We need these types of cars today, just the basics. No screen, no electronic hand brake. No computer operating the engine. Just pure car. This reminds me of my Datsun 2000 roadster. It had 135hp and a 2000cc engine. It flew like that Ghia. Not surprised how well that Ghia accelerated. It looks like so much fun driving on country roads.
Unfortunately it's almost impossible to get that in production line because of all the safety regulations. One thing I like about these cars is the interior space, despite being small cars. With thin doors and no central console. But yes, would be so nice to just have a moving machine with some style.
Me too. It was my dream in 1970 when I was buying my first car. I was only 17, and my folks were going to help me out paying for it. I knew I would soon be college bound, and planned to drive it during my college years. Instead I purchased a one year old Opel Kadett. The 2 door sedan, with the fast-back. Not the station wagon.
@@Davett53 It was not in the market for me, when I bought my first car, but sir with all due respect, a 1969 Kadett B fastback is equally cool in my book.
@@allsearpw3829 I never really liked how the P1800 looks, I kinda grew on me as the years went by, but that upsloping chrome trim on the sides, and that "mean", agressive bumper that the earlier ones had didn't fit the car. The interior and the engine doen't even compare, but just from the looks, for me it has to be the Karmann. Which one would you buy or choose?
I had a '64 Ghia in my 20's. Bought it for $300 with a bad engine and my roommate, a VW mechanic, walked me through the rebuild and did all the machine work in exchange for me cleaning the shop and doing parts runs. That was a great little car, took me all over northern California.
Ghia is a beautiful car. I've seen restomods with the obvious V8s, like LS1, but the built VW engine just feels so much better as an upgrade. The car is better but also balanced. You get that "stock as it should have been" feeling.
Nothing wrong with this car engine. It sounds great with the dual carbs and has lots of power. As long as it's not too noisy in the cabin. Just in case you would like to talk to your passenger or listen to the radio.
Been living in and driving an 87 Vanagon the last week or so while visiting a friend. Old VWs with a 4 speed have so much soul it is unbelievable. Hands down the most fun thing I’ve ever driven
That 1965 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia has sure been modified to make 130 horsepower. That makes this Karmann Ghia a performance sports car. The original 1965 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia had a 1200cc Volkswagen engined that was rated 42 horsepower.
My dad owned a VW dealership in the late 60’s early 70’s… I grew up with these. Thank you for some of the very best reviews I have seen! This one especially makes me happy.
Never before have I felt the engine pulses through my Samsung tablet during a video of cars or motorcycles. Well, this time I did, it was like holding the steering wheel. I had a Ghia once, and it was a stock engine. Around town, it was so so. But on the highway it was in its element. A true sports car and FUN to work on. Thanks for the ride.
My boss told me about his early twenties, blasting down a backroad near Stuttgart here in Germany in his Ghia, listening to Elvis' 68' comeback special on the radio. Man those must've been the days!
They WERE the days! My girlfriend in college had one and I would drive. We were in Arizona and would go to the Grand Canyon and all over Flagstff. Had an 8 track player and would crank it up… I’m 75 and this really brings back some pretty fun memories!
Air-cooled VWs and their derivatives (356) just drive sooo perfectly. So user friendly, you can see in this video how nicely it shifts, how linear the controls are. No need for power-assistance, because they are so light. Mechanically simple, genius packaging. Amazing little cars.
My son has a '67 Ghia convert that has a 1600 dual carb with a mild cam upgrade. His runs about 85 HP. He also put on a set of replica Porsche 914 wheels. We love the car and it has won many trophies in car shows.
This Karmann Ghia is so quick compared to my original 1,500cc, haha! Needless to say, it's clean and beautiful as well !! Thanks for introducing the car. Greeting from Japan.
The sound, quality, old school vintage feel, truly and amazing car, love the fact that is has been juiced a little to enhance the acceleration, great weekend car
Keep the classics coming brother, many channels I watch shy away from the more obscure classic cars because they say those videos perform poorly. So your channel filling in the niche is a blessing for us.
I would rather watch videos of weird european classic cars and beloved American classic cars than modern supercars, they're more attainable for me personally than a Bugatti or a Lamborghini or whatever, even if parts may not be easy to find.
@@Haffschlappe From what I've read, problems cars like the VW Beetle and Chevy Corvair had with snap oversteer and the rear tire tucking underneath the car and causing it to flip while cornering at a high rate of speed could have been solved with traction bars.
I used to have a ‘74 Ghia convertible (maroon w/ tan rag top) loved that car. Converted from 1200 to 1600 cc. Very simple inside, including the dashboard and it’s fast too. Good for cruising and of course, road trip. I sold to a couple, and I’ve heard they brought it with them overseas, until now they’re enjoying it.
