The Karmann Ghia Endures as a Classic Car
The Volkswagen Beetle became a cultural icon in America during the 50s and 60s, winning over buyers with its utility, simple driving dynamics, and its frugality — it’s unusual approach to automobile design seemed to be the least of the concerns at the time. Even the vintage Volkswagen ads were notorious for poking fun at the vehicle’s shape, some calling it a “Lemon” and others comparing it to the Apollo lunar module with the simple tagline: “It’s ugly but it gets you there.”
Automotive historians often joke that it wasn’t until 1955 that Volkswagen produced its first truly beautiful car design, a coupe inspired by Italy and hand built in Germany — the Karmann Ghia. 65 years after the first Karmann Ghia rolled out of Karmann’s Osnabruck manufacturing plant in Germany, the vehicle remains a vintage piece of automotive art. Wilhelm Karmann got his start building convertibles and Volkswagen contracted him as the sole supplier of Beetle convertibles at the time. By 1953, Karmann asked the Carrozzeria Ghia — an automotive design house from Turin, Italy — to use the chassis of the existing Beetle and make a convertible sports car instead. Four months after designing in secret, Ghia showed Karmann the result — it was a prototypical coupe with a convertible option as well.
As the antithesis to the Beetle, the Karmann Ghia featured an elegant nose, sizable seating area for two passengers, and a flowing front cargo area. Its sporty stance came from the fact that it was about seven inches lower than the Beetle, while the gracious design curves and thin roof pillars added a sense of motion while the vehicle was at rest. Engine options were limited back then, but the Karmann Ghia did have an altered suspension that was equipped with a front sway bar and improved springs for better driving and handling. All in all, the Karmann Ghia made waves because it was a complete departure for Volkswagen as a whole.
After the Karmann Ghia debuted in the summer of 1955, production began and the very first vehicles arrived in the U.S. in 1956. Over the next 19 years, the model became a success — U.S. sales accounted for nearly 2179,000 units. Karmann built 362,601 coupes and 80,881 convertibles during the model’s lifetime. Eventually the model was phased out, but its basic outline never changed — that’s how precise designers and engineers alike found the original design. These days, Karmann Ghias are crowd-pleasers at any auto show and are often considered a collectors’ favorite.
We can say with confidence that Volkswagen vehicles of the future can count on the same dedication and innovation that the Karmann Ghia once did. Check out the latest Volkswagen inventory here at Sunrise Volkswagen. Follow Sunrise Volkswagen of Fort Pierce on social media for the latest and greatest Volkswagen innovations and news.
Photo Source/Copyright: Volkswagen/Karmann Ghia