Special edition ghia's

[rlutterb]

Found a very cool web site for special edition beetles today, http://www.sebeetles.com/contents.htm
Where there many/any special edition ghias made? Any web sites that outline them?

[pbaptist]

I can think of 3 sort of special Editions Karmann-ghia's

1966 Pigalle (red interior, red steering wheel, red dash pad)
1966 Teak (brown interior, brown steering wheel, brown dash pad)
1973 sports ghia (Yellow with black stripings)

And if you also consider the karmann-ghia not build in Germany

1956-1960 Montage Suisse. (Karmann-ghia's made in Suisse) (very rare)
Karmann-ghia's build in Brasil

Patrick
_________________
Dutch Karmann-Ghia and coachbuild lover.
1* Karmann Ghia Coupe (1966 Teak)
2* Karmann Ghia Convertible (1958, 1971)
4* Rometsch Lawrence (nr 534, 555, 558 and 561)

Karmann-Ghia Lowlight page and registry
Karmann-Ghia Collectibles database

[pbaptist]

Five years after my last post, I can finally show you a picture with all the three special editions together.

This is probably the first time that all the three special editions are captured in one picture. The teak is the most rare of them all. Only three are known to have survived and this is the only one that is currently running.

1966 Pigalle
1966 Teak
1973 Sport ghia

_________________
Dutch Karmann-Ghia and coachbuild lover.
1* Karmann Ghia Coupe (1966 Teak)
2* Karmann Ghia Convertible (1958, 1971)
4* Rometsch Lawrence (nr 534, 555, 558 and 561)

Karmann-Ghia Lowlight page and registry
Karmann-Ghia Collectibles database

[John Moxon]

Did the '66 Teak have the same dash trim Patrick?
_________________
John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[pbaptist]

[John Moxon]

[KGCoupe]

I've read the various threads here telling the story about the Sport Ghia (or a much of the story as can be pieced together, anyway), so I understand why there were so very few of them produced.

My question about the pigale and the teak versions is this - were they "limited editions", meaning the total production number was intentionally limited by design, or were they just "standard" interior color choices that were available to anyone that wanted to order them during that model year and are rare only because few people opted to do so?

Thanks for the pic of them all together, BTW.
How does it feel to be the only person in the world to own all three special model Ghias in running condition?

[AlanInMass54]

A long time ago a junkyard not far from me had a 73 I think it was Ghia. It was red and had black 'Formula Vee' decals along the rockers. I know there was a Beetle edition of this name (there used to be one driving around here), but was there a Ghia model too?

[spectre6000]

What's the story on the 1956-1960 Montage Suisse models? I've never heard of this. Were they just regular looking Ghias built elsewhere?

I've always been a fan of the Brazillian Karmann Ghias with the Type 3 tail lights. They have the cleanest lines of the whole collective production. I did a design study several years back (and I see the line drawings pop up now and again in various threads and avatars) demonstrating this. I even went so far as to get a set of Type 3 tail light sections, tail lights, and NOS Italian market clear lenses (to be painted red with a clear top for reverse lights, though I may just sell them and get some regular red lights). I intend to get a late model at some point and set it up for racing. It will probably get these lights.
_________________
Jason Hopper

-'58 German Market Deluxe Beetle (in progress)
-'84 M1009 CUCV
-'81 K10
"Buy the best, cry once." -Gene Berg
"A cheap man will always buy the cheapest thing available, and then buys another one hoping for a better result, and then spends the rest of his life in misery complaining about it. A thrifty man will buy a good part once and never think about it again." -RockCrusher
"Don't feed the Shitty Parts Monster!" -Me

[pbaptist]

[pbaptist]

[John Moxon]

[pbaptist]

[Altema]

I'm loving that teak interior... so warm and inviting.

[kevin3406]

1966 also produced a rare "azure" interior, which was a light blue. not sure if this was offered for the ghia, but im told that azure interiors were/are uber rare.
_________________
[insert various aircooled vehicles here] if the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.- Red Green

[c21darrel]

There was a teak ghia at the end of KGPR Treffen in August. Now i am sorry I did not get a picture of it. It was pretty original and not restored. It did have a gas heater mounted in front behind the dash.

[KGCoupe]

[pbaptist]

The 1966 with a azure interior is not comparable with the pigalle and teak versions and therefor are not considered as a special edition.

The azure cloth interior was standard for the 1966 bermuda colored cars. However these cars didn't have the steering wheel, steering wheel column tube, turn signal lever or dashboard cover in a azure color. Therefor it is not a special edition.

Patrick
_________________
Dutch Karmann-Ghia and coachbuild lover.
1* Karmann Ghia Coupe (1966 Teak)
2* Karmann Ghia Convertible (1958, 1971)
4* Rometsch Lawrence (nr 534, 555, 558 and 561)

Karmann-Ghia Lowlight page and registry
Karmann-Ghia Collectibles database

[chava11]

[chava11]