Have you heard about the new model just released by VW for Rich Volks?
I ran across this article in one of my vintage car mags (Road & Track October 1955)
Check it out.........
(http://sjvwc.net/coppermine/albums/userpics/Ghia_1955%7E0.jpg)
Meh its just a ghia i thought it was going to be a bus.
:-)
Since the scan isn't real clear, here is what the text says:
One of the hottest current news items for those interested ion the People?s Car is tha Volkswagen has a glamour model! But before anyone protests that they don?t want a change, let it be emphasized that the car pictured on the page is an addition to the line, and the old familiar ?beetles? will continue to purr from Wolfsburg, beeping at each other on the highways of the world (albeit with raised tail lights and built-in blinkers).
Ghia has designed the new body, and it is being built by Karmann of Germany. Although a stock engine and standard VW chassis components are used, the smooth contours of the new body will permit a top speed about 10 mph greater then the sedan. Designed as a two seater coupe, the car has an overall length of 163 in., a width of 64.2 in. and is 52.2 in. high. Ground clearance is 6.8 in. and unladen weight is 1782 lbs. There is 6.4 cu. Ft. of space behind the seats and 2.8 cu. Ft. in the front compartment.
The Ghia-Karmann VW will make its U.S. appearance in late September and the western selling price will be about $2450
Don,
One fact the article missed is that the original Ghia design was actually a prototype rejected by Chrysler. Back in the early 50's Chrysler got worried when GM & Ford came out with the 2 seater personal sports concept in the Corvette and Thunderbird. The original idea was to have a 2 seater designed and built by Ghia of Turin Italy. When the Chrysler execs saw the prototype, a front engined sports car they thought the whole project was impractical and would never fly. From what I've read this was sometime around 1953-54 or so. The "recycling" of this design allowed VW to use the sleek body on a modified type 1 pan and the rest is history. Just for the record those early cars are referred to as "Low light" ghias because of the position of the headlights which are lower in the fenders than the later models. 2CENTS