I used to own a two tone (Bordeaux red body/white roof) ‘58 model which I used to commute to work with, despite having the first version Golf GTI 16v as a company car. It had the original 7 or 800 cc engine, less than 20 hp. I remember that the driver’s seat, steering column and pedals were not aligned, making the driving position quite awkward. The clutch cable once snapped and I drove it back home changing gears by reving the engine, went to the hardware store next day and fixed it myself. The carburator spring once snapped, leaving the throttle fully open, should have seen the faces of the other drivers, no worries I drove it home and got a new spring from the DIY store. I once got home totally wasted from a company drink, going too fast, in a twisty road, lost it and car just went spinning and spinning, again made is home safely. Fantastic car, fond memories…
@@SlegsBlankes I spent a lot of time with old VWs. The 36 hp engine was not the most powerful, but it was probably the most reliable of all VW engines. Unfortunately, they quit making oversized main bearings for them a long time ago, so, if you had a 36 hp engine that had finally worn out its crankcase, having it line-bored was hard to accomplish without having a set of oversized bearings made specially for the engine. Much cheaper to just install a later-model engine which would bolt right in. I guess with the current rage in old VWs, some manufacturer might be making these bearings again, but nowadays I can buy a pretty nice airplane for what a rotted out junk VW bus sells for. They have entered the realm of higher-end collectors. Therefore, I am no longer involved in anything about my favorite little car. Who would have ever thought you have to be rich to buy a Volkswagen?
What a fantastic car. I love stunning classics that look original, but have been massaged in all the right places. It’s still classically beautiful, but has the ability to be driven and enjoyed reliably whenever. One of your better vids for sure.
I had one for four years most fun car I ever had. Traded it in for a 69 Mustang 2+2 and always regretted it. Drove from NY tovSt Petersburg Fl on $12 for gas in 1966. Thanks for the memories
My wife and I had a pair of these uber lovely sporty cars in the 60's-70's. Hers was a red 1963 model with a white hardtop top (just like your picture) while mine was a red '64 convertible with a white top. We bought both of them in 1968 and took the convertible to the mountains of Western North Carolina for our honeymoon in 1969. Since that area was "dry" back then and we wanted some wine, we drove down US 129 (now infamous as the "Tail of the Dragon") into Tennessee to find some. (Little did we know that some 50 years later we would be running an ND2 Miata down that same road several times a year!) The Ghia was a super blast on the Dragon back then and firmly cemented our love for that cute and great looking son of "bug."
The old Aircooles VW's are very organic compard to modern disposable cars. I have never seen a generation of cars put smiles on faces faster than the vintage Aircooled VW's .
I owned a '67 and it did well in the snow and mountains of Colo. And it actually had a gas heater that was fueled by the gas tank which came in really handy during the cold months. I was very fortunate to have found it at a used car lot at the local Toyota dealer and for almost nothing, three hundred fifty dollars. And for that amount and with my old beaten Corolla on its way out, it was a done deal. Thanks for the memories, mine always ran well, felt good and a joy to drive !!
Was initially confused when I saw the title since the original motors had much less power. As soon as I heard the engine, though, the title made sense. My parents had a 1964 Beetle rated at 40hp from its 1200cc engine. Our old beetle could reach maybe 70 mph on a flat road (the manual claimed 72), which was usually OK back when the speed limit was only 55. Any time we saw a hill up ahead, we would floor it to gain enough extra speed to hopefully avoid downshifting and ending up with the motor screaming in 3rd at 45mph.
I first saw these cars in Africa in the 50s. Exciting to look at. Top speed about 80mph wind assisted. Another good car of the era was the VW fastback.
Years ago I built a 1969 Ghia. It had a 1835cc full counter balanced crank, big cam, weber 42's on ported dual port heads. It would really move, 911's were no competition for it in a street light race. I built a custom all VDO gauge dash that was padded and covered with the same black vinyl that the rest of the interior was done in. It was all done and Tuck and Roll style with matching black headliner. I put a nice Sound system in it. Remove the bumpers put polished aluminum push bars on it. Front and rear had chrome disc wheels front rear. It was a nice car.
Whoa, that engine sound was not expected at all. I used to drive a 1963 1300cc Beatle, and the sound was more like a never ending series of tuk-tuk-tuk's, that was a feature.
Just hearing the shifter moving around before startup told me there's beefy linkage and a stronger shifter mechanism. I had a 914/6 that I put a rennshift shifter in and this shifter sounded nice and solid, just like the rennshift! What a blast this car must be and probably surprised quite a few unsuspecting drivers of faster cars on the road! PS, I'm guessing the owner, being a Porsche guy, upgraded the brakes and suspension? Love these type sleeper cars!
The format never changed. I’ve added maybe 12 seconds of another angle outside the car over the course of a 20 minute video to help with transitions and give more view of the vehicles.
