This 1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia convertible is presented as a solid driver that has been in the same ownership for the past 20 years. The seller notes they simply do not drive the vehicle enough to justify keeping it, but it sounds like they have continued to maintain it despite not logging huge miles. The Karmann Ghia appears to remain in largely stock condition with a very clean body and recent top. The car is listed here on craigslist in Rapid City with a very reasonable asking price of $5,000.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Ikey H. for the find. Karmann Ghias have never exactly exploded in value, but early models in sound condition tend to draw a fair price. However, that by no means indicates a later, cheaper model isn’t worth a look, especially when they’ve apparently been loved as this one has. The chrome bumpers appear to be in great shape, along with the lenses and original hubcaps. Original badges remain in places and the taillight lenses show no major cracks. The exhaust appears to the stock style.
The interior is also in good condition, with untorn black vinyl bucket seats, and hopefully an uncracked dash given it hasn’t lived in Arizona or other climates with relentless sunshine. The Karmann Ghia is thankfully a conventional manual transmission model and not equipped with the finicky Autostick gearbox. On that note, there’s an Autostick-equipped coupe on eBay right now for $7K! I can tell you that, without much hesitation, this convertible KB is the better buy. The seller notes the top and exhaust are new and the tires are in good shape.
The engine is the stock 1600cc unit, but no word on whether it remains numbers matching. That isn’t really much of a concern on anything other than show-quality air-cooled examples, as engine swaps were common and easy when they were new. The Karmann Ghia looks like a solid buy at the asking price, especially if the floors are solid – and based on the body’s condition, I suspect they are. Summer will be here before you know it, and this is the perfect classic for using regularly without having to have a massive maintenance budget socked away.
Nice! I’m a little worried about bodywork, it looks a little wavy and orange-peel’y on the passenger side, and the driver’s door doesn’t seem to be shutting well, unless it’s just not closed all the way. With no rust or bodywork, if there is such a thing on a Karmann Ghia, I’m a serious buyer. Thanks, Jeff and Ikey!
The paint on the leading edge of the drivers door is chipped, maybe indicative of a bad fit but if it is rust free and the background check shows it’s had no crashes I’d say go for it. From what we’ve read, Scotty, you’re all over these like a coyote on an unattended bbq steak!
Let us know if you do-I’d seriously consider it but my wife is more about old trucks and Aston Martins ironic when you’ve a Thunderbird [wine] budget) than VW’s otherwise I’d suggest to her we take a road trip to check it out..
I heard back from the seller and they say that the floors are good but there is some rust around the wheel wells. It would be worth a personal inspection if it wasn’t 9 hours away. Even if it needed $5,000 in repairs… wait, what am I saying, that’s how I’ve gotten in trouble before.
I wonder why it has Wyoming plates, but is located in South Dakota?
Hard to tell why it is in South Dakota. Many of my classic cars have Ohio plates, but are located in Florida.
Rapid City is close to the Wyoming line (close, by Great Plains standards) and many people who live in Wyoming come into Rapid City for commerce regularly.
Jesse, Rapid City SD is only about 30 miles from the Wyoming boarder. My guess is it “migrated” east. I’ve never been there, but I have friends in that area who explained the geography. I just wait for them to show up in PA.
If this car was in SoCal, it could sell for as much as $10K. The thing to check on these is the rust. If the rockers, floors and battery area are rotten, then $5K is a stretch.
They also loved to rot in the bottom of the A pillars, in the wheel wells, and above the headlights. I actually passed on a FREE ’68 a few years back because it had gotten too crispy. Very nice 10 footer, but once you got close, YIKES!
Scotty,
Like anything else the autostick is great transmission if maintained correctly.
Same can be said for all the VW’s that were born with fuel injection that was removed at the first sign of trouble. They are very reliable systems with a modicum of regular maintenance.
This karmann if it has no big rust issues is great way into the hobby
Looks interesting
Love the Ghia’s, had a couple of 69’s, last year of the older style bumpers and small tail lights and parking lights. I had a coupe and a convertible, the best part on the convert is reaching back to unlatch the drop down glass rear window with one hand.
Gees John, were there any cars you didn’t have? Z28s, GTOs etc. Nice stuff. I think you mentioned you went to Maine East? You must have known my buddy Joe Esposito. Dark green awesome Z28 tearing down Golf road in Morton Grove.
I wish I had a 69 Z… did have a 73 though. Yes, graduated from Maine East in 1970, but left the area with the draft in 1972. We used to hang out at the McDonald’s on Waukegan Rd, it was a hot spot for street racers and cruisers. I still have a couple best friends I met there that came up from Chicago. Last time I tried counting cars I have had I was around 130, and those were what I remembered! Some were cars I flipped quickly or bought for parts, a few were totally junk, but these days they would have been restored. I threw away cars that were in much better shape than many we see here on BF! I still have 4 (at the moment) old cars, my mid engined V8 65 Corvair, 65 GTO 4 speed Tri-Power convert (kinda a “day 2″) type of car, but upgraded suspension, 4 wheel discs, Torque Thrust D wheels, about 80% restored, finally getting back at it after a 5 year nap, a 70 El Camino SS 396, and a 67 Cutlass Supreme convert with an LS3, 4L85E, 9” rear, that will be up for sale soon. I hardly ever drive it, and will help pay off my new garage/shop area. I really need to finish up the GTO before I get another project, but I want a 65-up 4 speed Corvair convert. Speaking of Golf Road, the fastest I ever went was right around 144 (on the speedo, no idea of how accurate it was) in a 69 Z/28 just east of Waukegan.I was a passenger, not the driver. I used to work at the Enco station on the corner of Golf and Waukegan Roads. There was a speed shop next door called “Auto Tune” if I remember correctly. The place at one time was an auto upholstery shop. One of the Pisano brothers of the top fuel family allegedly worked there briefly, the owner had two 69 Dodge Charger 500 Hemi’s! One auto and one 4 speed. Interesting times to say the least. Motor Sport Research, Mr Norm, Nickey, it was a great time growing up around the car scene! Ahhh, the old days:-)
I always loved the lines of the Karmann Ghia. If I had the funds, I would be on the road right now to go inspect it. Scotty, you maybe should consider going to look at it. If nothing else, you will have a nice road trip. That is worst case. Maybe you could have a cool little new toy, being best case. Good luck!
I am somewhat of a VW aficiando and went and looked at this Ghia yesterday. The body work and paint are nonprofessional at best. Drivers door is seriously tweaked and does not shut all the way. Hood and deck lid gaps are way off. And I am not certain of what is going on with the headlights but there are large rubber gaskets between the bezels and the body. This looks like it was originally painted yellow.
RG, thanks so much for the personal inspection report! That’s a huge bummer to hear, I had high hopes for this one and I’m guessing that you did, too. Thanks for taking the time to report back here on what you saw in person.