1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible In 2020, Fortune magazine published an article entitled The, (100), Greatest Designs of All Time. We don't know who the judges were, but the Porsche 911 made the list and so did the VW Beetle. Oddly enough, if a 911 and a Beetle had a baby, it would look exactly like a Karmann Ghia, which is why that car was named by legendary industrial designer W. Dorwin Teague in 1969 as one of the world's most beautifully designed products. The story of the design and how it came to be is too long for this page, but worth a read for those interested. For consignment, a 1973 Karmann Ghia showing 46,301 miles, but the true miles are unknown due to a PA title exemption. Although more than 400,000 Karmann Ghias were produced, finding one in good condition is becoming increasingly rare these days, and if the model is on your dream list, this two owner, garage kept and well documented car might be worth a look.  Exterior Amongst the 17 colors available on the Karmann Ghia in 1973 were four shades of red. This is a good representation, Cherry Red, now in two stage application that's certainly an eye catcher. The only thing shinier than the paint is the chrome and brightwork on the car which adds to the show worthy quality and includes a double strip of side trim, while the black canvas top offers contrast and along with the glass window, presents in very good condition. 15-inch steel wheels carry reflective center caps and 165HR15 tires with a mid 2023 date code. The fantastic design combines elements of Porsche, British roadsters and of course, other historic Ghia designs. Imperfections on this one include various small paint inclusions, some rust on the rear fender and blistering on others, and a couple of paint chips.  Interior A bi-level pattern of black and tan vinyl smartly covers the door panels accented by the black window crank and door handle. The tan vinyl bucket seats show some age and compression but are in good condition and fully intact. A simple steering wheel with the Wolfsburg emblem fronts an equally simple dash with just two gauges that relay speed, miles traveled, time, and the fuel level. An original AM radio is in the middle and there are numerous knobs in other areas of the dashboard. The floor mounted shifter adds a touch of wood with the handle  a simple parking brake is nearby while black loop carpet covers the floor, footwells, rear shelf and front trunk and spare tire.  Drivetrain The engine presents cleanly out back, a 1585cc flat 4 cylinder rated at 46 horsepower and fueled via a 1-barrel carburetor. It's backed by a 4-speed manual transaxle the keeps power in back, routed through 4.13 gears.   Undercarriage Driver quality conditions with the typical surface rust and oxidation, but nothing is damaged and the large belly pan remains in good condition. The dual exhaust runs through stock style mufflers and brakes are divided as front disc and rear drum. Suspension includes a transverse torsion bar in front and back with semi trailing arms accompanying in the rear, and both ends are independent.  Drive-Ability Volkswagen has put out some fun cars over the years and you can certainly include the Ghia in the mix. It's not the fastest car on the planet, but the profile and layout makes for good times. We wheel our way around the test loop and the newer tires provide good grip as the car provides a low center of gravity. We note the clock is not working and the speedometer jumps around a bit. Beyond that, all functions work as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase. By now, we've all heard the slight dis on this car when it was called the poor man's Porsche. Well, today it's the smart man's collectible and is no longer seen as a Porsche alternative. Oh, and women love it too! This is a very nice