1961 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe

As a piece of 1950s design chic, the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia remains unsurpassed. Combining the best in contemporary Italian styling, courtesy of design studio Ghia, with German engineering at its finest, the Karmann Ghia sold well for nearly two decades in Type 1 configuration and something like 300,000 were built to the highest standards at Karmann's Osnabruck factory. With the Beetle platform widened by around 80mm either side, revised suspension (with a stabiliser bar added) and a lowered steering column, the car handled markedly better than its upright sibling while the better aerodynamics allowed the Karmann Ghia to slip through the air substantially quicker as well.

As befitted the coachbuilt nature of these cars, the Karmann Ghia was given a more luxurious interior, the large central clock being the most significant feature. Offering heaps of style, proven mechanicals and incredible reliability the Karmann Ghia is the ideal classic for someone wanting a car that can enjoyed without fuss or painfully high running costs. As a bonus, values of Karmann Ghias have remained remarkably buoyant in recent years.