1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe

Volkswagen's Karmann Ghia was an immensely successful transformation of the humble Beetle into a stylish coupe, the project the brainchild of Wilhelm Karmann whose Osnabruck factory was already building a cabriolet version of the Beetle. Appealing to those looking for a stylish coupe without the expense associated with more exotic cars, the new Volkswagen featured chic styling from Italian design studio Ghia sitting on the basic Beetle platform that was slightly wider and with a stabiliser bar added to improve handling. This, along with the superior aerodynamics of the sleeker bodywork, allowed the Karmann Ghia to perform quite respectably and, in keeping with the coachbuilt nature of the new model, the interior was more luxurious and dominated by the central clock. The Type 1 Karmann Ghia remained in production until 1973, by which time some 300,000 had been made and developments mirrored the Beetle. From 1960, a full-synchromesh gearbox and more powerful 34bhp engine were adopted, then came the 1300cc engine in 1965 and, a year later, the 1600cc motor from the Super Beetle was introduced. At the same time, dual circuit brakes with front discs improved stopping power and in 1970 the 1.6-litre engine was further worked over to give a full 50bhp and a big jump in performance. The practical, affordable and very cool Karmann Ghia has long been popular with collectors and good examples like the vehicle offered here are always in high demand.