Vehicle Description
1968 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
The Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia, a sporty coupe and convertible
produced between 1955 and 1974, was a most unexpected vehicle from
a company that had built its reputation on the purely functional
Volkswagen Beetle. The Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia was an automobile in
which style and driving fun took precedence. The sporty VW took its
name from Karmann, the German firm that built the body, and Ghia,
the Italian design house that came up with the styling.
For consignment the VW example of its foray into the sports car
market. Known for the ubiquitous Beetle, this car entered VW into
the sports car market, and this particular consignment is a true
sports car. We can call this a true custom, with shaved bumpers,
smoothed lines, a custom interior, and a 315hp dyno tested 2332cc
engine, and plenty of other racing inspired modifications you will
want to hear more about so read on..!
Exterior
What appears to be a complete frame off restoration, all panels
were carefully removed, and shaped to their original curves, then
reassembled and these received a custom Tangerine Orange with a
clear overcoat. The bumpers were left off and the gaps were left
with laser tight tolerances. Slightly pointier front signal lights
were added, all bezels highly polished, window surrounds blackened,
and glass tinted. Finally, it is squared off on all corners with
shiny 15 inch Eagle wheels wrapped in front by 165/80R15's and in
back by 195/60R15's.
Interior
Not to be outdone by the exterior, a totally custom interior
starting with the dash which has its front painted in the
Tangerine, added in Classic Instruments, some signal and warning
light indicators and a few under dash aftermarket gauges in a shiny
panel. In the center is a black radio flush mounted into the
orange. A black padded vinyl dash top is now installed, and a wood
rimmed rally steering wheel is fronting this custom dash. Racing
styled black cloth insert and shiny vinyl bolster bucket seats now
are in front and for the rear a snazzy bench in more broadcloth and
vinyl with some orange piping for some extra visuals. Door panels
are custom with a gray burlap tweed covering and a smooth orange
vinyl padded "V" pattern door pull and small arm bumper. Billet
cranks with wood knobs and escutcheons are neatly mounted within
this tweed field as well. More of the gray burlap tweed is used for
the headliner, rear panels, and are highlighted by tangerine door
sills. Beautiful gray peppered with black carpeting floods the
floors and in front of the passengers are zig zag pattern tan and
black berber floor mats. Shiny pedals are now installed, as well as
shiny straight shaft wood knob topped shifter and custom the turned
handbrake wood handle.
Drivetrain
To the tune of $13,716 we feast our eyes on a beautiful high
performance 2332cc VW engine now looking nothing like the original
engine. It is a flat 4-cylinder turbo with wedge port heads, EFI, a
T3/T4 hybrid turbo, and Gen 4 CB EFI controller. All polished and
it has a water methanol injection system. This all tops out at
315hp on the dyno and a test drive will immediately confirm this. A
4- speed IRS manual transmission in a Rhino case is on back.
Stainless steel exhaust and high performance fittings and hoses
also grace this racy engine. All this work was performed by the
talented folks at CB Performance in Farmersville California in 2012
and early 2013.
Undercarriage
Pristine with no rust, just some extra floor pan and frame
stiffeners. Drilled disc brake rotors are now on front and rear to
provide the whoa. New IRS suspension sports Proma Star shock
absorbers and adjustable independent coil over suspension all
around. Just beautifully pulled off and a visual eye candy under
here.
Drive-Ability
It fired right up and one can hear the performance ooze out of the
melodious exhaust tones and feel the exhilaration when pressing the
accelerator. It handles like it's on rails, and comes to a complete
and quick stop with the drilled rotor disc brakes on all 4's. The
interior is beautifully soothing and comfy and all functions were
working to perfection.
Here we have a "no expense spared" custom performer in Karmann Ghia
influenced design. A show car and a real go getter, all custom and
near perfection paint, snappy interior, and the awesome engine
which has plenty of HP's.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.