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Wed Jan 09, 2008 7:57 pm

Can somebody know the history of that prototype from the Karmann museum?

I really love that car! It is in the basement of the Karmann museum!

Claude

Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:25 pm

I believe that is a 1962 proto which could have easily replaced the type 1 model but it was never sent into production due to rigidity problems with the windshield. Retrowagen might chime in because he would most likely know for sure. Brazil must have liked the front end design because they pretty much copied it into they're TC model.

That proto reminds me of a type 1 ghia, a corvair, and an old volvo or mercedes... rolled into one.

A Karmann Ghia TC

Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:57 pm

That's a Ghia prototype, Type 14 based, for a "modernized" Karmann-Ghia. It was penned in Turin at Ghia by Sergio Sartorelli, who by then had superceded Luigi Segre as chief of design, anno 1960 (some Karmann books incorrectly credit the date of production as 1962). It very much was reminiscent of trends in Italian auto design of that year, and embodied a look towards overlaying more angular elements onto a curvy icon. In some ways, it works well - at least, it's recognizable as Karmann-Ghia based!

The interior was quite trendy, as well - very early Corvair-ish, with the conspicuous addition of the all-red late 1957 KG steering wheel!

Sartorelli went on to style the prototype Type 34, not a far stretch after this Type 14 proto.

Interestingly, Sartorelli's roofline was echoed on Pinifarina's 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine:

Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:12 pm

Man, that ghia would have been a killer ride!

Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:47 am

From the top picture of the prototype I just can't see it as a missed opportunity...more like a lucky escape.I know it's all a matter of personal taste but it just doesn't do it for me.

The angular form of the rear pillars and the square rear end has no flow to it like the soft curves of the production design.

Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:32 am

Hello from Germany,

may I ask when those pictures Claude posted where taken (and who took them)? It seems to me not too long ago.

Regards

Jörg Fischer

Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:55 pm

I personnaly took these pics in June just before the BC show this year (2007). These were taken at The Karmann factory (in the basement of the museum) ... It is a long and amazing story. I will post a couple of more pics for the ghia fan later!
regards
Claude

Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:21 pm

but that red on red 58-59 steering wheel is a nice combo

Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:06 pm

On the pics that was sent by ''scrapmetal'' there is a beach buggy...and also a Brasilian KG...see the pics below...all these cars at the same place.

and more
heb, brasilian kg and t3 ghia

Claude

Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:07 am

vwclap wrote: I personnaly took these pics in June just before the BC show this year (2007). These were taken at The Karmann factory (in the basement of the museum) ... It is a long and amazing story. I will post a couple of more pics for the ghia fan later!
regards
Claude

Thanks for the answer. Did you go with Frau Schlesiger?

I just wondered because when I was down at the basement in August 2007 it looked exactly the same.

BTW I have also been to BC.

Regards Jörg

In the back of this picture you can recognize the white original T341 (Type 34 Cabriolet) of Karmann. The one which was used by Johannes Beeskow (former leader of the technical development at Karmann) as his company car for many years:

Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:30 pm

Here is a bunch of pics not all ghia but very Karmann...from the same visit.
Another convert T3 ghia. Note the red car after the T3. A 411/412 style convert. next pic after the ghia.

after the ghia there is some strange Karmann Jeep . I do not know if these where marketed somewhere...

and last pics for this post a convert T 3 Notch.

I am sure you agree that we where in Vw heaven. On that same week we have visited both Vws museum, and visited the Porsche factory and Museum. We also met an old guy that was in the german army driven schwimwagen and looked at period photo of him with the schwim.. It was a very pleasant trip to Germany....
Claude

Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:00 pm

What was upstairs if all of these were in the basement? The three times I was there almost all of these cars were upstairs?

Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:14 am

Lot of cars that were done by Karmann starting from horse carriage to new models.
A couple of T3 ghia including a fastback. Last Karmann convertible beetle made. The first ghia. Sirocco and Corrado, Vw porsche 914, 356 notchback and other european cars modified by Karmann.
Her a couple of pics of the grand father of the ghia and the new ghia!

and the first one

note the rear and front glass treatment

Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:33 pm

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Great photos! Thanks!

Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:50 pm

Any more pictures of the first ghia made?

Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:38 pm

Where is this located? Is it in Onasbruck? What did you think of it?

Zack

Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:01 pm

Our visit to the museum was great and the car is beautiful. It is the grand daddy of our Ghia!

Anybody has pics of the karmann museum to share with us?

here the last pics of the first ghia

Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:03 pm

...and yes it is in Onasbruck
Claude

Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:45 pm

vwclap wrote: Our visit to the museum was great and the car is beautiful. It is the grand daddy of our Ghia!

The perfect color on a Karmann Ghia. :D

Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:50 pm

I visited the private Karmann Museum Collection in the summer of 2000. We had a private tour with Karin and she was very accomodating with us. We even were treated to see their private library, viewing hundreds of Karmann photos of their cars in various scenes, prototype sections of enhancements to various models, the original log showing vehicle production dates, and more. I, of course, was most interested in their T34 vehicles & history, so most of my pics are involving T34s.

Their line-up of the three T34 models in the main display area.

Pearl White 1963 Cabriolet, one of five original M341's alive today

Ruby Red 1600 TC Fastback prototype (first built in 1965 then later upgraded in 1969 with an Automatic chassis/engine)

Silver 1969 Electric Sunroof Automatic

Ergonomic testing of the T34 seating position in 1967 ... very rare photo!

Early 1960-61 rear fender with T14 hub cap & prototype vents!

Redesigning the front nose of the T34 ... probably in 1962-63.

I'm excited to learn from Claude that Karmann owns two other T34s in the basement, the Dark Blue & Dark Red Coupes. Very interesting!