1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

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Mileage~55,970 KM
TransmissionManual
Engine1.6L
LocationTwickenham

AUCTION CLOSED

1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Photographer and Editor

Furnished with elegant Italian styling and proven German engineering, the Karmann Ghia is one of the most distinctive cars ever made.

Karmann was an independent specialist car builder, who became best known for their work with Volkswagen. Styled by Italian design house Carrozzeria Ghia, the Karmann-Ghia used the floor pan, running gear and flat-four engine from the Beetle. It became the focal point of the VW lineup when it was displayed in a sophisticated and curved hand-welded 2+2 coupe body. Even though the design was first used in 1955, its delicate contours and proportions have endured. Known internally as the Type 14, later versions were improved in line with the 1970s Beetles, incorporating better safety, improved comfort and fittings along with more powerful engines. It still appealed to those who were taken by the aesthetics and the proven build quality, durability and reputation of Volkswagen - it remains the ultimate evolution of the much-loved air-cooled VW family.

This car comes to market after ~3 years ownership, imported via Japan in 2019. It is a solid and cleanly presented example, finished in white with a black vinyl interior. Over £9,000 have been spent in the current ownership since 2022, including an engine rebuild by The VW Engine Company, dashboard refit, steering and clutch work to name a few. Ready and raring to go, this car is begging for a new owner to enjoy in the dry months ahead.

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

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Secure Auctions

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 bought the car after I was looking to replace my Porsche 996 with something more classic.

Alex bought the Karmann Ghia as an alternative to an early Porsche, persuaded by their similar timelines and elegant styling, he obtained the car from a classic car specialist ~3 years ago.

Since buying it in 2022, the VW had been carefully stored and subject to a considerable mechanical and dashboard revamp during his ownership. The loss of secure indoor storage and a lack of use has forced him to sell the car. Alex will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Alex

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Smartly presented with a solid structure, this Karmann Ghia has been well cared for.

Wheels and Tyres

The standard steel wheels are in good shape, with just some mild signs of age noted on the chrome hub caps.

The Radar branded tyres are all less than 5 years old, and they look to have plenty of life left in them.

Bodywork

The whole of the underside is particularly clean on this car. The same applies to the engine bay, front luggage bay, back seat bulkhead, wheel wells and suspension mounts. The exterior complements the decent structure, with no signs of panel damage or dents, other than a handful of light bumps on the edge of the bonnet.

The lower extremities of the body, such as the base of valances, inner wheel lips and sill edges show light surface corrosion but all appear to be treatable at this stage. We also spotted a couple of under-paint bubbles noted on the front panel either side of the headlamps, a few bubbles on the base of the nearside corner of the windscreen and the bonnet edge and a spot on the roof but overall the car presents well. The panel fit is good, but the bonnet is slightly uneven.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The white paint has an even and consistent coverage, the sunlight catches swirl marks as pictured on the flatter surfaces, but on the whole offers a decent lustre. There are minor paint finish imperfections across the body that have come with time and use, a couple have been touched up. These blemishes are located on the top and bottom of the driver's door, roof, bottom of the engine lid and areas near both door mirrors.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass, lights and lenses are in good condition, their seals are all decent too.

The chrome work is generally positive, there are minor signs of corrosion on the front bumper and some of the side and front intake trim have minor damage.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Refreshingly original, the interior has seen some complementary enhancements too.

Seats and Carpets

The seats have lasted well, covered in black vinyl, just a rip a pictured on the outer bottom side of the driver seat. The rear seat has a piece of black tape suggesting a repair.

The rear storage carpeting will need a tidy-up, but overall the carpets are in good shape and free of dampness.

Dashboard

The dashboard top and glovebox lid have been retrimmed in leather, and the rest of the facia is in good shape, with no significant marks or wear other than a small split above the lid. The switches show mild age-related wear but are all said to function.

A small hole was noted on the headlining. The door cards are presentable with some wear observed on the passenger side and both storage pockets are somewhat baggy. Both are well-mounted. The rest of the interior trim is in good shape.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel is in good condition and presents well, wearing the "Wolfsburg" logo in the centre. The gearstick is smart, and shows some cosmetic wear to the gearstick-knob as pictured.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

An engine rebuild by The VW Engine Company, on top of work to the steering, electrics and gearbox, should be very reassuring for a new owner.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine starts without delay, firing up strongly with a consistent and smooth beat. No warning lights were noted during the start-up process. We left the engine running for ~20 minutes, with no problems as you'd expect for a rebuilt example. The car is free of fluid leaks, exhaust smoke or petrol fumes. The engine visual presentation is very positive, confirmed by the 2024 work, in which a rebuild was completed, keeping the original engine block etc, with new ancillaries like electronic ignition, new carburettor, fuel lines etc. The capacity was increased from 1,600cc to 1,641cc as part of the work to the block to give that little bit of extra power.

The gearbox works well, engaging gears without issue, having been subject to many new parts including linkages and bushes. The changes are smooth with no crunches. Alex is happy with the clutch, which had been replaced in 2023. Watch the video to see the car in action.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension is standard ride height and absorbs the road without any unwanted noises. At urban speeds, it handles and corners with no unwanted noises.

The car brakes smoothly, with no negative feel, grinding or squeals.

The Drive

Shared the utilitarian charm and dependability of the Beetle with the stylish presentation of an early Porsche, the Karmann-Ghia still stands up as the most elegant of VWs. A car known for its durability rather than performance, this example has the considerable benefit of being treated to an engine rebuild; as a result, it is likely to hold more of its horses than other unmodified examples of this period.

The car powers through the urban traffic smoothly, accelerating with plenty of urge and resilience. The engine sounded smooth and completely free of any unwanted noises. The steering has seen attention and operated with no vibrations or wobbles.

Alex has pointed out that the engine rebuild was around ~522 km ago (he has kept the trip odometer reading since) and is still in the running-in stage. Alex has not reported any issues regarding reliability, oil or engine temperature.

Electrics and Other

Please note that the speedometer reads in kilometres. The period München FM/MW radio/tape player was not tested.

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History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~3 years ownership, the car has seen over £9,000 spend in that time, including an engine rebuild by The VW Engine Company, clutch, steering work and dashboard refit.

Imported from Japan in 2019, it is believed to be a genuine JDM RHD spec model. It retains its Japanese importation papers UK import duty and DLVA correspondence. Given the patterns of history of Japanese car usage and the VWs solid condition, it’s possible that the odometer reading of 55,970 KM is genuine, but this can’t be verified as there is no history before 2019.

Bought by Alex in 2022, he then spent over £9,000 on bodywork, maintenance, a new clutch, starter motor, dashboard, new gear selector linkage and bushes, engine wiring, steering parts, fuel lines and perhaps most importantly, an engine rebuild by The VW Engine Company ~500 KM ago. In addition, Alex has recently taken the car to a mechanic for an inspection.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.