needing no work would be around £4-5k for a coupe, £8-10k for a cabriolet. Early (pre 1960) are the most sought after and can be £1-2k more expensive - later (1967+) cars have more powerful engines, come better equipped (with things like a fuel gauge !). A1 cars add probably £2k onto those prices too, but then you're entering show condition stuff. Cars needing work can start anywhere really but I wouldn't spend any less than about £3.5k on a car (may have some niggles, but shouldn't have major faults). My 1971 Cabriolet. Everything I ever wanted...

Get the info direct from those that ought to know - Karmann Gmbh's definitive guide to all Karmann Ghias The differing styles of Karmann Ghias from 1955 to 1974 Early, so-called "Lowlights" (because of the headlamp location being lower down the front wings) have pure classic styling. Puny engines and parts are most difficult to come by (almost impossible for some RHD). Expect to pay anything up to $18000+ (£12+k) for pristine examples. Some "original" cars are almost doubling that value The Original Ghia - Headlamps 2" lower on early cars... ...tiny rear lamps and 6v electrics means difficulty seeing and being seen 1960-1970, Larger tail lights and regular improvements to the engine, which increased to 1300cc's in 1966. In 1967 1500cc power and 12v electrics were introduced. Daily drivers, start your search from here. Raised (brighter!) lamps, 12v electrics...

...more power and enlarged rear lamps 1971-1972, yet larger tail lights with most powerful 1600cc engine. More comfortable interior and better spares availability. Prices more sensible and more of these style cars survived, but watch out for bodge-jobs from unscrupulous folk 1971 sees largest engine at 1600cc's... ...with wrap-around indicators and a glass rear window (1970) 1972-1974, Final changes included 14" tail lights and large, box-sectioned 'europa" bumpers (only produced for 3 years). Interior all-black, sombre affair. Expect $9-12k (£8-10k) for an immaculate cabrio (around half that for a coupe), for the post-67 cars. Final Ghia with large bumpers... ...and huge tail lights from '72 to '74. You'll look at this more than any other part of your car (not to mention simply sitting in it), so it pays to get it right.

Interiors, side-by-side - from the left are; early 1960s, late 60's/early 70's and mid 70's examples Crisp and clean styling, but this model isn't the earliest, as it has the luxury of a fuel gauge. Better no wood, than bad wood? - late '60s saw this interior style with more comfort and more options Final changes were a typical mid '70s style, awash with black plastic. Most comfortable and better ergonomics though. Get the info direct from those that ought to know - Karmann Gmbh's definitive guide to all Karmann Ghias Associations Personal, Restoration and Information Sites Karmann-Ghias dot Com - Have your very own KG personally supplied and restored in Florida, USA (worldwide shipping available!) The Volkszone - Huge resource for all air-cooled VW's VW Heritage's website - online ordering and parts/pricelist (in PDF format) for air-cooled VW's - excellent site! Volkswebbin ' - Technical info, chat forum, classifieds and lots more from this well-established internet presence.

Bill Berckman's Aircooled Links - Thousands and thousands of VW Aircooled links! The KG Trading Post - Probably the best source of Ghia ads on the net - place your own ad or search the hundreds here. Sewfine homepage - complete online catalogue of VW interiors - if these guys don't have it, they can make it - in ANY colour Brocks' VW Magazine Online - Anything and everything VW is contained in this essential on-line read Mike's VW Museum - Dedicated to the fine art of Karmann and all the The Karmann Website - 5-star site from the company that started it all... (In German and English) Excellent source of information and don't miss " The Karmann Ghia Story " Volkswagen 's home on the web (though nothing of any aircooled note, here) Planet Karmann Ghia - get a Ghia screensaver here! History | History PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Quote below from : “The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia was produced between 1955 and 1974, with some 360,000 coupes and over 80,000 cabriolets completed.

What is certain is that it was the most beautiful car ever produced by the BeetleMeisters, what is unclear is exactly how the car was designed and conceived. Certainly the initial idea was sparked by Dr Wilhelm Karmann, who were building the Beetle cabriolet, suggested to Ghia that a beetle-based sports car could be made and presented to VW for their approval. Several people claim a stake in the cars concept, in addition to the obvious triumvirate of VW in Wolfsburg, Karmann in Osnabruck and Ghia in Turin. A Ghia or not – the Chrysler Coupe D’Elegance In the early 50’s, the American Chrysler designer Virgil Exner is credited with having at least some deal of influence on the project, if not it’s overall design. Being Chryslers’ prototype vehicle designer, he had met with Luigi Segre of Ghia and they had drawn up a contract for Ghia to build coupes penned by Exner. When the Karmann Ghia coupe was revealed in 1953, Exner claimed it to be a scaled-down version of his own Coupe D’Elegance. The picture to the left depicts Exners’ creation.

