Now has an 1800cc flat-four engine with twin carburettors
Benefits from around £10,000 worth of recent expenditure at the Karmann Ghia Centre
Numerous bespoke appointments
The Appeal
Air-cooled Volkswagens have long been the basis for custom creations, and the coachbuilt Karmann Ghia lends itself particularly well to some tasteful modifications. Here we have a very special factory right-hand drive South African example, dating from 1960.
Restored and enhanced in South Africa, before making its way to the UK at the end of 2022, this Karmann Ghia has since received further attention to the tune of around £10,000, and is now ready to be used and enjoyed.
Now boasting a red leather interior, Porsche Fuchs-style alloy wheels and an 1800cc twin carb engine, this is a really fine specimen that we’re sure the next fortunate owner will be immensely pleased with.
Period correct Blaupunkt radio with discreet Bluetooth conversion
Matching red carpeting throughout
This Karmann Ghia has been reupholstered in sumptuous red leather, with supportive bucket seats and thick carpeting to match. With all this work having been completed very recently, there’s really no notable wear to point out. The red carpeting looks great throughout, and it is used within the luggage compartment as well. We saw what looked like a superficial mark in the driver’s footwell, but there’s otherwise nothing to report.
Finished in body colour, the dashboard presents nicely and the grey is the perfect complement to the aforementioned red leather. With a period correct radio, steering wheel, instrumentation and switchgear, it certainly has a very original feel to it. The vendor informs us that everything works exactly as it should, and we note that the controls do not exhibit any noticeable wear either.
The Karmann Ghia’s sleek, handmade lines are shown off particularly well with grey paintwork and this respray looks to have been carried out to a very high standard. The vendor informs us that the brightwork has all been rechromed and it looks very smart indeed.
We didn’t notice any scuffs or chips to the paintwork and the body too, looks really straight with nice panel fitment. Having apparently spent much of its life in the dry climate of Johannesburg, this Volkswagen has escaped a damp atmosphere and salty roads and so appears very solid. The vendor points out some very slight surface corrosion starting to materialise underneath, which they say has been accrued on British roads since its arrival.
The Porsche Fuchs-style alloys always look great on Volkswagens and the skinny tyres give this Karmann Ghia a sporting feel. All of the rubber components look to be in really nice shape and many of these were renewed when it arrived in the UK.
1800cc air-cooled flat-four with twin carburettors
Rebuilt and modified engine
Four-speed manual gearbox
Lowered ride height
Drives impeccably and thrives on revs
It has brake discs on the front and rear
Upgraded 12v battery system
The vendor points out that a great deal of mechanical work has been carried out to this Volkswagen and it now sports a rebuilt 1800cc air-cooled flat-four with twin carburettors.
The vendor informs us that it drives impeccably, likes to rev and can easily sustain 50-60 mph for long periods of time. We understand that the rebuilt engine runs smoothly with good oil pressure and it’s very vocal through the aftermarket exhaust system.
The four-speed manual gearbox shifts through gears very easily and we understand that the car stops well with disc brakes all round.
It’s not often that an early, right-hand drive Karmann Ghia is offered for sale, and this well sorted example is bound to excite the burgeoning UK air-cooled Volkswagen community.
Don’t miss this excellent opportunity to acquire something rather special.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
More about buying with us
1960 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
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