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1971 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet

1971 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet – $33,000

An exemplary showroom-fresh example of the Karmann Ghia, Volkswagen’s low-key, high-quality sports car built between 1955 and 1974.

History

The demure Karmann Ghia is recognizable as a mildly sporting version of the Volkswagen Beetle, formally known as the Type 14. Nearly 450,000 examples were built during the car’s 19-year production of which only about 80,000 were Cabriolets.

The design was credited to Italian carrozeria Ghia, while production was assigned to the independent German manufacturer Karmann. Prior to 2009 bankruptcy, Karmann was perhaps the leading independent automobile manufacturer in the world. In addition to building special Volkswagen models, including the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet, Sciorcco and Golf Cabriolet as well as the Karmann Ghia, the firm also undertook production for other manufacturers including the Audi A4 Cabriolet, BMW 3.0 CS and 635 CSi and Chrysler Crossfire.

Karmann also excelled in engineering and producing cabriolet and retractable hardtops including most recently the Bentley Continental GTC, Mercedes CLK and BMW Series 1.

The body and nose of the Karmann Ghia were handcrafted, compared with the assembly line-produced Beetle. Body panels were butt-welded, hand-shaped and smoothed with English Pewter in an expensive, time-consuming process. Beetle mechanicals were used, limiting performance but providing the same proven reliability. The Volkswagen air-cooled flat-4 engine grew in capacity over time, to a final displacement of 1,584cc and 60hp.

Special Provenance

The example offered has been fanatically preserved in the hands of a well-known Connecticut collector and maintained by Automotive Restorations Inc.

This car is finished in Sunshine Yellow with black interior and shows absolutely no signs of use. The design incorporates the larger post-1970 taillights and wrap-around turn signals, but pre-dates the heavy fed-mandated energy absorbing bumpers that detracted from the Karmann Ghia’s svelte good looks.

Specifications

Chassis: 1412355581
Engine: 1.6-liter, flat-4, air-cooled, 60hp
Engine Number: AE175693
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Brakes: front disc/rear drum
Color: Sunshine Yellow/black
Price: $33,000

Market Intelligence
Number of Cabriolets built: 80,881 (1957-74)
Number of Coupes built: 362,601 (1955-74)

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Price: $33,000