Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 14 

1955 to 1975
Overview
Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Production	Germany 1955–1974 445,238 built Coupé: 364,401 Cabriolet: 80,837 Brazil 1962-1975 41,689 built  Coupé: 23,393 Cabriolet: 177 TC: 18,119
Assembly	Osnabrück, Germany São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil (VW Brasil)
Designer	Luigi Segre at Ghia
Body and chassis
Class	Sports Car
Body style	2-door convertible 2-door coupé
Layout	RR layout
Related	Volkswagen Beetle
Engine	1200cc, 1300,1500cc or 1600cc F4
Wheel base	94.49 in, 2,400 mm
Overall length	162.99 in, 4,140 mm
Overall height	52.36 in, 1,330 mm
Ground clearance	5.98 in, 152 mm

 The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is a sports car marketed in both 2+2 coupe (1955–1974) and convertible (1957–1974) body styles by Volkswagen. The Karmann Ghia combined the chassis and mechanicals of the Type 1 (Beetle) with styling by Luigi Segre of the Italian carrozzeria Ghia and hand-built bodywork by the German coach-builder Karmann.

The Karmann Ghia was internally designated the Type 14. Volkswagen later introduced a variant in 1961, the Type 34, featuring angular bodywork and based on the newly introduced Type 3 platform.Production doubled soon after its introduction,becoming the car most imported into the U.S. American industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague included the Type 14 in his list of the world's most beautifully designed products.More than 445,000 Karmann Ghias were produced in Germany over the car's production life – not including the Type 34 variant. Karmann Brazil produced 41,600 cars locally for South America between 1962 and 1975.

History

The Type 14 debuted at the October 1953 Paris Auto Show as a styling concept created for Ghia by Luigi Segre.In the early 1950s, Volkswagen was producing its economy car, the Type 1 (Beetle). With an increase in post-war standards of living, executives at Volkswagen proposed adding a halo car to its model range, contracting with German coachbuilder Karmann for its manufacture. Karmann in turn contracted the Italian firm Ghia, who adapted styling themes previously explored for Chrysler and Studebaker to a Beetle floorpan widened by 12 in (300 mm).

In contrast to the Beetle's machine welded-body with bolt-on fenders, the Karmann Ghia's body panels were butt-welded, hand-shaped and smoothed with English pewter in a time-consuming process commensurate with higher-end manufacturers – and resulting in the Karmann Ghia's higher price.The design and prototype were well received by Volkswagen executives, and in August 1955 the first Type 14 was manufactured in Osnabrück, Germany. Public reaction to the Type 14 exceeded expectations, and more than 10,000 were sold in the first year.The Type 14 was marketed as a practical and stylish 2+2 rather than as a true sports car. As they shared engines, the Type 14's engine displacement grew concurrently with the Type 1 (Beetle), ultimately arriving at a displacement of 1584 cc, producing 60 hp (45 kW).

PERFORMANCE: Type 14 1200cc

• engine capacity: 72.90 cu in, 1192 cu cm;
• fuel consumption: 37.6 m/imp gal, 31.3 m/US gal,
• max speed: 74.5 mph, 120 km/h
• max power (SAE): 40 hp at 3900 rpm
• max torque (SAE): 36 1b ft. 8.9 kgm at 2400 rpm
• max number of engine rpm: 4500
• specific power: 33.6 hp/l
• power-weight ratio: 45.2 lb/hP, 20.5 kg/hp
• acceleration: 0—50 mph (0 —80 km/h) 17.2 sec

PERFORMANCE: Type 14 1300cc

• engine capacity: 78.41 cu in, 1,285 cu cm
• fuel consumption: 35.3 m/imp gal, 29.4 m/US gal, 8 1 x 100 km
• max speed: 79.5 mph, 128 km/h
• max power (SAE): 50 hp at 4,600 rpm
• max torque (SAE): 69 1b ft, 9.5 kg m at rpm
• max number of engine rpm: 5,000
• specific power: 38.9 hp/l
• power-weight ratio: 36.2 lb/hp, 16.4 kg/hp
• acceleration: 0—50 mph (0—80 km/h) 14 sec

PERFORMANCE: Type 14 1500cc

• engine capacity: 91.10 cu in, 1,493 cu cm
• fuel consumption: 33.2 m/imp gal, 27.7 m/US gal, 8.5 1 x 100 km
• max speed: 82 mph, 132 km/h
• max power (SAE): 53 hp at 4,200 rpm
• max torque (SAE): 78 1b ft, 10.8 kg m at 2,600 rpm
• max engine rpm: 4,500
• specific power: 35.5 hp/l
• power-weight ratio: 36.2 lb/hp, 16.4 kg/hp
• acceleration: 0—50 mph (0—80 km/h) 13 sec

PERFORMANCE: Type 14 1600cc

• Engine capacity: 96.66 cu in, 1,584 cu cm
• Fuel consumption: 32.8 m/imp gal, 27.3 m/US gal, 8.6 1 X 100 km
• Max speed: 90.1 mph, 145 km/h
• max power (SAE): 65 hp at 4,600 rpm
• max torque (SAE): 87 1b ft, 12 kg m at 2,800 rpm
• max engine rpm: 5,800
• specific power: 41 hp/l
• power-weight ratio: 30.9 lb/hp, 14 kg/hp
• acceleration: 0—50 mph (0—80 km/h) 11.5 sec

In August 1957, Volkswagen introduced a convertible version of the Karmann Ghia. Exterior changes in 1961 included wider and finned front grilles, taller and more rounded rear taillights and headlights relocated to a higher position – with previous models and their lower headlight placement called lowlights. The Italian designer Sergio Sartorelli, designer of Type 34, oversaw the various restylings of Type 14.

The 1967 Type 14 Karmann Ghia convertible gained notoriety on American television as being the car driven by CONTROL Agent 86 Maxwell Smart in the opening credits of the third and fourth seasons of Get Smart. Like the Sunbeam Tiger before it, (which remained the car driven by Smart in the episodes themselves), the character would be seen in the opening credits screeching to a halt outside of his headquarters. The Karmann Ghia was replaced in the final season credits of the show however, by the Opel GT. In the 2008 film of the same name, a Karmann Ghia once again made an appearance driven by Smart, along with its two sister cars, though the car in the film was a model from 1970. The car lent its name to a character in the 1968 film The Producers. On the 1970s sitcom Good Times an orange Karmann Ghia convertible is seen briefly during the intro. The Karmann Ghia is also the subject of a secret pass phrase in the 2011 movie Cars 2.

In 1970, larger taillights integrated the reversing lights and larger wrap-around turn signals. Still larger and wider taillights increased side visibility and at the same time large square-section bumpers replaced the smooth round originals. For the USA model only, 1973 modifications mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) included energy-absorbing bumpers. A carpeted package shelf replaced the rear seat.

In late 1974 the car was superseded by the Porsche 914 and the Golf/Rabbit based Scirocco.

Subsequent design studies

In 1990, Karmann introduced a Karmann Ghia-inspired concept car - The Karmann Coupe - at the Frankfurt Motor Show and in April 2013, Karmann Ghia do Brasil launched a competition for Brazilian students to design a modern interpretation of the classic Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia Coupé, possibly leading to the development of a prototype.

1968 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible in Wheeler Dealers Series 8