Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
9th October, 2024 13:00
1962 VW Karmann Ghia 1200 Cabriolet
Subject to an extensive bare-metal restoration
Estimate
£32, 000 - £38, 000
Registration No: 713 XVX
Chassis No: 4855207
MOT: Exempt
Offered with VW Dating Certificate
Subject to an extensive bare-metal restoration c. 11 years ago
An early 1963 model year example
There are shapes that simply look successful even after decades and are not subject to short-term fashion, these are, in other words, ‘design classics’. The VW Type 14 Karmann Ghia can certainly be counted among them and perhaps a little further ‘off the radar’ than its more pedigree Italian cousins. Of the three fathers of this global success, Wilhelm Karmann produced them for VW, with VW boss, Heinz Nordhoff, approving the delivery of the re-worked and widened VW Type 1 chassis for VW, with the Italian Carozzeria Ghia responsible for the design of the VW Type 14.
The Volkswagen Dating Certificate confirms the first delivery in Koblenz, Germany, with a build date of 6th August 1962, within the very first week of 1963 Model Year production at Osnabrück. Originally ordered in Pacific Blue (L398), it now wears a stunning Cherry Red with a Cream roof and Cream with Tan vinyl interior. Originally registered in 1962 for its first Hungarian owner, it was later exported to Germany, possibly in 2012. Bought by Pyritz-Classics, Frankfurt, the VW Karmann Ghia underwent an extensive bare metal restoration some 10-12 years ago, before the Cherry Red paint was applied, the straight, believed accident-free body was separated from the chassis and a replacement 1200cc engine by AT installed.
Stored in the dry since, including in the possession of our vendor, there is no rust evident. The vendor informs us there were two tiny areas of rust starting under the battery housing, but these have been treated and painted. The gearbox has been overhauled and has since been run for some 5, 900km. Save for some new components, this Cabriolet has not been modified since and has been restored extremely sympathetically, having the accolade of appearing in the pages of the Karmann Ghia Owner’s Club calendar and on the front of their magazine.
Minor imperfections include some wear on the driver’s front seat, a small tear on the headliner, minor scuffing on the glove-box lid, a small scratch on the right front fender, some tiny spots of rust on the hub caps and the horn not working. Stored under a car-cover in a locked garage all the time, the car cover included, it has been driven fewer than 100 miles per year, the vendor has taken the Cabriolet to a few shows and avoided driving in the rain. A beautiful example with supporting documentation, including a sales invoice for £46, 500 in June 2022 from Pyritz-Classics, Frankfurt, the Cabriolet is supplied with some Hungarian documentation, a VW Dating Certificate and the V5C Registration Document.