Naturally, this was disputed by Ghia who stated that Mario Boano at Ghia, had designed the car back in 1950. Whoever designed the car, it was an instant hit with everyone who saw it. In the autumn of 1953, Dr Karmann was invited to see the car, in Paris (somewhat bizarrely) and was surprised that it was a coupe and not a convertible, as he’d originally planned. In fact he was totally unaware of the cars’ actual existence until this time. The original Karmann Ghia coupe prototype – at the Karmann museum in Osnabruck… …the extra air slots in the engine cover and the ‘Volkswagen’ lettering – neither were used The idea in essence, had been a simple one. Build a good looking sports coupe, using as many components as possible from a standard saloon – in this case the Beetle. The idea not completely new at the time, but Volkswagen were arguably the first to put the idea into serious production. The Beetle’s floorpan was widened to take the extra girth of the coupe and Dr Karmann’s factory in Osnabruck began to tool up for the job.

The car was finally shown to the VW chief, Heinz Nordhoff, who at first was dubious as to the cost of producing such a gorgeous looking car, when his company was squarely aimed at the standard saloon market. Finally convinced that it was not only cost-effective, but profitable (and with the addition that it offered an inspired piece of marketing for a classy sports coupe from a somewhat mundane and austere stable), Nordhoff relented and one of the most aesthetically pleasing vehicles of our time, was finally given the go-ahead.” End Quote. “As for styling, many people (myself included) think the older (more classic) the better. But of course, “To each his own”. Major styling changes are grouped as follows: 56-59: Small front vent openings with double bar vent grills and small “coffin” shaped tail lights. a. 56-57 shared steering wheels with the Bug, 58-59 was uniquely Ghia with wheel spokes off center from the center hub. b. Front turn signals changed mid year 59. Earlier were same vintage Bus style (large chrome sleeve covering a raised body section) with side mounted screws holding a plastic lense.

Later is a solid chrome base with a thin ring with forward mounted screws holding a glass lense. This style continued through mid 64. 60-69: Larger “tear drop” front vent openings (to end of production), Slightly larger “cats eye” tail lights. a. 66 has 1″ wide trim strip running across the dash face. b. 67-71 New dash with centered speedometer & very small fuel gauge & clock, 12 volt electrics and front disc brakes. c. 68 on, fuel filler in right fender, new “trigger” exterior door handles (as opposed to thumb actuated button), and ignition switch in steering column. d. 69 on added I.R.S (Independent Rear Suspension USA only) e. Mid year 69 gets a new convertible top assemble featuring side securing latches and a fold down glass rear window. 70-71: Larger 9″ tail light with flat face, wrap around front turn signals with side reflectors. Shortened bows (tubes) on rear bumper to accommodate wrap around rear reflectors for N. American market.

72-74: Huge 13″ tail lights, larger one piece blade bumper, updated black dash face, two large black faced “tunnel” gauges, four spoke steering wheel with large center horn area. a. No back seat in ’73 and 74, just factory plywood! Like it’s brother the beetle, the Karmann Ghia experienced changes every single year of production. The above groupings cover the most noticeable changes through the years.” End Quote. 1974 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia - Conceptcarz 1974 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia Tweet In 1950, Karmann approached Volkswagen with a design for a new vehicle. Karmann had a working relationship with Volkswagen that went prior to this project that included the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet. The idea was initially rejected by Volkswagen so Karmann approached the coachbuilding company Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin who built the first prototype of the vehicle, completing in 1953. In November of 1953, Nordhoff, the head of Volkswagen at the time, gave approval for the vehicle to be built by his company.

On July 14th in 1955, the vehicle was unveiled to the public. There were basically three types of the Karmann-Ghia's built during its life span that included the type 14, type 34, and the TC. The type 14 featured a round body-style that received very little modifications through its production life-span, dating from 1955 through 1974. Most of the modifications that did transpire were head and tail light modifications, bumper and side air vent changes. During which time about 340,000 coupes and 81,000 convertibles were produced in Osnabruck Germany. Manufacturing continued from 1962 through 1972 in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Brazil where 176 convertibles and about 23,000 coupes were produced. These type 14 models were basically unaltered for the original design except for different bumpers, taillights and vent windows.

The Type 34, or 'Razor Edge', was produced from 1961 through 1969 during which time 43,000 examples were produced. It was introduced in September of 1961 at the Frankfurt Auto show. The Type 34 were 'boxier' than their Type 14 counterparts and cost more to produce. The interior was larger and better equipped, the structure was stronger, and the engine was faster. They were built in coupe design only, however in 1962 a sunroof could be had. The engine was initially 1500cc in size but later increased to 1600cc. The 1600 TC, which stood for Touring Coupe, was produced in Brazil from 1970 through 1975. They were based on the design of the type 34. During its lifespan, 18,000 examples were produced. By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2006 A red sports car barrels through a deserted landscape, driven by a helmet-clad professional as an excited announcer extols the virtues of the commercial's featured automobile.

