Karmann Ghia
As loveable as the Beetle is it's hardly a sexy machine. So if the Beetle is the frumpy, dependable girl-next door in the Volkswagen line up, then the Karmann Ghia is the sleek, sexy pin-up. Introduced in 1955, the Karmann Ghia was a Ghia-designed coupe (the Karmann Ghia's design was originally intended by Ghia for a Studebaker chassis), which was based on the dependable mechanicals of the Volkswagen Beetle. Built by Karmann for Volkswagen the first cars made do with a rear-mounted 1,200cc 30bhp engine, though its capacity and output increased throughout its near 20-year production run. It ceased in 1974, the majority of Karmann's pretty coupes (a roadster version was also offered) going to the USA.
Increasingly sought after as classic, and thanks to an enthusiastic following, a good number survive. Many have been customised and offer performance from hot VW engines that would have been unimaginable back in 1955. It's no less pretty today, though.
Tuesday June 24
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