Fraternal Twins (Vintage VW Sport Model Content Inside)

[dltracy]

I've posted pictures of my Karmann Ghia on The Samba before and talked a little bit about the history before, but for those who aren't aware.....

VW "officially" produced, marketed, and recognized a special edition of the Super Beetle called the "Sport Bug" it came with special wheels, steering wheel, shift knob, and seats. It came in either Silver or Yellow with a custom stripe accent kit.

Legend has it that VWoA contacted Karmann directly asking if they would build them a "Sport Ghia" in the same fashion as the Sport Bug. VWoA was a little concerned about the slacking sales of the Karmann Ghia and wanted to try and vamp it up to see if they could save the car.

So in 1973 Karmann started producing a Sport Ghia and shipping them to the USA. Supposedly VWAG in Germany found out about the project and got a little pissed thinking that VWoA was intentionally going over their head and keeping them in the dark about it. So in an effort to flex their muscles and assert their domination they killed the project when there were only very few of them produced. The number is generally accepted to be between a few hundred and a few thousand. Also, there is supposedly no remaining documentation or records of the Sport Ghia that anyone knows about. So..... Who really knows what the truth is.

My Karmann Ghia has been in my family since new. My Grandfather bought it brand new at Jack Van Wyk VW in California. It was given to my parents as a wedding gift. My Mom being the oldest of the siblings in her family and the first to get married. She got the car. Then shortly thereafter, I was born. I'm also the oldest of my siblings. When my parents brought me home from the hospital it was on my Mom's lap riding in this very same Karmann Ghia. It then made it's way back to my Grandfather, and through my aunt and uncles. In 2004 My Grandfather gave it to me and I've been slowly restoring it ever since.

About 4 years ago I see this house in a neighborhood in Tempe that has a couple cars under car covers in the driveway. I can recognize from the shapes that one is a Beetle, and one is a Corrado. I knock on the door and meet a really cool lady named Celeste. She's in her 30's, and she did indeed have a Corrado and a Beetle. Along with those, she had an 85 Vanagon, a Porsche 930, and an E46 3 Series sedan. All of the cars in her possession were either purchased by herself brand new, or by one of her family members brand new. I ended up buying the Corrado off of her and we've been friends ever since. The Super Beetle she owned.....

Well it happened to be a Yellow and Black Sport Bug.

Although I have now known her for several years. I never got around to taking any pictures of our cars together until the other day.

So here they are. An original Sport Ghia in the possession of a single family since new, and an original Sport Bug in the possession of a single family since new.....

Enjoy.

Here's an original ad for the Sport Bug from a 1973 issue of Sports Illustrated

and just for fun..... Here's a couple pics that I snapped at this old abandoned and vandalized fruit factory out near my Dad's house on Thanksgiving morning.

[crazy_head]

They look awsome!!
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'72 super Beetle 1776CC SOLD SOLD SOLD
"cause FAT CHICKS need love too..."

Not everyone can roll a fatty!

1969 subabaja PROJECT

[flierbob]

Thanks for showing us your finds.
Bob

[wompninja]

Very cool.

[61SNRF]

Great pictures of them together. Also great story on the Ghia Sport model. For sure this is the place to start the discussion on them. Maybe someone else has seen or heard of one before, not me!. Too bad they couldn't fit the 5.5" wheels too, looks like a clearance issue with the rear wheel wells.
What exactly does it have or share with the Bug besides the Saturn Yellow paint and stripes?

[striider]

I think I have a VW Sporty semi-chubber! Super, super cool pics, THanks!

[Bruce]

[dltracy]

[George Evans]

Man, thats a clean ghia! Very nice!

[George Evans]

You guys may be able to answer this: I have seen (supposedly) Saturn Yellow cars in metallic yellow an almost a pail yellow (faded?) & just plain yellow.
Is there more than one formula? What is correct?

[dltracy]

[ach60]

L 13 M (26) saturn yellow
Was a pretty brite solid (not metallic) color when new, but tended to fade real fast.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/paintcodestype1.php
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Good Luck
Al