@@TedwardDrives That was the format change, which I really didn't like, personally. It messed with the flow of the video, and felt like an ADHD addition. However, to each their own; a fair amount of people seemed to like it.
Beautiful Ghia and the engine is fantastic. Dave Kindig, who worked on a lot of VWs in his early days, built the most beautiful one I've ever seen, but I don't recall what he did for the engine. Possibly dropped a Porsche in it. He gave the car to his wife maybe so he could drive it from time to time. Always admired the design.
I had short-throw gearsticks on my VW's. They were "aluminium quick shifts" - just a metal bracket you fit under the gear stick. Still available today.
A real stunner. Just gorgeous colour combo. And a perfect weather for such cruise too. And it does it at lower RPM than my old Mk4 Golf did in 5th. 😅 Seeing the "GIHA" in the frunk though had me double check whether I always spelled its name wrong or not. 🤣
Two memories of the "Ghia" by VW for me is: 1) One of my dad's musician friends had an "off-yellow" '64 or '65 model. Sure was "his baby". I remember in the two years I did some of his lawn mowing/trimming back in 1965 & '66 (I was 15 to 16 years old), I had to be extra careful being around his "Ghia". The other memory...#2) was early July, 1970 in the evening, driving a radio school classmate's 1966 Chevy Impala (maroon color 283 c.i.d. V8 four barrel carb) to see fireworks at Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. I was by myself...and going on I-85 from Peachtree Street, a 1970 "Ghia" stalled going onto the drive ramp to I-85. A beautiful 22 year "popped the clutch" and killed the engine so...Bamboo! I hit the rear end of the car. She claimed that her daddy (..."Sugar Daddy"??) bought her the VW recently and was devastated with the wreck. It seemed like forever to get the Atlanta Police there...let alone the curses we got from the drivers to get around this "little incident ". Anyway...exchange of insurance companies and warning from the police did that night a time that will live in infamy for me. In fact, now that I'm 74 now...everytime I drive by that area I think of that event! That was about 55 years ago! Besides that...VW's were fun to drive. Dad had a 1963 black "Bug"... got a 1970 light blue VW "Fastback" that was to be my car by January of 1975. Myself...I got a 1969 dark green "Bug" in early April of 1972. That one had one of those "roll-back crank sunroof" design. Of the three - the '70 "Fastback" was the best. I named her, "Heidi" after a national "human intrest" story I read in early 1975. Oh...I had the privilege of also driving a 1970 red VW "Bus". All these models of course "four on the floor" stick shifts. I bet I can still do the stick shift stuff. Like a bicycle, you can't forget how to make it work.
Karmann Ghia is burned in my memory forever since I have seen it in OMD - Souvenir music video. Thank you very much, as always, for sharing another great piece of machinery with us!
I used to have a '66 Karmann-Ghia with a 1776cc Dual Weber. It was two tone Dark Green with a White top, Chrome rims with Porsche Nipples and yeah, it jammed! It was built by a guy that worked on Porsches and BMWs. It was one sweet little car. The '65 looks exactly like the '66, but it doesn't have the accent trim across the dash, like the '66.
Man when I was a kid you could see these everywhere ! The thing you’ll notice about VW in the auto trader is everyone you see for sale says rebuilt engine and that says to me you’ll never get 90,000 miles out of one without a rebuild and there is really only so many times you can rebuild an engine before it’s time to replace that engine .
Wow! Stunning,.....I felt like I was driving along sitting on your shoulder. Sweet ride!...This one has spunk,....so responsive and fast. Delicious. Fun!
tuve uno ,en mi pais Uruguay ,fue mi primer auto ,era del año 58 creo era de los primeros ,aleman ,porque luego se fabricaron en Brazil ,motor 1100 muy lindo en carretera ,poco motor peeero en una base militar ( que no nombrare ) nos daban nafta de 100 octanos ,con lo cual se movia un poco mas alegre ,si calentaba un poco pero no pasaba nada .lindos recuerdos ,saludos ...
The Ghia is an interesting VW, almost not like the "BUG" except it really is one MECHANICALLY but not cosmetically!!! My first car was a 1959 VW "BUG", which not many people would know about the LACK of creature comforts in the early "BUGS" (1949-1966). Examples gas gauge wasn't standard until 1961 along with a increase in HP by 4HP (36>40) and synchronize First gear!!! I later got a 1964 BUG that a old friend helped me rebuild the 40hp (1200cc). We used "JC Whitney" catalog to order parts for the engine to make it more POWERFUL!!! I got a BIG BORE KIT for it (77mm>83mm), no machining the heads, Holley 2 barrel, Mr Gasket dual point distributor, headers, I was limited on funds is why I didn't do more modifications!! Oh used a Porsche diaphragm clutch which worked out GREAT! My BUG would squat and BARK the rear tires which for a 1964 VW BUG that is saying something in this part of the country!!😮😊 It's nice to have a LITTLE BIT MORE HORSE POWER especially in a OLD VW BUG!!!😢
I had a 1970 convertible (a cabriolet officially) in sky blue, with a factory accessory blumenvase (bud vase) on the dash. I loved that car so much. It’s a light car and much more aerodynamic than a beetle. A little torque goes a long way in these cars.