Surely Volkswagen did not invent this archetypal format of romanticized car ad when they borrowed it to market their Karmann Ghia to bored TV audiences. Volkswagen's seemingly ordinary commercial included a twist ending, though. As the camera follows the sleek sports car deeper into the surrounding scenery, a paper wall emerges in the corner of the screen. Okay, okay—so this isn't really all that new of an idea either, right? The car will smash through the paper barrier and appear on the other side, some tired metaphor for the birth of a supposedly new automotive idea, looking even more glamorous and wonderful than ever. But that's not how Volkswagen ended their commercial. Instead, their Karmann Ghia plows into the wall, not through it. The thin paper barrier stops the little car that couldn't dead in its tracks, as the driver repeatedly engages reverse and first gears in an attempt to smash through the wall. The announcer explains this phenomenon through his confident declaration that, 'The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is the most economical sports car you can buy… it's just not the most powerful.' Self-deprecating humor is not a traditional ingredient in the typically brash and boastful world of automobile advertising.

Volkswagen, though, was far from a traditional company when it introduced its Karmann Ghia to adoring audiences, and its cleverly charming and endearingly modest ad campaign accurately represented the character and intent of their little, underpowered sports car. Based on the ruggedly simple but far from sporty underpinnings of their Beetle, Volkswagen's Karmann Ghia debuted with an underwhelming 36 horsepower and a swing-axle rear suspension prone to induce snap oversteer in frisky corners. This, perhaps, was not the recipe for a true sports car. The Karmann Ghia had looks, though, and what the little German lacked in power and performance it made up for with an affable demeanor and delightfully low running costs. So while this spruced-up Bug might not have appealed to the more hardcore buyers of MGs, Triumphs, Alfas, and Morgans, the VW found itself plenty of friends and earned itself an impressive twenty-year production run. The name of the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia seems to give away much of the car's history. It was, of course, a Volkswagen and used standard Volkswagen mechanical bits.

Karmann, a renowned German coachbuilder, fabricated its carefully constructed bodywork. Ghia, a prestigious Italian design house, penned its elegant shape. The story behind the car's development, though, was actually far more complicated than the easily-decoded nomenclature suggests. More specifically, the design of the Karmann Ghia remained for many years something of a mystery. Simply attributing the styling to Ghia would be inaccurate and unfair to the individuals responsible for the car's timeless contours. Several years before the Karmann Ghia's debut for 1955, Volkswagen had requested that Karmann design a sports car to be built over a Beetle chassis. Karmann developed several proposals, but all of these were rejected by Volkswagen. Luckily, Karmann head Wilhelm Karmann was friends with Ghia chief engineer and designer Luigi Segre. Karmann brought the Volkswagen project to the attention of Segre, who later surprised Karmann with a completed prototype styled and produced at Ghia in 1953. Karmann introduced Segre's project to highly impressed Volkswagen officials, and from that point on Ghia's initial design was further developed into the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.

The designer of the lovely bodywork that emerged from Ghia's shops, though, was never officially identified. Virgil Exner claimed that the design for the Karmann Ghia was based upon his Coupe D'Elegance, a car he designed for Ghia, while the Ghia company itself stated that their own Mario Boano created the design in 1950. Likely, the final design was influenced by both Exner and Boano, especially given the latter's work on stylistic predecessors to the Karmann Ghia such as the Alfa Romeo 2500 S convertible of 1949 and a Lancia Aurelia limousine of 1950 (automotive historian Jan Norbye identified the stylistic similarities between these models). Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Karmann Ghia's design, its shape proved immediately successful and enduringly beautiful. The earlier models, produced from 1955 to 1959 and now often called 'lowlights,' were the purest with their tiny taillights, smaller front grilles, and lower headlight mounting positions unaffected by later headlight height regulations.

All subsequent Karmann Ghias maintained much of the original design's character and grace, though, as the car never faced a full redesign. Volkswagen enlarged the car's taillights, raised the headlight mounting places, and widened the front grilles (used only for cabin ventilation as the engine was air-cooled and rear-mounted) for 1960, but even these changes kept intact the car's delightfully mouse-like face and superb proportions. Later models looked bulkier, with taillights that kept growing, bigger front turn indicators, and bulkier bumpers, but even the final models retained sheetmetal nearly as pretty as that of the very first models. Luckily, the discontinuation of the model after 1974 prevented the design from being marred by the infamous federal bumper regulations imposed in 1975. Though Karmann Ghia bumpers were enlarged in 1972, they remained far more attractive and better-integrated than the rubber units forced upon so many hapless little sports cars from 1975. Every bit as impressive as the Karmann Ghia's styling was its build quality.

