1958 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Lowlight Coupe

When you think of Volkswagen you don’t often use of the word rare, but in this case, with a 1958 Karmann Ghia Lowlight Coupe, it is the right word.

Volkswagen wanted to be a part of other markets. They needed something other than their ubiquitous Beetle, something with more flair, something that would capture the buyer’s imagination.

The Type 14 made its debut in October 1953, at the Paris Auto show as a design concept by Ghia. Two years later, the first production model came out of Osnbrück, Germany.  It was a resounding success, with 10,000 examples being sold in the first year.

The Karmann Ghia was essentially a Type 1 Beetle, with an elegant Italian body on top. The VW chassis with motor was shipped to Karmann’s facility where its sexy Ghia body was added, it was painted and all other finishing work was done and the resulting car was then sent out into the world to be sold by VW dealers.

However, the Ghia was not as easy a car to produce as the Bug. The nose section was hand-formed and all seams were butt-welded, then lead filled using English Pewter. Additionally, every piece of glass was curved.  Every inch of the body was gone over before the paint process was begun, and then the body was wet sanded between applications of paint. It was very much a hand-built car. This raised the price by $900, over the Beetle.

It was a fashionable little 2+2, not a true sports car, as it shared the Beetle’s not so fire breathing, but rugged, air-cooled 1192-cc motor putting out 36 hp. The Ghia’s slippery body was 3 inches longer and 7 inches lower than the Bug. It’s low slung shape made for better handling and it could not be blown around like the Beetles were in crosswinds.

The design also got the little car close to 75 mph even though it weighed 150 lbs more than its Bug brother.

1959 was the last year of the Lowlight. As time passed, the Ghia got some more horsepower and small modifications to the bodywork. After 1967, U.S. safety and emissions regulations kicked in.  In 1971, bumpers got bigger, seats got higher and dashes got padded, and a four-spoke collapsible steering wheel was added.  Some of the purity and innocence of the original car was lost.

1973 was the swan song for the Karmann Ghia, in the European market, as Karmann was gearing up to launch the Scirocco. The U.S. spec model would get one more year of production.

This beautifully restored ’58 is the perfect way to experience a Karmann Ghia. The Ghia feels solid as any German car should. The corduroy seats do a good job of holding you in place, but they are certainly not racing buckets. The body-colored painted dash is as minimal as minimal can be, but still offers amenities such as a fuel gauge, clock, radio, ashtray and a VDO speedometer that optimistically goes up to 90. And for some reason, the numerals on 80 and 90 are reversed. But I am pretty sure we won’t be visiting that side of the speedo. The key is to the left of the steering wheel, like its distant relative the Porsche, turn it and the sewing machine comes to life, but that is no matter, what this car lacks in speed it makes up for in style.

The long throws of the gear lever are taken slow and steady and as there is no tach, you don’t think about taking it to the red line. You have no need to get crazy in this car 55 is your friend and it will make friends with all who see it.

It is very easy to see why this wee machine has attained cult status. It won’t take the laurels at a stoplight drag race, but it will take home the personality award.

A quiet road and your Ghia… that is the perfect recipe for a day well spent.

Thank you Chris Turner and Gaspare Fasulo of Gaswerks Garage for taking me back to a kinder, gentler time.

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