Tedward said the engine had been built by a builder in California. I wonder if the builder was Steph Rossi of ACE Racing Engines in Torrance, Ca. He has built quite a few of these classic Porsche and Volkswagen 4 cylinder engines for domestic and international customers. Naturally aspirated and turbo charged.
Drove with a friend in his Karman from L.A. to northern California. It was the most uncomfortable ride I've ever had. Couldn't stretch my legs straight because of the floor pan shape. Legs were always angled to the center!
I had a '61 KG with a '65 engine. It did not have a gas gauge. It had a handle to switch to reserve gasoline when the main section of the tank ran out. I put on a performance exhaust system and rejetted with carburetor. I could "chirp" my wheels coming out of a red light.
There was a short Karma Gia craze where I grew up, nice looking car but were crazy turtles on the road but this one is a snapping turtle, I get it. thanks.
I love the mid-sixties VW’s and Karmann-Ghia’s. My first car was ‘65 VW in 1968. I have driven a KG and it handled amazing well. But now at 73 and 260 lbs, I don’t think I would fit too well but I would to drive and find out for sure. One note, on this car it appears the gas gauge is fluctuating with the engine speed… need to check and be sure the gas gauge is grounded properly.
I really like the tachometer. I had a 73 that came with a clock instead, and had to have a print shop make a tach face for a generic tach to make it look original.
We need these types of cars today, just the basics. No screen, no electronic hand brake. No computer operating the engine. Just pure car. This reminds me of my Datsun 2000 roadster. It had 135hp and a 2000cc engine. It flew like that Ghia. Not surprised how well that Ghia accelerated. It looks like so much fun driving on country roads.
And they don't weigh anything, so they really move.
Unfortunately it's almost impossible to get that in production line because of all the safety regulations.
One thing I like about these cars is the interior space, despite being small cars. With thin doors and no central console.
But yes, would be so nice to just have a moving machine with some style.
One of the most beautiful cars ever made. I always wanted one.
Me too. It was my dream in 1970 when I was buying my first car. I was only 17, and my folks were going to help me out paying for it. I knew I would soon be college bound, and planned to drive it during my college years. Instead I purchased a one year old Opel Kadett. The 2 door sedan, with the fast-back. Not the station wagon.
@@Davett53 It was not in the market for me, when I bought my first car, but sir with all due respect, a 1969 Kadett B fastback is equally cool in my book.
KARMANN OR VOLVO P180 ? 🤔
@@allsearpw3829 I never really liked how the P1800 looks, I kinda grew on me as the years went by, but that upsloping chrome trim on the sides, and that "mean", agressive bumper that the earlier ones had didn't fit the car. The interior and the engine doen't even compare, but just from the looks, for me it has to be the Karmann. Which one would you buy or choose?
I had 4. 1963, 1965, two 1968.
I had a '64 Ghia in my 20's. Bought it for $300 with a bad engine and my roommate, a VW mechanic, walked me through the rebuild and did all the machine work in exchange for me cleaning the shop and doing parts runs. That was a great little car, took me all over northern California.
Ghia is a beautiful car. I've seen restomods with the obvious V8s, like LS1, but the built VW engine just feels so much better as an upgrade. The car is better but also balanced. You get that "stock as it should have been" feeling.
If you feel the need to swap the engine, Porsche flat 6 is the answer. And it fits pretty good
Or convert it to Turbo version "The Karmann Ghia and the Furious"
Corvair engines are great in those
Could have also used a Porsche engine of the same era, I've heard of people putting them in Beetles and it working really well.
Nothing wrong with this car engine. It sounds great with the dual carbs and has lots of power. As long as it's not too noisy in the cabin. Just in case you would like to talk to your passenger or listen to the radio.
Been living in and driving an 87 Vanagon the last week or so while visiting a friend. Old VWs with a 4 speed have so much soul it is unbelievable. Hands down the most fun thing I’ve ever driven
One of nicest hardtops that I've seen in a long time. Sounds great. Engine work awesome
That 1965 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia has sure been modified to make 130 horsepower. That makes this Karmann Ghia a performance sports car. The original 1965 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia had a 1200cc Volkswagen engined that was rated 42 horsepower.
My dad owned a VW dealership in the late 60’s early 70’s… I grew up with these.
