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Tue May 11, 2010 8:50 pm

what is differences on a 55 ghia than a later lowlight? please post pictures of everything. :? :?

Tue May 11, 2010 8:58 pm

The evolution was continous through the "Lowlight" era - such a question is rather nebulous and not easily answered.

Tue May 11, 2010 9:51 pm

There's no such thing as a 55 Ghia. The first model year was 56.

Tue May 11, 2010 9:57 pm

After restoring my 1957 lowlight I kind of have an idea on how a 1955-57 ghia differs from later ones ( like a 1959) steering wheel components, deluxe for the 1959 ones, paint schemes. Let's put it this way 1955-1957 obtained most of their parts from the oval window in terms of the interior parts. the 1958-59 were kind of deluxe versions but with the same pan, engine but slightly different interior( more blinged up in some sort of way)

Well that's just my opinion while going thru the restoration of my lowlight coupe. Currently right now is still a work in progress.....

Wed May 12, 2010 3:50 am

Bruce wrote: There's no such thing as a 55 Ghia. The first model year was 56.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/productionfigureskg.php

Wed May 12, 2010 4:40 am

Bruce wrote: There's no such thing as a 55 Ghia. The first model year was 56.

I thought they didn't have model years for Ghias until later?

Wed May 12, 2010 4:43 am

Bruce wrote: There's no such thing as a 55 Ghia. The first model year was 56.

For the Karmann Ghia "Model Years" started in August 1959. Before that as "retrowagen" has said there was a policy of continuous improvements, after that consolidated upgrades followed the normal Volkswagen "model years."

Wed May 12, 2010 4:57 am

O no :shock:

Not again the discussion about model years for the lowlight cars.

There was not such thing as a model year.

Patrick

Wed May 12, 2010 10:04 am

Indeed, as Karmann was an independent coachbuilder, making cars out of VW parts supplied by VW and other independent OEM suppliers, they did not necessarily have batch changes that might correspond to a "model year" during this era.

I have compiled a list of production detail changes from August 1955 through August 1959 for the Type 14 and there are over 100 things that changed on these cars during that short four years...

Wed May 12, 2010 2:48 pm

Bruce wrote: There's no such thing as a 55 Ghia. The first model year was 56.

The VIN tags tell a different story...

(All pictures from the samba gallery)

Wed May 12, 2010 9:41 pm

The build year (Baujahr) is NOT the model year. Just like a body number isn't a VIN.

You guys are living a fantasy if you think VW had different cutoffs for the model year for the different cars. Beetles made after Aug 55 are 56 model year cars. Same applies to the other Type 1.

Wed May 12, 2010 9:50 pm

Bruce, Karmann Ghias were not made by Volkswagen.

Thu May 13, 2010 12:41 am

You don't think I don't know that? DUH! Made by Karmann.
Makes no difference. The car is a VOLKSWAGEN. Controlled by Wolfsburg. Sold by VW. Serviced by VW.

Thu May 13, 2010 2:29 am

Bruce wrote: You don't think I don't know that? DUH! Made by Karmann.
Makes no difference. The car is a VOLKSWAGEN. Controlled by Wolfsburg. Sold by VW. Serviced by VW.

...I think then we all know what we can expect when you write your book on The Karmann Ghia.

Thu May 13, 2010 3:19 am

What is the definition of a model year?

From aug 1959 on, the changes to the karmann ghia were made every year in august and therefor we can talk about modelyears. But before august 1959 Karmann made the bodychanges when they wanted and not nessesary in august.

As Dave also mentioned, there are over 100 changes during the first couple of years on many different dates. A lot of changes in the lowlight periode were made on 16 september 1957.

What about the early beetle. Does they have a 1940, 1941, 1942, modelyear??

Patrick

Thu May 13, 2010 7:47 am

pbaptist wrote:
What about the early beetle. Does they have a 1940, 1941, 1942, modelyear??
The idea of adopting a model year wasn't a new thing, nor was it devised by VW. Chevrolet started using the idea in the late 1920s.
VW adopted the concept in Aug 55. It is totally a marketing concept. The dates when mechanical changes occured is irrelevant. VW constantly made changes mid-year even up in the 70s.

Keep living your fantasy.

Thu May 13, 2010 8:58 am

Bruce wrote: It is totally a marketing concept. The dates when mechanical changes occured is irrelevant. ...
Keep living your fantasy.

Then it would make sense that the marketing tools (brochures) for the model would make light of this. Do they???

Thu May 13, 2010 8:26 pm

retrowagen wrote: Bruce wrote: It is totally a marketing concept. The dates when mechanical changes occured is irrelevant. ...
Keep living your fantasy.

Then it would make sense that the marketing tools (brochures) for the model would make light of this. Do they???

Explain how all those Aug 55 to Dec 55s got registered as 1956 model year cars when they were new.

Thu May 13, 2010 8:37 pm

Bruce wrote: retrowagen wrote: Bruce wrote: It is totally a marketing concept. The dates when mechanical changes occured is irrelevant. ...
Keep living your fantasy.

Then it would make sense that the marketing tools (brochures) for the model would make light of this. Do they???

Explain how all those Aug 55 to Dec 55s got registered as 1956 model year cars when they were new.

Good point Bruce...
My early brochure does not have any mention of dates or model year.

Thu May 13, 2010 8:40 pm

retrowagen wrote: Indeed, as Karmann was an independent coachbuilder, making cars out of VW parts supplied by VW and other independent OEM suppliers, they did not necessarily have batch changes that might correspond to a "model year" during this era.

I have compiled a list of production detail changes from August 1955 through August 1959 for the Type 14 and there are over 100 things that changed on these cars during that short four years...

Not to hijack this thread, but when is your book going to be ready, Dave? I can hardly wait to order one!

John