Karmann did a wonderful job crafting the car's timeless forms, hand finishing the bodies for an attention to detail unprecedented in such an affordable car. Despite the cars' eventual propensity to develop rust problems, Karmann treated the Volkswagens with careful corrosion protection and sophisticated painting techniques. The flowing compound curves that defined the Karmann Ghia's excellent styling were shaped by Karmann with unerring finesse, and finished to a remarkably high standard. Initially offered only as a coupe, Volkswagen introduced a Karmann Ghia cabriolet for 1957 that continued in production alongside the coupe until the 1974 model year, after which the Scirocco hatchback replaced the Karmann Ghia model range. The cabriolet retained all of the coupe's great looks. Surprisingly, it also retained much of the coupe's all-season drivability, thanks to Karmann's advanced convertible top with its effective insulation and glass rear window. Never offered with more engine than a 60-horsepower, air-cooled flat four, the Karmann Ghia simply could not accelerate like a proper sports car—and with its substantial rear weight bias, handling was never ideal.

For 1967, disc brakes and a revised rear suspension endowed the Karmann Ghia with greater performance potential, but it remained the German tortoise amongst British and Italian hares. As the advertisements declared, though, Volkswagen never pretended that the Karmann Ghia intended to compete directly with real sports cars. Instead of raw excitement, the Karmann Ghia offered peace of mind: reliability instead of maintenance hassles; easily attainable parts and good service instead of spotty dealer networks; everyday usability instead of occasional fun. But despite these relatively staid traits, the Karmann Ghia also offered buyers something truly exciting—it provided its owners the chance to experience a car of exceptional style and undisputed quality. With roughly 360,000 coupes and 80,000 cabriolets produced, the Karmann Ghia brought the joys of owning a rare car to buyers who knew they really needed a common one. Sources: 'Karmann Ghia History.' Karmann-Ghias.co.uk n. pag. Web. 17 Jun 2011. Leppke, Cliff.

'Styled for Success: Karmann-Ghia, VW's Carrera for the Common Man and Woman.' VW Trends Mar 2009: n. pag. Web. 17 Jun 2011. 'Origins of the Karmann Ghia.' KarmannGhiaConnection.com n. pag. Web. 17 Jun 2011. By Jeremy McMullen Volkswagen Celebrates 60 Years Of The Karmann Ghia Thanks to the Karmann Ghia, Volkswagen had a car in the mid-1950s in its line-up that was positioned above the Beetle, allowing the company to appeal to a broader customer base. It is now 60 years since that prototype was shown internally, on the occasion of the Paris Motor Show. The car went into full production in 1955. Today the one-off prototype is one of the stars of the Volkswagen Osnabrück Automobile Collection. The genesis of the car came from Wilhelm Karmann, who hired Luigi Segre of Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin to transform his idea into reality in early 1953—at first without even consulting Volkswagen.

Initially, a convertible sports car was envisaged, but the prototype was actually a coupe. In October 1953, the car was taken to a small garage in Paris and shown by Ghia to Karmann, who had traveled to the city for the Paris Motor Show. Wilhelm Karmann was thrilled, and in November of that year he showed the attractive small car to the otherwise conservative Volkswagen chief Heinrich Nordhoff. Karmann was able to do this because a close relationship already existed between the two Wolfsburg companies—Karmann had been building the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet since 1949. The prototype won over Volkswagen's managing director. Once the costing was worked out, a decision was soon made to go into full production. The delay between decision and production allowed for some body detail changes and interior refinements to be made, although the basic form remained as Ghia had designed it. Volkswagen Beetle running gear underpinned all 450,000 Karmann Ghias, known internally as the type 14, made between 1955 and 1974.

Últimately, Wilhelm Karmann's dream of a convertible version also became reality: at another internal presentation in Wolfsburg, the cabriolet—once again designed by Luigi Segre and his team—made a big impact. Full production of the convertible version began in 1957. By the time Karmann Ghia production ended in 1974, 362,601 coupes and 80,881 cabriolets had rolled off the line. Like the Beetle itself, the 'Beetle in a sports coat' was also a huge success story. The one-off coupe prototype is part of the Volkswagen Osnabrück private collection, but can be admired outside of the factory on special occasions such as the 5th Schloss Bensberg Classics (from September 6-8). The Karmann factory is now part of the VW Group as Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH and produces the Golf Cabriolet, the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, and the Volkswagen XL1. Source - Volkswagen

Question: Which car company produced the Karmann-Ghia between 1955 and 1974?
Answer: VW