Thank you for some of the very best reviews I have seen! This one especially makes me happy.
thank you!!
Never before have I felt the engine pulses through my Samsung tablet during a video of cars or motorcycles. Well, this time I did, it was like holding the steering wheel. I had a Ghia once, and it was a stock engine. Around town, it was so so. But on the highway it was in its element. A true sports car and FUN to work on. Thanks for the ride.
My boss told me about his early twenties, blasting down a backroad near Stuttgart here in Germany in his Ghia, listening to Elvis' 68' comeback special on the radio. Man those must've been the days!
@@KAISERSCHL8 Blasting yes Elvis NOo🤬
They WERE the days! My girlfriend in college had one and I would drive. We were in Arizona and would go to the Grand Canyon and all over Flagstff. Had an 8 track player and would crank it up… I’m 75 and this really brings back some pretty fun memories!
Air-cooled VWs and their derivatives (356) just drive sooo perfectly. So user friendly, you can see in this video how nicely it shifts, how linear the controls are. No need for power-assistance, because they are so light. Mechanically simple, genius packaging. Amazing little cars.
My son has a '67 Ghia convert that has a 1600 dual carb with a mild cam upgrade. His runs about 85 HP. He also put on a set of replica Porsche 914 wheels. We love the car and it has won many trophies in car shows.
Mine was a '68 Cabriolet and now that I am 73 I would love to have it back for the Spring Summer and Fall drives. Thank you.
On the second day of Christmas, my Tedward gave to me
Two Karmann Ghias
And a 250 in a pear tree
@@williamlong2682 fake news see the Barber in Richmond Hill Queens 👑
This Karmann Ghia is so quick compared to my original 1,500cc, haha! Needless to say, it's clean and beautiful as well !! Thanks for introducing the car. Greeting from Japan.
loving the new camera angles, great video as usual!
The sound, quality, old school vintage feel, truly and amazing car, love the fact that is has been juiced a little to enhance the acceleration, great weekend car
Keep the classics coming brother, many channels I watch shy away from the more obscure classic cars because they say those videos perform poorly. So your channel filling in the niche is a blessing for us.
I would rather watch videos of weird european classic cars and beloved American classic cars than modern supercars, they're more attainable for me personally than a Bugatti or a Lamborghini or whatever, even if parts may not be easy to find.
Love the sound on throttle. What a treat.
That radio can't make the kind of harmony that this engine and transmission do. Sweet! Thanks to the owner - I'm drooling.
People often don't understand just how fast a 200hp Beetle is. You have to remember they weigh ~1600lbs!
Be carefull in corners with that swing axle! 1303 are better!
@@Haffschlappe From what I've read, problems cars like the VW Beetle and Chevy Corvair had with snap oversteer and the rear tire tucking underneath the car and causing it to flip while cornering at a high rate of speed could have been solved with traction bars.
@@lsswappedcessnaproper sway bars are the ticket.
Just FANTASTIC!
Thanks for the best driving experience I ever had on TH-cam !
This was GRRRREAT!
I had lone of these back in 1972. 60 HP wasn't like this car. Sounds great and looks like it drives great. Thanks for the memory.
OMG!!! A guy with one of these attends my local Cars & Coffee often, it's such a beautiful model.
We used to have quite a few of these over in Europe, including one in my village. Definitely a looker!
These tuned VW motors purr.
This is the first time I watch a video of a car, and REALLY REALLY want it. I'm in love! 🥰
I used to have a ‘74 Ghia convertible (maroon w/ tan rag top) loved that car. Converted from 1200 to 1600 cc. Very simple inside, including the dashboard and it’s fast too. Good for cruising and of course, road trip. I sold to a couple, and I’ve heard they brought it with them overseas, until now they’re enjoying it.
I love this. Simple, tastefully modified and not fast, but quick.
I used to own a two tone (Bordeaux red body/white roof) ‘58 model which I used to commute to work with, despite having the first version Golf GTI 16v as a company car. It had the original 7 or 800 cc engine, less than 20 hp. I remember that the driver’s seat, steering column and pedals were not aligned, making the driving position quite awkward. The clutch cable once snapped and I drove it back home changing gears by reving the engine, went to the hardware store next day and fixed it myself. The carburator spring once snapped, leaving the throttle fully open, should have seen the faces of the other drivers, no worries I drove it home and got a new spring from the DIY store. I once got home totally wasted from a company drink, going too fast, in a twisty road, lost it and car just went spinning and spinning, again made is home safely. Fantastic car, fond memories…
1958 VWs all had an 1192cc engine rated at 36 hp. Still pretty peppy if valves and timing were set properly.
@@rescue270 really? Didn’t know that, thanks for the update.
