1971 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

Description

We often tend to think of Volkswagens as bare-bones classics, but this 1971 Karmann Ghia has the added appeal of something very unique. This low-mileage convertible also features VW's automatic clutch transmission, and you can get this total package today for a very appealing price.

The Karmann Ghia has the appeal of graceful lines and muscular curved rear fenders that live in perfect harmony thanks to the legendary Ghia design house. The Italian styling was then put to metal by Karmann, so you get the same Teutonic tightness as the Beetle convertible. And just like the body, the cream color has timeless appeal, too. The slender chrome bumpers are in nice shape; the Wolfsburg hubcaps still have a mirror-like presence; and all the unique trim pieces shine up well, making this a car that still grabs attention where it goes.

The brown folding top has a sung fit that makes this car look good even on rainy days. But much as we like the car with the top up, it was truly built to be open to the world. And when you do, it reveals a matching interior in a deep shade of brown that looks so good against the white paint – in fact, you often see this color combo on modern droptops. The vinyl bucket seats are in such great condition that they are either new or an amazing preservation. The same goes for the dash, carpeting, and classic VW steering wheel. And of course, when you get in the driver's seat, the large VDO gauge in the center should be familiar to any classic VW driver.

When you check out the engine bay out back, the 1600 cc air-cooled flat-four should be instantly recognizable to VW fans. It looks well maintained in this tidy engine bay. While the motor looks refreshingly stock, there's a large catalog of affordable components that make maintenance and upgrades a painless process. In fact, this one appears to already have new items like the distributor, battery, and carburetor. Volkswagens sometimes were off-putting to people who didn't know how to drive manual shifts. So their solution was adapting the Autostick transmission that has a vacuum-operated clutch. So there's no third pedal on this convertible, but you still get the control of rowing through the three forward gears to get the most out of the VW's hardy motor. And since the 1600cc was the largest VW displacement from the series, it feels a bit nippy in the lightweight Ghia. The experience behind the wheel is all smiles, and you'll get plenty of nostalgic looks as you cruise around in this Italian-designed droptop.

The title on this car is for actual mileage, so it's averaged less than 1,500 miles annually. It even comes with the original owner's manual. So while all Karmann Ghias have the appeal of being an easy to own droptop classic, this one has all the interesting features to be irresistible. Call today!!!