Modifying Volkswagens is one of those universal constants, like photosynthesis or the patterns of the tides. It’s just something that happens. As long as there have been air-cooled VWs in the world, there have been people champing at the bit to customise them, from the inception of the Type I (call it a Beetle, Käfer, Coccinelle, Fusca, or whatever geographical preference fits) through the enduring cult of the Type 2 (Kombi, Transporter, Microbus, Camper, you know the score here) and every other model on the spectrum.

And while the Beetle and Microbus are such iconic silhouettes that pretty much everybody in the world would probably be able to recognise them, the Karmann Ghia is something rather more offbeat. This supremely desirable car was one of those good ideas that we can all be thankful was pushed into existence. Fusing the strong air-cooled underpinnings of the VW Beetle with an achingly gorgeous body styled by Ghia's Luigi Segre, the hand-built coupé was a runaway success.

Launched in 1955, and with a convertible added to the line-up in ’57, it quickly became the USA's biggest automotive import of its time, and the global production figure topped 445,000 in its nineteen-year run. A key part of the popularity was that they were just as easily tunable as any other Volkswagen, but the looks were simply divine even in standard form. And with a few choice tweaks, you can create something truly show-stopping, as the ’72 Ghia we have here dramatically proves…

A whole lot of love and affection has been heaped upon this car, as the photos keenly demonstrate. The metamorphosis into a full-on show car began in the USA, with the project enjoying a further stage of evolution here in the UK in recent years.

A 1972 American-market car, this Ghia was built into a contemporary custom style in the 1990s in South Carolina, by an ex-NASCAR engineer who built the car for his wife. Among the extensive works at this time were a conversion to right-hand-drive, a full custom dash, swapping the fixings and brackets on both the bonnet and bootlid so that they hinge from the side, and modifying the stock doors into a set of ‘suicide doors’ (i.e. moving the hinges from the front to the rear, so they open Rolls-Royce-style).

The nose features Porsche 911 headlights with indicators hidden behind the grilles, and all handles were removed and smoothed to create a beautifully slick profile.

The Karmann was imported to the UK in 2015, and the good works have continued to turn it into a show car to modern standards of finish and technology. A full four-way air-ride setup was sourced from the renowned air-cooled VW specialist Limebug (with the suspension raised and lowered via four switches on the dash), a new convertible hood with glass rear window was installed, the brakes were converted to discs, and a hot new motor was built – a 1,914cc unit with twin EMPI 44 carbs.

The car’s got a custom front end with a narrowed beam, a beautifully trimmed custom interior, full soundproofing, and recently detailed gloss black paintwork, while the underside has been fully undersealed; the engine bay and front boot are extrovertly presented and trimmed, with custom blue LED lighting.

This is a full-on show car that’s also huge fun to drive: you’ll scoop the silverware on the showground, then have oodles of fun on the journey home. It’s a special car, this – and of all the auction photo shoots we’ve done recently, none has had as many passers-by stopping to admire and ask questions as this one.

There’s a decent and reassuring history file with this Ghia. The V5 is present, showing that the car was first registered in 1972, and registered with the DVLA on September 23rd 2015 when it was brought to the UK, with two former UK keepers shown. There’s a large sheaf of invoices and receipts, most recently showing a rolling road tune-up and a full paint correction and interior refresh.

There’s a receipt and documentation from Heritage Parts Centre for the EMPI carburettors in 2019. The details of the new 1,914cc engine are clearly itemised (including dimensions and specs of all parts used inside and out), and there’s a receipt for £2,500 for the air-ride hardware.

Numerous other receipts for parts are here, plus an HPI printout from when the car was imported. Rather pleasingly, there’s also a score sheet from a custom concours competition, where we can see that the Karmann scored very highly in its class.

This is a beautifully trimmed custom interior which is also eminently usable. The seats are adjustable in various directions which all works as it should, tilting correctly to allow access to the rear bench. It’s all trimmed in leather which has recently been refreshed and looks stunning, and the quality of the custom-stitched Karmann Ghia logos is impressive. Lap belts are fitted in the front. 

The custom dash was crafted in the 1990s and still looks great today, the sweeping design following through to the detail lines in the bespoke doorcards. All of the gauges work correctly, including the air-ride pressure gauges in the centre console. 