@@SlegsBlankes
I spent a lot of time with old VWs. The 36 hp engine was not the most powerful, but it was probably the most reliable of all VW engines.
Unfortunately, they quit making oversized main bearings for them a long time ago, so, if you had a 36 hp engine that had finally worn out its crankcase, having it line-bored was hard to accomplish without having a set of oversized bearings made specially for the engine. Much cheaper to just install a later-model engine which would bolt right in. I guess with the current rage in old VWs, some manufacturer might be making these bearings again, but nowadays I can buy a pretty nice airplane for what a rotted out junk VW bus sells for. They have entered the realm of higher-end collectors. Therefore, I am no longer involved in anything about my favorite little car. Who would have ever thought you have to be rich to buy a Volkswagen?
Honestly, even the 1600 was really fun to drive.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I had a '67 Ghia. The interior was slightly different and the engine I had was stock.
What a fantastic car. I love stunning classics that look original, but have been massaged in all the right places. It’s still classically beautiful, but has the ability to be driven and enjoyed reliably whenever. One of your better vids for sure.
Î know everyone loves these, including my mom. I have no idea why 🤔 Admittedly, this one sounds amazing
oh the sound-that thing is SNAPPY!
I had one for four years most fun car I ever had. Traded it in for a 69 Mustang 2+2 and always regretted it. Drove from NY tovSt Petersburg Fl on $12 for gas in 1966. Thanks for the memories
Beautiful, classy car❤ Love the Karmann Ghia so much!
That thing sounds so good. What a cool car.
My wife and I had a pair of these uber lovely sporty cars in the 60's-70's. Hers was a red 1963 model with a white hardtop top (just like your picture) while mine was a red '64 convertible with a white top. We bought both of them in 1968 and took the convertible to the mountains of Western North Carolina for our honeymoon in 1969. Since that area was "dry" back then and we wanted some wine, we drove down US 129 (now infamous as the "Tail of the Dragon") into Tennessee to find some. (Little did we know that some 50 years later we would be running an ND2 Miata down that same road several times a year!) The Ghia was a super blast on the Dragon back then and firmly cemented our love for that cute and great looking son of "bug."
The old Aircooles VW's are very organic compard to modern disposable cars. I have never seen a generation of cars put smiles on faces faster than the vintage Aircooled VW's .
What a gem, just beautiful!
My dad used to Drive this Car. What a Beauty ❤
So nicely specced! And it sounds amazing!
My first car was a 1971 Karmann Ghia convertible. I loved that car. I bought it when I was 15 for $75. It was worth $75.
I’ve had my Gaia convertible since 69, still love it ❤
I owned a '67 and it did well in the snow and mountains of Colo. And it actually had a gas heater that was fueled by the gas tank which came in really handy during the cold months. I was very fortunate to have found it at a used car lot at the local Toyota dealer and for almost nothing, three hundred fifty dollars. And for that amount and with my old beaten Corolla on its way out, it was a done deal. Thanks for the memories, mine always ran well, felt good and a joy to drive !!
Was initially confused when I saw the title since the original motors had much less power. As soon as I heard the engine, though, the title made sense.
My parents had a 1964 Beetle rated at 40hp from its 1200cc engine. Our old beetle could reach maybe 70 mph on a flat road (the manual claimed 72), which was usually OK back when the speed limit was only 55. Any time we saw a hill up ahead, we would floor it to gain enough extra speed to hopefully avoid downshifting and ending up with the motor screaming in 3rd at 45mph.
By the way, the emblem symbolises the city of Wolfsburg, where VWs are built. Wolf = Wulf & Burg = Castle and its located near a canal
Originaly called Fallersleben
I first saw these cars in Africa in the 50s. Exciting to look at. Top speed about 80mph wind assisted.
Another good car of the era was the VW fastback.
That thing has real, usable power! 60's (well, 50's) looks with modern power
Years ago I built a 1969 Ghia. It had a 1835cc full counter balanced crank, big cam, weber 42's on ported dual port heads. It would really move, 911's were no competition for it in a street light race. I built a custom all VDO gauge dash that was padded and covered with the same black vinyl that the rest of the interior was done in. It was all done and Tuck and Roll style with matching black headliner. I put a nice Sound system in it. Remove the bumpers put polished aluminum push bars on it. Front and rear had chrome disc wheels front rear. It was a nice car.
Sounds hormonal. Glorious.... a well setup a/c 4pot flat 4 a thing of beauty.
May God bless you
Whoa, that engine sound was not expected at all. I used to drive a 1963 1300cc Beatle, and the sound was more like a never ending series of tuk-tuk-tuk's, that was a feature.
i worked at the osnabrück factory karmann where the ghia was produced. beautiful car
Nice to see a solid example. Most have rotted away. Very rust prone. Beautiful!
