1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

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Mileage~73,903
TransmissionManual
Engine1.6L
LocationSt Albans

AUCTION CLOSED

1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

Considered as one of the most beautiful products in the world.

Karmann was a separate entity to Volkswagen, having originally been responsible for the cabriolet version of the Beetle in 1955. But it's their first original design that was released in 1955 as the Type 14, that put the Karmann name on the map. Designed by Italian design house Ghia, the Beetle based compact coupe shared the same floor pan, running gear, engine and gearbox. The chassis' were shipped over from the VW Wolfsburg factory to the Karmann Osnabrück assembly plant and assembled as the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Some of the production processes were hand-finished, which resulted in a comparatively high showroom price but that didn't seem to affect sales, particularly in the States.

The first RHD examples were produced in 1959, part of an emerging group of Beetle based cars, that maintained VW's reputation for mechanical durability with an added element of panache. The design remained relatively unaltered throughout its production run, with incremental engine size increases and external trim updates right until production ceased in 1974.

This 1600 twin-port engine example was registered in 1972 and is thought to be a genuine British registered car, standing out among the many LHD US imports in the UK. Best seen as a rolling restoration, it would benefit from a significant amount of work to bring up to scratch. However, given the Karmann Ghias collectability and desirability in the air-cooled world, it could be an ideal project for a VW expert looking to save a RHD example. Helped by its wide spare parts availability catered by VW specialists, this complete example with a good floor pan base could be the ideal car to restore.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Darren Rungasamy after meeting Stefano the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I saw the potential in this car RHD car and was hungry to preserve it.

Stefano is a self-confessed petrolhead, having owned dozens of classic cars in the past. His appreciation of German and Italian cars logically led him to a VW Karmann Ghia, following a trip to up to Glasgow. A price was agreed and the car was soon transported to the south but after a change of plan, exacerbated by the current situation, it has meant he Stefano has not been unable to sort the car out. But he mentions that if it remains unsold, then he will find the time somehow and bring the car up to scratch.

Stephano

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Its Beetle heritage is betrayed by the cars elegant styling.

Wheels and Tyres

The steel wheels and chrome hubcaps are factory standard and are in very good condition. The tyres are mixed brands and appear to be over ten years old, however, they still show decent tread.

Bodywork

The car is best viewed as a restoration project, with plenty of evidence of past repairs and MOT patches. It held an MOT as recently as 2019, suggesting it could be roadworthy but would be an ideal candidate for a DIY mechanic.

Most of the external panels will need some level of fabrication, but it is important to remember that this car is complete, which should make restoration a lot easier. The floor pan looks solid and may offer a potential buyer a car that is sitting on a reasonably sound foundation. The car is relatively free from dents.

Paint

The car has been subject to several repaints during its history, with colour matches clearly not being fulfilled on this occasion. There is evidence of cracking on lower flanks, with a black tide mark covering the lowest edges. The roof is in remarkably good condition.

Glass and Trim

The car's external brightwork is 99% complete, some of the hard to find items are in good condition and could be brought up to scratch easily. The rubbers are complete, although some items may need replacement. The glass is as good as you could hope for in a car that is almost 50 years old, there is age-related wear, but no chips or significant scratches.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

This car is amazingly complete, with a couple of neat period accessories.

Seats and Carpets

The seats are in what you should expect in a car of this age, the vinyl has sagged and aged somewhat but they are complete. There are signs of wear around the tilt catches but there are no unsightly rips or tears elsewhere. The carpets are also complete, not likely to be originals as they could well clean up really nicely. The rear seats are in a reasonable state, with no rips or tears.

Dashboard and Headlining

The main dials are in good condition, with the control switches showing signs of age. The top of the facia is damaged, but that asides, the general condition of the dashboard is good, including the radio and interior front luggage release catch in the glovebox. The headlining needs a decent scrub but isn't torn.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The aftermarket Mountney steering wheel and EMPI Hirst gear lever are neat periods items, being typical of air-cooled accessories of this vintage. Both are in decent condition.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The VW Air-Cooled engine has world-famous durability.

Engine and Gearbox

The visual presentation of the engine is very good, with evidence that it has seen maintenance and replacement components. This tallies up with the cars instant spark into life during the cold start. The cold overnight temperature didn't hinder the engine, and there was no excessive smoke from the exhaust or any evidence of significant leak of fluids.

Suspension and Brakes

The breaks are said to be functional, with no excessive squealing and adequate ability to stop the car. The suspension is the standard ride height.

The Drive

Part of the Karmann Ghias huge appeal is the distinctive engine wuffle that chatters behind you as you drive the car. It is based on a humble 1950s family car, so one should not expect the dynamics of a Porsche, but similarly, it's all about the experience and the way this elegantly styled car makes you feel.

Electrics and Other

The electric system is said to be fully operational, as the wiring was subject to some level of renewal in the recent past.

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History and Paperwork

It's unusual to find a 48-year-old car with just 4 keepers - a fantastic base for a restoration.

This four owner car was owned by a couple in Glasgow, who had hardly used the car and as a result, has only covered less than 400 miles in the last decade. It is believed that the husband changed the car to his wives name, which actually brings it down to three keepers. In the recent past, it has received attention to the rear subframe and electrical lighting work for repairs carried out to fix issues for its MOT. The current owner has stated that the car has seen some recent engine service work.

The car last held an MOT as recently as 2019, but it is a car that is ripe for restoration. It simply needs the right person who is willing to put in the time and work.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
18-10-2018	MOT	73,837
19-03-2015	MOT	73,644
17-10-2013	MOT	73,554
07-04-2008	MOT	73,498

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Key Details

ModelType 14 Karmann Ghia 1600
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date1972
CC1584
Mileage73,903
HistoryNo
ColourWhite/Black
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimBlack
Chassis #1422135373
Engine #AD301524
RestoredNo
MOT18-10-2018
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes
Former Keepers4
LHD or RHDRHD
Sale TypePrivate
Key FeatureUnmodified and in original spec

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All Images

History and Paperwork

All Videos

Vehicle Location

St Albans

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Seller : Stefano F

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3 Comments

Stefano Fabrizi

3 years ago

Hello Marc, I don’t know when the bumper damage happened and no, it wasn’t repainted in my ownership.

brewsy

Stefano Fabrizi

3 years ago

Thanks Stefano

brewsy

3 years ago

Hi, Do you know when the crash happened?
It looks like the bumpers have been pushed in on the front and rear, perhaps it was hit and pushed into the vehicle in front?

Also as stated there have been some bodywork repairs in the past. Were these done under your watch and do you have the details of where done and what they did?

Thanks,
Marc

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Vehicle Location

St Albans

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