1953 Ghia Prototype

rarefinds · Samba Member Joined: March 21, 2005 Posts: 312

[Mod edit: These first photos are now blocked by Photobucket. The rest of the thread is nonetheless quite interesting.]
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c339/rarefinds_1954/53ghiadsh.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c339/rarefinds_1954/53ghia.jpg

This might be a repost. I wanted to share these pictures of the 1953 Ghia prototype.

(Mod edit, due to Photobuckets new policies of preventing photos from displaying, I posted some photos from another thread..........)

70 140 · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 9:22 pm Post subject:

I guess that bus length shifter was eliminated by the time production rolled around... LOL

Lind · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject:

I see you got the 100 years of karmann book.

that car is funky stuff. I like the refinements that they made for the production versions.

the car is in the Karmann museum of course.
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rarefinds · Samba Member Joined: March 21, 2005 Posts: 312

I did a search in the gallery before I posted. There are a few other pictures of the car but none were of the dash. Very different than the production models. My best regards go out to Mr. Carter for sending me that book a few years ago. Pretty interesting stuff

KGCoupe · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 9:53 pm Post subject:

My favorite details are the wood strip on the top edge of the door, and the way the door glass and quarter window meet up with no trim.

jason_hamilton · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 10:23 pm Post subject:

It has a very Porsche-like level of fit and finish. Leather seats, chrome trim on the door pillar, the little leather pull for the map pocket...
I really like that dash, too. You can image that if the car went into production with all the accoutrements of the prototype, it would hardly have been an economy car.
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1969 Karmann Ghia coupe
@MiddleAgedHoon

Gary · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 6:07 am Post subject:

That interior trim on the windshield would have been murder on a sunny day.
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TC/TeamEvil · Samba Member Joined: February 16, 2004 Posts: 1768

What a beauty! It's much more obvious in the prototype(s) that the car comes from an Italian design firm. LOTS of cues from other cars by Ghia on the first versions.

SWEET ! !

MdR · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 8:03 am Post subject:

Buggeroff · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 10:45 am Post subject:

I adore the needles on the instruments, reminds me of a Swiss watch.

Chris.
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"Chris of the Ozarks"

Headlinerless 57 Ghia
Thread deleter extrordinaire.

Rome · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 11:43 am Post subject:

"Luigi, you salami-head, you're supposed to put the chrome trim on the OUTSIDE of the windshield!" Smile

If this car never went into production when it did, and somebody would have discovered the prototype and made a limited run of the body on a current chassis, I still think the public would be impressed by the lines and curves of the body. Incredible talent to come up with a body design that is still very appealing over 1/2 a CENTURY later.

Its headlamps look TINY- are they not 7"? Or is it just the lack of the "nipple" blinkers underneath that we're used to seeing, that makes the headlamps look "lost" at the front of the fenders?

Rollo Tomasi · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 12:13 pm Post subject:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

rarefinds · Samba Member Joined: March 21, 2005 Posts: 312

Rollo Tomasi · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 2:33 pm Post subject:

Thanks, I also asked for a ride but the Karmann Museum didnt like the idea Very Happy

JeffL · Samba Member Joined: September 04, 2004 Posts: 1437

Great pictures.

Don't they let you sit in the Ghia anymore? It has been 10 years since I last visited the museum but I too got to sit in the car. We had a private audience for our group of 6 people, followed by a tour and then lunch in their dining room. It was great.

Door handles.

You have to see the Chrysler D'Elegance. Door handles I think are exactly the same. Adds a little credibility that Ghia might have stolen some body lines from Chrysler (or the othe way around). I have some pics of the Chrysler. If I can find them I'll up load them.

The 53 Ghia started off as a Beetle that was stripped down and became the basis for the Ghia.

74Ghia · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject:

I'd rather see the gal in rarefind's avatar sitting in that ghia. Tho sets of gorgeous curves. Oh goodie!!!!! Razz

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2012 Silverado
53 FiberFab MG TD Replica (VW)

Life is hard and its harder if you're stupid.

74Ghia · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject:

I also like the sun visors. Did the production version ever have those inside door handles?
_________________
Allen C.

2012 Silverado
53 FiberFab MG TD Replica (VW)

Life is hard and its harder if you're stupid.

Gary · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 5:36 pm Post subject:

Rollo Tomasi · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 5:45 pm Post subject:

I have pictures of the engine, (not in this computer). K manifold, 54-55? type 1 airclener, sealed in the middle air box, 383 dist with black cap,

Gary · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject:


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