About this Collectable

The Karmann Ghia was, as the name suggests, built by Karmann in Osnabrück. The engine and chassis of the Karmann Ghia were largely based on the Beetle, which reduced production costs. The Karmann looked faster than it was and was often jokingly called the "secretary Ferrari" or "housewife Porsche." Nevertheless, the car was a success, particularly in the US. The Karmann looked (and still looks) fantastic, was easy to maintain, and solidly built. Moreover, it still drives well, especially with the independent rear suspension that was available on models with (semi-)automatic transmissions. The older models had, to put it mildly, adventurous handling. Approximately 30,000 Karmann Ghias were built annually, of which over 60% were sold in the US. Most of the surviving models come from there, not only because of the production numbers, but mainly because of the warmer and drier climate. From 1966 onwards, it was available with a 1500cc engine producing 44 hp. We laugh about it now, but with a weight of over 800 kg, it's not as slow as you might think. With a top speed of almost 140 km/h, it's still easy to keep up with modern traffic and, thanks to its (semi-)automatic transmission, is very relaxing to drive.

The example offered here is from 1968 and was delivered to its first owner, Jessie Schermerhorn, in sunny California. The VW was maintained there at the VW dealership in San Francisco until 1970 and 12,163 miles. After that, as far as we know, the car went to several collectors, finally arriving in the Netherlands in 2007. The current odometer reading of over 20,000 miles could easily be correct, considering the condition of the interior and underbody. The floor and chassis still look neat for a 57-year-old car! Only the carpet has been replaced, and the bodywork has been repainted at least once. Overall, the paint still looks great, but a few spots (see photos) need to be addressed. This Typ 14 Karmann Ghia has the popular independent rear suspension, ensuring safe handling. The stick-shift automatic transmission is a kind of PDK avant la lettre with three gears. Manual shifting, but without the clutch pedal—how cool is that!

Our Opinion

A Karmann Ghia is simply a cool car. All the advantages of a Beetle (inexpensive to maintain, practical, and reliable) in a beautiful package. You rarely see them anymore, and with a stick-shift automatic transmission, it's a truly unique car that can be driven both sportily and relaxedly. It's also exempt from road tax and MOT, so it's truly affordable! It's remarkable that the original documentation for this Karmann still exists.

About the Seller

In his teenage years, the current owner heard the sound of a car behind him that he couldn't initially identify. It turned out to be a Karmann Ghia Coupé. Finally, in 2018, he was able to acquire this car from a collector of 1950s cars. The car no longer fit in his collection and he was running out of space. He and his partner thoroughly enjoyed it, but their garage was also full, and they simply didn't have the time to truly enjoy it. That's why they decided to sell the Karmann through The Collectables.

Technical details

The specifications, upgrades, and maintenance history below provide a complete overview of the condition and features of this Karmann Ghia Coupé.

Equipment

This Karmann Ghia is equipped with:

  • Metallic paint
  • Radio
  • Stick-shift automatic

Modifications

None; this Karmann is completely original.

Maintenance history

The Karmann has had regular minor maintenance at the local garage in recent years. The original booklet is included with stamps from the dealership in San Francisco.

Comments

The Karmann is in good condition. The paint needs some attention in a few places; see the photos. The underbody and interior are in excellent condition, but the dashboard has suffered a bit from the San Francisco sun, and the gauge has stopped. Be careful with the range, though, as the fuel gauge is stuck at max!

Included in sale

  • 2 keys
  • Owner's manual (maintenance record)
  • Ownership/insurance papers from California

Summary

  • Seller type – Private
  • Location – Car is in Heteren
  • Chassis number – 148837365
  • License plate – AM-40-38
  • Year of manufacture – 1968
  • Mileage – 20,168 miles
  • Verifiable – No, but it could be true
  • Warranty – No
  • Margin/VAT – Margin car
  • Body – Coupe
  • Engine – 1.5-liter boxer engine with 44 hp
  • Drive – Rear-wheel drive
  • Transmission – (Semi)Automatic
  • Exterior – Anthracite metallic
  • Interior – Light brown
  • Upholstery – Cloth
  • Smoker's car – No
  • Owners – 3 previous owners as far as known Netherlands
  • Tires – BFGoodrich Silvertown Radical whitewall 165R15 86S, DOT unknown, > 6mm
  • Owned since – 2018

The description of this Collectable has been compiled with the utmost care, based on information provided by and validated by the seller. The Collectables performs a (pre)selection based on the information provided and consults public sources for any irregularities. The vehicles are sold "as is" without any warranty unless otherwise stated. Bidders are responsible for verifying the accuracy of the description and may, if desired, conduct a personal inspection. All collectables on our platform may be subject to any inspection, investigation, or appraisal by buyers in advance, in consultation with the seller. Please consult our Terms and Conditions for more details. 

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