1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

Description

If you're always wanted a VW Karmann-Ghia and figured that they'd always be cheap enough to buy on a whim, guess again. The nicest ones like this 1974 example have skyrocketing values that firmly moves them out of the "cheap" category forever. Instead, what you should be doing is buying this one today and getting into the game instead of waiting for a "someday" that may never come.

The important thing is that this one, despite its modifications, is still instantly identifiable as the famous VW Karmann-Ghia. Even the Cricket Green paint keeps it in the family, as it comes from the Audi color charts. A few shaved emblems give it a sleeker look, and someone invested big in the time and materials to make it look great when everything was done. Looking at the smooth nose and raked stance, it's easy to forget there's a VW Beetle under there, because no Beetle ever looked this good. Gaps are good all around and they took their time with the assembly process, because it all lines up nicely, as you can see from the sharp crease that runs through the doors and up into the curvaceous rear fenders. Bright chrome bumpers add a jaunty 1970s look and almost every piece of trim and every lens on the car is either a replacement or fully restored to original condition. They clearly sweated the details on this one.

The interior got a full makeover as well, starting with the beautifully finished and aggressively bolstered front bucket seats, whose tan upholstery looks and feels far more luxurious than the standard VW fare. They whipped up a set of artful-looking door panels at the same time and wrapped the instrument panel in the same stuff for a truly first-class cabin. New Auto Meter Phantom gauges were stuffed into the dash and make a big difference compared to the originals, as does the AM/FM/CD stereo with new speakers throughout the interior. A beautiful Grant wood-rimmed steering wheel and T-handle shifter give the VW an upscale feel and this car might have the most beautifully tailored carpets we've ever seen in a Volkswagen. You could probably put a couple of kids in the back seat area, but it's really an upholstered package shelf. A new tan top fits snugly and seals up with typical VW effectiveness and comes with a matching boot for open-air motoring. The Karmann-Ghia is also a practical car, sporting a sizeable trunk up front that comes complete with a spare and a fresh set of carpets.

With a slightly oversized 1776 cc engine, dual carbs, and a few other tweaks, this Karmann-Ghia runs as spectacularly as it looks. Obviously the engine bay was designed with show purposes in mind, and the bright yellow engine highlights a super-sanitary engine bay. EMPI supplied most of the performance upgrades, including the carbs, camshaft, and exhaust system. Underneath, please note that it's as clean as the top side, with a suspension built with corner-carving in mind. Up front there are 2.5-inch dropped spindles that give it that performance stance and a fat sway bar, while out back there are coil-overs. Four-wheel disc brakes are a massive upgrade over the stock binders, and shiny polished aluminum wheels look a lot like vintage Minilites, which means they're ideal for an old VW.

Beautifully built, this car is impossible to duplicate at the asking price. If you've been waiting, don't hesitate this time because they simply don't get nicer than this. Call today!