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Why a personal luxury coupe? Huge leather front bench seat and virtually no transmission hump. In the days of drive in theatres.

Back in the very early 1970s I had a low mileage Series 5 Alpine, also in red, very like this one except mine had twin Stromberg carburettors. The perfect car then for a slightly wild young man to take to the gliding club! It returned better than the claimed mileage - due to the overdrive, I suppose. I have had faster cars since, but this was the most fun.

Volkswagen company was doing well selling the vw beetle in Germany and Europe after WWII , as well other coach companies where having great success using the vw engine and chasis and creating lovely made to order automobiles for their coach companies or famous people. The first 356 porsches ran with vw engines as well with beetle parts for the interior. Schwimmwagens. Hebmullers cabriolet. Dannenhausrer. Beutler. Rometsch Lawrence. Rometsch Beeskow. Denzel. Heinrich Nordhoff who ran Volkswagen was not pleased about vw engines and chasis being used by other companies. He stopped the sale of vw engines and chasis and wanted a more upscale sporty model for their VW line up. He asked company Karmann who designed the VW beetle convertible and Italian company design Ghia to colaborate and with designs turned down for the Chrysler De Elegance re configured to create de VW KarmannGhia in 1953. Production began for the VW Karmannghia in 1955.

Mobsters loved that truck

Definitely proper

Thanks for sharing your beautiful survivor. These cars were not always valued. In 1967 I was in the 9th grade, and was able to purchase a black 1956 KG for $1. The fan belt had broken and the owner just wanted it gone. This was an early example, had had the roller gas pedal, the fuel tap selector on the firewall, and optional multi band Becker radio. I clearly remember sitting in the car listening to the news that war had broken out in the Mid East. As I was too young for a driver’s license, I spent many hours building trails through our woods to create an off road course. The KG excelled at this with the rear engine design weighting the rear wheels for traction. I eventually broke a shifter fork in the transaxle by speed shifting. Soon I had the car up on a home built wooden lift and was able to replace the broken part without removing the engine and transaxle. This was to be my first VW product, and led to a long association and ownership of perhaps 50 more. The KG impressed with a high level of build quality and a very sturdy body structure relative to competing European makes. The light weight and aerodynamic shape not only pleased the eye, but was a very efficient form allowing the 36 hp engine to push the car to 75+ mph while delivering excellent fuel economy. I have owned several Porsche 356 series cars, and the KG is a worthy approximation at a far more affordable price. Both cars share much in chassis and powerplant design. In fact it was fairly common in the 1960’s before the VW twin port 1600 cc engine arrived to swap in a Porsche 356 motor to build a sleeper. I sold my KG for $275, thinking that I had done well. Looking back, it was one of my favorite cars of the hundred or more that passed through my hands.

Sounds like the headlight covers have been changed from air to electric motor

and ULEZ Compliant

Someone has a brilliant sense of taste.

The design is from 1948. It’s remarkable that it is still used as a viable mode of transportation 76 years after it was conceived. Thanks for watching!

What's weird about a 2CV in London?

1970 is a bit nicer, IMO. Only because in those 3 years, tech made a decent jump and the 70 looks nicer all up 76 then Became a smog sucker

This is exactly same color with my Karmann Ghia! Nice looking car! Greeting from Japan

The one option, in my opinion that you did not need was the Female voice to 'ask the questions' that so obviously were 'begged' by your commentary!!! She sounds like a friend of mine named Lori who lives in Voorheesville, NY!

I wish that they spoke about the wheels and tires, which look like upgrades from stock.

Great for urban commuting! Cool! Thanks for sharing... so much fun!

Cute.....

