This 1971 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is an attractive survivor that appears to have been lovingly maintained from new. The seller doesn’t spell out whether its had a major restoration in its lifetime, but aside from one repaint, no other work is mentioned. The original color was yellow, and photos reveal a near-mint interior with a perfect headliner. Other details indicate this Karmann Ghia remains highly original, like the factory tool kit and owner’s manual that accompany the car. Find it here on eBay with bids approaching $7K and no reserve.

If it were me, I’d have to repaint it. For one, I love yellow cars from the 70s and 80s. For another, the rest of the Ghia just seems so nicely preserved that it’s a shame to have that one, glaring detraction from factory condition. Regardless of your preference on paint, I think we can all agree that this pretty coupe has been loved despite other details that indicate it wasn’t just a sunny day driver; the listing notes that the original snow chains are included with the sale. The Karmann Ghia wears old-school California blue plates, which makes me wonder if it was used for long drives up north where you might encounter some snowfall.

The interior is stunning, and while the seller doesn’t describe a previous interior restoration, it almost looks too good to be original. Mileage is a tick over 94,000, and we have seen survivors with that sort of mileage still retain their original upholstery and carpets, so it’s certainly possible. The door panels also look quite fresh, and the fragile fake wood dash veneer is also holding up nicely. These are details we just don’t see that often unless the Karmann Ghia in question has been completely restored. The seller notes that the original wheels were swapped out, but they are available as a separate purchase (c’mon, just throw ’em in).

Photos show the full assortment of original manuals that are included with the sale, and the seller notes some records from 1972 are also still with the car. As a California VW since new, it’s surprising to see an air-cooled that still remains nearly completely stock, as cars like these were often modified at some point given the huge following for them on the West Coast. The seller notes it has fallen into non-op status in California, so it’s evidently been off the road for a while; no word on whether the oftentimes replaced engine is the matching numbers unit. Still, this looks like an excellent platform for a very mild restoration, and possibly a respray in its original colors.