The green left and right buttons you can see on the dash are for the indicators (they have backlit flashes to show when the indicators are on), and the on/off switch is for the wipers. The starter is beneath the dash, and there’s an immobiliser as well as a hidden electrical cut-off killswitch.

The carpets are excellent throughout, and the front boot and engine bay are just as beautifully trimmed as the cabin. The front boot has been recarpeted, and sports a large chrome VW logo as well as custom blue LED lighting and a nitrous oxide bottle (just for show). The engine bay has been simplified, painted and trimmed, and also features blue LED lighting on a switch.

The doors are opened via handles set low down inside, and the sill plates have custom chrome Karmann logos. The cabin also features a Midship steering wheel and a Gene Berg gear shifter. And as an extra fun detail, the accelerator pedal is a rotating skateboard wheel – an age-old air-cooled VW modding trick.

It’s the retro show car vibe that really sets this Ghia apart; the classic early-1970s lines would be alluring enough in themselves, but there’s a clear 1990s custom style to this build. Aficionados of the air-cooled scene will recognise the addition of the Porsche 911 headlights as a staple of ’90s Karmann modding, and the suicide doors and shaved and smoothed body are all keenly in keeping with the style of the times. 

The gloss black paintwork is gleaming throughout and has recently been professionally corrected and detailed; black is notoriously an unforgiving colour as it boldly highlights any blemishes and imperfections, but with this car it serves to demonstrate just how impressively straight all of the bodywork is.

A new soft-top has been fitted, complete with glass rear screen, and the quality and fitment of the roof is very good indeed. There are no side windows at present, so it’s perhaps not one for rainy days – although it wouldn’t be tricky for a specialist to fabricate a pair of side screens to integrate into the hood.

The 8-spoke alloy wheels are in superb condition, and wear a new set of chrome spinners along with Nankang tyres with plenty of tread. The chrome bumpers are straight and tidy, the windscreen is free from chips, and – aside from a small hole in the nearside rear light cluster – the light lenses are present and complete.

This beautifully presented car is a real head-turner, and garners a lot of attention from admiring onlookers! 

 

While this car has been built as a show-stopper, it’s certainly no trailer queen. Indeed, a lot of effort and expense has been put into ensuring that this Karmann is as good to drive as it is to look at. The recently fitted engine is a 1,914cc flat-four with 94mm barrels and pistons, twin EMPI 44 carburettors, an oil cooler, polished heads and electronic ignition. 

It’s a torquey motor that pulls hard through the revs, while also being happy to cruise (with the odd entertaining pop and crackle from the exhausts, thanks to those juicy carbs), and it’s mated to a 4-speed manual transmission running a Gene Berg shifter – a popular period modification that reduces the throw by 40% and really tightens up the shift action. The engine fires happily on the first twist of the key, idles evenly, and is equally at home pottering about town or cruising at motorway speeds.

The suspension is a full air-ride system from Limebug, fitted within the last few years; it’s four-way controllable via switches on the dash, and you can see in the photos the dramatic difference in ride height between being raised right up and fully aired out. The ride is relatively stiff, which of course does a lot to improve the cornering of the traditionally wallowy Ghia. 

The brakes have been upgraded to discs and they haul the car up well. Our test drive showed everything on the car to be working as it should – this is an extremely well-built custom that’s ready to cruise.

The appeal of any Karmann Ghia is easy to pinpoint: it’s hard to argue with the fact that this is, quite simply, one of the prettiest cars ever designed. It also provides enormous peace of mind that the underpinnings are largely borrowed from the Beetle, which is all rugged, simple and reliable tech that makes the car dependable.

This, of course, is no ordinary Karmann Ghia, and the work in this build makes the appeal so much greater. This car was clearly built right first time, the unmistakable 1990s custom style having been built strong with quality materials by an enthusiast with a keen eye for detail and the tenacity to get everything right. 

The modern makeover to add the high-tech air suspension and disc brakes has really taken the Ghia to the next level, and this is a supremely desirable car in 2022. Fabulous fun to drive, and pretty much guaranteed to scoop up the trophies at your local car show.