67 eldorado the most beautiful american car ever built. Imperial could not compete with this.

incredible

Ferdinand Porsche created the VW beetle we have established that.! VW was producing vw beetles and vw buses by early 1950's. Other Coach builders where using the vw platform and engine to create cars for other auto companies and famous people having great success. Examples: Hebmuller Cabriolet, Rometsch Beeskow , Denzel, Beutler,Dannenhauser, Rometsh Lawrence and 1948 Porsche 356. Also Karmann created the beetle convertible. Heinrich Nordhoff president of VW wanted a new upscale model for vw line and was unhappy other Coach builders where having succes using vw platform and engines that he stopped the sale to other Coach builders and commissioned Karmann Coach builders (Germany) & Ghia car designs (italy) to create a car for them. Ghia going through past designs , found designs created for Chrysler De'elegance that were not used and redesigned to create the vw Karmannghia with great success. The vw karmannghia was the most imported car into the usa during the sixties. During the late sixties the vw karmanghia was named as one of the most beautiful designed cars. Production of the VW karmanghia began in 1955 and the convertible in 1957 until 1974. The first Karmannghias where called lowlights due to lower placement of head lights and throughout the years minor changes where done to satisfy importation safety requirements into the USA. There are 3 types of Karmannghias a) type 14 b)type 34 c) the one produced in Brazil.

I love the 1967 Elderado!!! I had a 1984 champagne colored Elderado with a cream vinyl half top the Landis look. Absolutely lived it!!

Owned a '68 with a 472. A beast! What a looker!

Surely front disc brakes were an option in '68?

Bench seats kinda blow. If the driver is very short the passenger had to have their knees against the dashboard. The split front bench seat was the best idea to solve that problem

Somebody probably commented on this already, but its "Autronic Eye" in "GM-ese" language, similar to "Cruise Control" which has since become a generic term. Bill Mitchell never had a "zonk" in my perspective. Controversial, yes, but not ugly. Even the slantback design of the Olds Cutlass Salon / Buick Century of the late 1970s was something I found attractive and unique. But his '65's were masterpieces, especially the Cadillac Calais, Deville, and Fleetwood cars, and full-sized Chevrolets and Pontiacs. This video highlights the smart looks of the car mentioning Mitchell's comparison to a Savile Row suit. Look at the suit of John Steed from the Avengers, and the lines of this car, and in both cases, they are subtle, but simply magnificent. Yes, a beautiful car!

Many thanks for the competent and detailed design analysis.

Quite interesting story behind this looker, what a modern day rival this would be in today's market!

Design is similar to Chrysler's K310 Dream Car , also by Ghia .

Thanks for a very interesting video. By the way, Porsche is pronounced "por shuh", not "porsh".

I appreciate a great deal the way you have masterfully presented all the material gathered on this KarmannGhia in such a Special manner. You have an innate talent, very skillful eye and almost uncanny way to execute a project of this nature with undeniable Grace !

This body shares many of the design cues of the 63-65 Buick Riviera.

It was dramatic when these cars first began appearing on the roads but they were real gas guzzlers.

You like that styling you should see the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado

A 1962 Cadillac had, automatic, headlight dimmer electric eye . It sat on the dash On the floor a button auto tune radio too

My Dad had one. This was after his Maserati Quatro Porte phase, a car that burned to the ground in our driveway!

Eldorado convertibles were amazing looking machines. If I ever get rich I'll be looking for one. I wonder if anyone ever got more than 10 mpg.

perfect example why caddies were one step abov lincolns

Is it for sale?

I believe it was also available with ABS and an airbag system, both as options. I remember seeing the maintenance details in a Chiltons or Motor repair manual from ‘67

I recall when these came out- definitely the best looking cars on the road that year.

got one sitting in the driveway right now, next to an AMC Cherokee

Amazing they had high-beams figured out in 60's. What happened to today's cars/drivers

The 1967 Eldorado was so cool that it was chosen one of the original Hot Wheels!

GIGITTY!

Beautiful car!

'57 Imperial & '62 Lincoln would each run away and hide from the '67 Eldo with its utter junk sealed beams hiding in shame under 50 pounds of machinery. At least '57 Imperial & '62 Lincoln could take proper high intensity Euro-bulb replacements that made high speed on a country road safer. Hotrod Lincoln. Demo Derby Imperial. Eldo? Old Banker Buggy.

Alpine and Tiger were built on the Commercial Commer Cob van and Hillman Husky estate chassis and bulkhead which was a shorter wheelbase version of the Hillman Minx (Audax) . The sports car had extensive additional strengthening added to compensate for the removal of the roof

Cool looking, but at 18'5", who has the garage space? And parking this beast is fun. I've driven one.

While these cars do look nice, it’s worth noting that the first cars were SUVs.

Coolest Cadillac Ever ... ?