1961 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 1 Coupe

Description

Volkswagen's Karmann Ghia was an immensely successful transformation of the humble Beetle into a stylish coupe, the original brainchild of German specialist low volume production manufacturer Wilhelm Karmann, whose Osnabruck factory was already building a cabriolet version of the Beetle. The new Volkswagen coupe featured chic styling from Italian design studio Ghia adapted to a modified Beetle floorpan, with a stabiliser bar added to its mechanical specs to improve handling. This, along with the much slipperier aerodynamics of the sleeker bodywork, enabled the Karmann Ghia to perform more respectably than its Beetle genesis while, in keeping with the coach-built nature of the new model, the interior was better equipped than its mainstream model cousin. The original Type 14 Karmann Ghia introduced in 1955 remained in production until 1973, by which time some 300,000 had been produced and with mechanical evolution mirroring the Beetle along the way. From 1960, a full-synchromesh gearbox and more powerful 34 bhp engine were adopted to improve the driving experience. Practical, affordable, and very cool, the Karmann Ghia has always been popular with enthusiasts seeking a something stylish and different, with the added attraction of low running costs.