There are several YouTube videos online with a similar theme: the Karmann Ghia was the biggest automotive lie for nearly 20 years. I take some offense to that because Volkswagen never positioned it as a sports car. In fact, VW was very upfront with the public that you were getting a great-looking body – but underneath it was the same engine, chassis, transmission, and suspension as a Volkswagen Beetle. So, you could forget about performance, but be assured that you were getting reliability and economy. Being an old advertising guy, I’m a fan of VW’s groundbreaking “Think Small” ad campaign. I found a Karmann Ghia print ad from 1965 showing a three-quarters front glamour shot of a Karmann Ghia Coupe with a headline that read, “It almost seems a shame to put a Volkswagen engine in it.” This was typical of VW’s long running, self-deprecating – and brutally honest – ad campaign. The last year the Karmann Ghia was offered here in the States was the 1974 model year. And, here’s one of the 7,705 sold in the U.S. (before the plug was pulled on July 21, 1974) that looks very good. Located in Niles, Michigan, this “racing red” ’74 Karmann Ghia is listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $16,500. JDC is AOK in our books for sending this great tip our way!
The seller, Dave, doesn’t share a lot of details or history of the car, but encourages those interested to give him a call for more details. First impressions are a good one. This Karmann Ghia has always been garage kept and had one repaint at some point (I believe it is Bahia Red) that looks very presentable. I’m not spotting rust or body damage and the glass, chrome, trim, and lenses look good. By 1974, the Karmann Ghia had lost some of its original Italian elegance due to the Safety Patrol. It now had those big honkin’ front and rear bumpers and larger wraparound front turn signals and rear taillights. But, it still looked like a Karmann Ghia, with its sleek, flowing lines, and styling that is heralded as one of the most beautiful car designs of its era.
There’s only one photo of the car’s original black with some red accents interior and it looks to be in very good condition. I don’t see any rips on the bucket seats and the dash appears to be crack-free. The seller claims that the radio and clock do not work, but everything else does. The four-spoke collapsable steering wheel has a cover on it and there are aftermarket cupholders on the dash.
In the clean rear engine bay is the familiar-looking 1585 cc air cooled, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine. It has 57,000 documented original miles and is paired with VW’s 4-speed manual transmission. At 46 horsepower, performance wasn’t part of the package with 0-60 mph taking roughly 28 seconds. Being a lifelong car styling enthusiast, I have always loved the timeless lines of the Karmann Ghia. I hope the next caretaker finds a nice garage for this one and pampers it.
I like it.