1971 VW Karmann Ghia – Classified of the Week

You’ve all no doubt heard the phrase “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” but in the case of the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia it’s more like the sheep put on its best wolf costume and convinced the world that it had long, sharp pointy teeth and an unquenchable thirst for blood. You see, underneath that beautifully sculpted, curvaceous body lies nothing more sporty than a VW Beetle, but that’s no bad thing. Despite having less power than a strawberry those proven and reliable underpinnings make the Karmann Ghia an incredibly usable and practical classic that benefits from an unrivalled support network and thriving scene.

If we examine the name we can deduce that three different companies had a hand in the development and production of the car. Italian design and coach-building legends Carrozzeria Ghia produced a prototype back in the early ’50s based on designs by Chrysler’s Virgil Exner and using a VW Beetle for the oily bits. Upon completion, head honcho Luigi Segre subsequently showed it to his friend Willhelm Karmann over at German coach-builders Karmann. Karmann loved the concept and immediately presented it to Volkswagen (who he was already producing convertible versions of the Beetle for) in the hope that it would green light the project. Spoiler alert: it did, supplying complete rolling chassis to Karmann which would then fit the Italian-styled bodies and finish off assembly of the new VW Karmann Ghias (hashtag: synergy).

Debuting in 1955, what we got was a handsome 2+2 rear-wheel drive coupé with a flat-four, 1192cc air cooled engine producing around 34bhp. A convertible was added to the range two years later with various other aesthetic amendments and mechanical updates being added over the years, including front disc brakes and 12V electrics in 1966. A range of larger capacity engines were also offered over the car’s 19 year production run making later cars an easier classic to live with than those earlier models.

And that’s why you should buy this 1971 convertible example available via the Car & Classic classifieds. Not only does it come with the later, 1,584cc four-cylinder with 48bhp coupled to a matching numbers manual gearbox, but the car was also treated to a full body off restoration in 2021, the results of which speak for themselves – it truly is a stunning example, resplendent in its original Adriablau paint. Delivered new in America the car subsequently found its way to the Netherlands where the restoration work was carried out and where the car currently resides having covered just 1,500km since the refresh.

Don’t let the fact that the car is in the land of windmills and clogs put you off though. Importing this Karmann Ghia into the UK will be a doddle and the current custodians, Staal Classic Center, should be able to help you in that regard should you require assistance. Just imagine driving this beauty back home with the top down, the sun shining brightly and the wind in your hair. Bliss. You’ll be sure to turn heads too because this really is a beautiful example of the marque. It may be at the top end of the scale when it comes to the list price but then it is at the top end of the scale too when it comes to condition.

The attention to detail and quality of workmanship is clear from the photos and the restoration is fully documented. New chrome, new rubbers, new black mohair soft top, new black skai leather upholstery, the list goes on. Mechanically sound and aesthetically bang on you’ll be hard pressed to find a nicer example. So what are you waiting for? Grab your passport and let’s get road trippin’!