Just hearing the shifter moving around before startup told me there's beefy linkage and a stronger shifter mechanism. I had a 914/6 that I put a rennshift shifter in and this shifter sounded nice and solid, just like the rennshift! What a blast this car must be and probably surprised quite a few unsuspecting drivers of faster cars on the road! PS, I'm guessing the owner, being a Porsche guy, upgraded the brakes and suspension? Love these type sleeper cars!
Finally, back to the "regular" format. Massive thumbs up for that.
The format never changed. I’ve added maybe 12 seconds of another angle outside the car over the course of a 20 minute video to help with transitions and give more view of the vehicles.
@@TedwardDrives That was the format change, which I really didn't like, personally. It messed with the flow of the video, and felt like an ADHD addition. However, to each their own; a fair amount of people seemed to like it.
Wow !!! I didn't expect this ! The torque is perfect and the temperament is unbelievable 😅🥰👍
Beautiful Ghia and the engine is fantastic. Dave Kindig, who worked on a lot of VWs in his early days, built the most beautiful one I've ever seen, but I don't recall what he did for the engine. Possibly dropped a Porsche in it. He gave the car to his wife maybe so he could drive it from time to time. Always admired the design.
I had short-throw gearsticks on my VW's. They were "aluminium quick shifts" - just a metal bracket you fit under the gear stick. Still available today.
A real stunner. Just gorgeous colour combo. And a perfect weather for such cruise too. And it does it at lower RPM than my old Mk4 Golf did in 5th. 😅
Seeing the "GIHA" in the frunk though had me double check whether I always spelled its name wrong or not. 🤣
Beautiful. Love your enthusiasm!. Looks like a 2020 Texas registration sticker on the windshield. Guess the (Texas) owner didn't like the lack of A/C.
Two memories of the "Ghia" by VW for me is: 1) One of my dad's musician friends had an "off-yellow" '64 or '65 model. Sure was "his baby". I remember in the two years I did some of his lawn mowing/trimming back in 1965 & '66 (I was 15 to 16 years old), I had to be extra careful being around his "Ghia".
The other memory...#2) was early July, 1970 in the evening, driving a radio school classmate's 1966 Chevy Impala (maroon color 283 c.i.d. V8 four barrel carb) to see fireworks at Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. I was by myself...and going on I-85 from Peachtree Street, a 1970 "Ghia" stalled going onto the drive ramp to I-85. A beautiful 22 year "popped the clutch" and killed the engine so...Bamboo! I hit the rear end of the car. She claimed that her daddy (..."Sugar Daddy"??) bought her the VW recently and was devastated with the wreck. It seemed like forever to get the Atlanta Police there...let alone the curses we got from the drivers to get around this "little incident ". Anyway...exchange of insurance companies and warning from the police did that night a time that will live in infamy for me. In fact, now that I'm 74 now...everytime I drive by that area I think of that event! That was about 55 years ago!
Besides that...VW's were fun to drive. Dad had a 1963 black "Bug"... got a 1970 light blue VW "Fastback" that was to be my car by January of 1975. Myself...I got a 1969 dark green "Bug" in early April of 1972. That one had one of those "roll-back crank sunroof" design.
Of the three - the '70 "Fastback" was the best. I named her, "Heidi" after a national "human intrest" story I read in early 1975.
Oh...I had the privilege of also driving a 1970 red VW "Bus". All these models of course "four on the floor" stick shifts. I bet I can still do the stick shift stuff. Like a bicycle, you can't forget how to make it work.
My first car a 72 I bought from a porche mechanic. He had a better carb and a Hurst trigger shifter! It flew under the radar!
Karmann Ghia is burned in my memory forever since I have seen it in OMD - Souvenir music video. Thank you very much, as always, for sharing another great piece of machinery with us!
watch OMD Tesla Girls vid and drive a TVR 280i
What a fun and joyful drive! I must remind you, though, that for most of us peasant enthusiasts the phrase “$50-100 Ghia” still makes us think…”WTF!”
Such a beautiful car. I even have a full size die cast model of it that I have owned for about 30 years -- and it's in red!
Just imagine a 130HP Wehmacht Kubel KDF VW! :-)
These were rare as sin back in the day much less in 2024. Drooool.
In Canada, they were all over the place, but we had lots of small European cars and we were used to them.
I drove a late sixties Carman Ghia.It was a spirited ride even with only sixty hp.on tap.
Great video ! one of my automotive pet peaves is dirty windshields . They also make night driving a living hell with all the glare .
I used to have a '66 Karmann-Ghia with a 1776cc Dual Weber. It was two tone Dark Green with a White top, Chrome rims with Porsche Nipples and yeah, it jammed! It was built by a guy that worked on Porsches and BMWs. It was one sweet little car. The '65 looks exactly like the '66, but it doesn't have the accent trim across the dash, like the '66.
