1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe
"It's no coincidence. When we decided to build a sports car, we also decided to go where the most beautiful sports cars in the world are built. Italy. We went to the renowned Ghia Studios of Truin, Italy, and had them design a sleek-looking sports car for us. Pretty soon we had some beautiful plans on our hands. We needed someone who could take them off our hands and put them into metal. So we went to the Karmann CoachWorks in Osnabruck, Germany, where artisans have been building coaches for European nobility long before engines existed." From a 1974 print ad.
For consignment, a 1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia coupe with a title verified 19,681 actual miles. Family owned since 1991 and barely driven, this represents a rare survivor and despite some time induced imperfections, we'd have no trepidation about taking this to a car show tomorrow! Or simply cruise for fun.
Exterior
Single stage Saturn Yellow is hard to miss, and that's the point. But on a body where any color would look good, the yellow is especially vibrant and complementary to the curvaceous lines of the coupe edition of the Karmann Ghia. The tail is especially dynamic with the rear lights popping off the yellow, the decklid louvers cooling the engine, the epic Karmann Ghia script call out, and twin exhaust tips under the bumper and its symmetrical bumper guards. Just great! A raked windshield leads to a gently sloping roofline, held up by slightly articulated fenders front and rear, arching over 15-inch wheels and 165/80R15 tires. Up front, the bugeye expression is naturally Porsche-like while the intake vents are a distinct field mark. Imperfections include some oxidation on the lower window reveal, a few paint chips, painted over tape, some lower bubbling and blistering, edge surface rust, and a cracked marker lens.
Interior
VW's grained black vinyl lines the door and we note the header piece has several cracks on the driver's side while the passenger's is fully intact. Bucket seats are tall and clean with well defined grain in the vinyl and smooth headrests. Up front, the monochromatic black coverage continues with a Wolfsburg logo on a nice steering wheel that does have a crack in the rim, fronting a clean dashboard with a speedometer and clock while an AM/FM radio resides dead center in the dash where a crack is noted just beyond the Karmann Ghia emblem. A shifter rises from the center tunnel which is covered with gray flannel that continues to the cargo shelf behind the seats. The front trunk is spotless with a rubberized mat and spare tire.
Drivetrain
Esthetically, this is driver quality with some patina on an otherwise fully intact and complete engine with a few newer looking components. It's a 1585cc flat 4 cylinder engine that puts out 60 horsepower. It's fueled by a 1-barrel carburetor and is mated to a 4-speed manual transmission that keeps power in the back and routes it through 3.875 gears.
Undercarriage
Typical patina here and just a touch of residual oil and some grime around the CV boots but nothing out of place nor rusty. We have disc brakes up front and to our eyes, the calipers look newer but have no information to confirm last service. The rear has drum brakes and dual exhaust comes right in front the engine and meets at a stock style muffler which emits two tail pipes. Suspension is fully independent and includes a transverse leaf spring up front and swing axle, trailing arms, and torsion bars in back.
Drive-Ability
Low and compact, but surprisingly roomy on the inside with great visibility, the "KG" is almost toy-like in the enjoyment it provides. If you ever wanted to feel fully engaged with a car in motion this one fits the bill! Meanwhile, other than the horn and radio, all functions operate as intended and it's time to take this one inside to brighten our halls. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
The '74 print ad concludes, "It doesn't require specialized care and feeding. No exotic fuel blends. You see, the Karmann Ghia has a 4 cylinder engine, just like the Beetle. It gets 26 miles to the gallon of gas!". But really, with this much fun, the only measurement you'll count is the smiles per mile!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price. All prices are before state, city and county tax, tag, title and license fees. Out of state buyers are responsible for all state, county, city taxes and fees, as well as title/registration fees in the state that the vehicle will be registered. Classic Auto Mall is not responsible for errors and omissions. Please verify listings with dealer. Vehicles may require VIN verification and/or safety and emissions inspections to transfer ownership and register the vehicle in the declared state of residence. Please check with your local DMV office to ensure compliance with your states titling and registration process.
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