60 in 3rd is crazy!
Man when I was a kid you could see these everywhere ! The thing you’ll notice about VW in the auto trader is everyone you see for sale says rebuilt engine and that says to me you’ll never get 90,000 miles out of one without a rebuild and there is really only so many times you can rebuild an engine before it’s time to replace that engine .
I always wanted one with a 914 6 cylinder engine and a Getrag 5-speed. This sounds just as good.
This the type of car you put in your living room as a piece of art and be done with it
I love the exhaust note!
Saw one the other day with front/rear chrome bumpers removed, in all black. Looked amazing and so properly Italian.
I got to drive once for a day, teaching how to shift. Had a great feel.
Wow! Stunning,.....I felt like I was driving along sitting on your shoulder. Sweet ride!...This one has spunk,....so responsive and fast. Delicious. Fun!
The emblem on the buckle is called the Wolfsberg emblem
I had a 1967 Karmann Gina as my high school car in the early 1970s.
tuve uno ,en mi pais Uruguay ,fue mi primer auto ,era del año 58 creo era de los primeros ,aleman ,porque luego se fabricaron en Brazil ,motor 1100 muy lindo en carretera ,poco motor peeero en una base militar ( que no nombrare ) nos daban nafta de 100 octanos ,con lo cual se movia un poco mas alegre ,si calentaba un poco pero no pasaba nada .lindos recuerdos ,saludos ...
I owned a '68 Ghia years ago. Would love to own another now that I can afford to maintain one.
Great video.. great car! I know it's extra work, but I like & appreciate the 3rd Person + 1st Person cams. Keep it going! Cheers.
Kudos on this. It looks totally original but has some tricks up it's sleeve.
The Ghia is an interesting VW, almost not like the "BUG" except it really is one MECHANICALLY but not cosmetically!!! My first car was a 1959 VW "BUG", which not many people would know about the LACK of creature comforts in the early "BUGS" (1949-1966). Examples gas gauge wasn't standard until 1961 along with a increase in HP by 4HP (36>40) and synchronize First gear!!! I later got a 1964 BUG that a old friend helped me rebuild the 40hp (1200cc). We used "JC Whitney" catalog to order parts for the engine to make it more POWERFUL!!! I got a BIG BORE KIT for it (77mm>83mm), no machining the heads, Holley 2 barrel, Mr Gasket dual point distributor, headers, I was limited on funds is why I didn't do more modifications!! Oh used a Porsche diaphragm clutch which worked out GREAT! My BUG would squat and BARK the rear tires which for a 1964 VW BUG that is saying something in this part of the country!!😮😊 It's nice to have a LITTLE BIT MORE HORSE POWER especially in a OLD VW BUG!!!😢
What a gorgeous car! Thanks!
I had a 1970 convertible (a cabriolet officially) in sky blue, with a factory accessory blumenvase (bud vase) on the dash. I loved that car so much. It’s a light car and much more aerodynamic than a beetle. A little torque goes a long way in these cars.
Tedward said the engine had been built by a builder in California. I wonder if the builder was Steph Rossi of ACE Racing Engines in Torrance, Ca. He has built quite a few of these classic Porsche and Volkswagen 4 cylinder engines for domestic and international customers. Naturally aspirated and turbo charged.
Drove with a friend in his Karman from L.A. to northern California. It was the most uncomfortable ride I've ever had. Couldn't stretch my legs straight because of the floor pan shape. Legs were always angled to the center!
First car I owned was a Ghia. Floors were rusted out but was a blast to drive
Man, what a great car!
Simply, beautiful!
I had a '61 KG with a '65 engine. It did not have a gas gauge. It had a handle to switch to reserve gasoline when the main section of the tank ran out. I put on a performance exhaust system and rejetted with carburetor. I could "chirp" my wheels coming out of a red light.
The wooden plaque in the frunk says "GIHA", not "Ghia". Otherwise, a beautiful piece.
How in the f*** did I miss that!?
There was a short Karma Gia craze where I grew up, nice looking car but were crazy turtles on the road but this one is a snapping turtle, I get it. thanks.
I love the mid-sixties VW’s and Karmann-Ghia’s. My first car was ‘65 VW in 1968. I have driven a KG and it handled amazing well. But now at 73 and 260 lbs, I don’t think I would fit too well but I would to drive and find out for sure. One note, on this car it appears the gas gauge is fluctuating with the engine speed… need to check and be sure the gas gauge is grounded properly.
I’ll check but a lot of the time the fuel will slosh under acceleration so it just pools near the sender unit
I really like the tachometer. I had a 73 that came with a clock instead, and had to have a print shop make a tach face for a generic tach to make it look original.
I think this is a "restomod" done correctly. Beautiful car!