50 Years Ago It was available in ........

[calexican]

Very nice!! Thank you Everett.

[EverettB]

Yes, I can move the photos to Samba and update the links so they do not have the Photobucket logo.
I will work on it in a minute...

Edit:
Done, fixed all the Photobucket links so they link here instead.
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Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[calexican]

dear moderators, such a nice thread...anyway to repost the photos without the photo bucket logo?

[Jimmy Perez]

Anyone know the mixing (formula) for 58 Lowlight Ghia L281 Grey/white the Goes on Aerosilver paint, the formula, from PPG , Glasurit , any good paint as long as formula is correct. Thank you In advance Jimmy
_________________
Single Cab, Swapmeet Mafia$

[swanlakers]

The fabric on the right is the original from my 1959 ghia, which had black paint

the fabric on the left is what I used to re-upholster. It looks a little lighter but the final result is very similar to the original

code on the back of the new fabric: M87 044,
I think it was used on older Mustangs.

[swanlakers]

just to add another data point - my recently purchased 1956 ghia was factory lizard green. VIN 12737xx, body 79xx. Currently in primer, there is ample evidence of the metalic green paint in nooks and crannies. The color appears as a sort of mild avacado color, and the metallic is very fine grained and understated.

[pbaptist]

The englich version on the 1955 brochure from broadacus can be found on my internetpage: see: http://www.karmann-ghia.nl/folders/folder_voor_1955%20effen%20zwart%20engels.htm

Unfortunately for me Broaducas outbid me in the last seconds, but the sellar was nice enought to sent me a kopie of the brochures.

Greetings

Patrick

Broaducas: See you in Gerorgamarienhutte
_________________
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

[retrowagen]

[Broadacus]

Hi Dave,

Thank you for the information above. I have an English version of the 1955 literature that you feature. In English the booklet is called "Attention All Service Stations" The booklet was sent out to Volkswagen dealers before the launch of the Karmann Ghia. In the booklet the car is not named as a Karmann Ghia and only referred to as a Ghia- Karmann. The photographs are black and white but I think features a Gazelle Beige car. The full leatherette seats and door panels are clearly shown in one of the photo's. The front mats are clearly shown in another photo and are not all rubber as the later cars are.

Also note that the heater outlet on the early 1955 cars, is towards the front of the car, where as the position on my 1957 is more towards the back of the car.

[retrowagen]

Let's see, as I mentioned in an earlier post, the color selection widened in January of 1956. From what I gather, the interior materials changed in the same month--with what chassis number or date I have yet to discover (factory documentation only says, "January"). Any rate, the change was from all-leatherette upholstery to leatherette + corduroy on door panels and seats. I would surmise the new interior corresponded with the new colors.

Also note well that the full rubber front firewall cladding was added with this new interior materials. Prior to this, the Karmann Ghias had carpeting on the front firewall (except for an area behind the pedals comprising roughly the bottom half of the flat firewall surface). Here's what the earliest version looked like:
http://karmannghia.org/sales_lit/other/1955/page_11.gif
http://karmannghia.org/sales_lit/other/1955/page_7.gif
and http://karmannghia.org/sales_lit/other/1955/page_10.gif
Here's what the second version looked like (picture credit to Broad):

It's my understanding that the 1960 model year cars (OK, the late, August 1959-on, first non-"lowlight") cars had interiors quite similar to the 1959's, excepting the new steering wheel, column, and turn signal switch. Also, there was a reversion to carpeting for most of the front firewall, and well as the central "tunnel" and side heater channels. The removable rubber mats on the floor surfaces were retained (and remained so, through--what was it? 1966 or so?). I don't believe Karmann ever offered a "tropical" interior. But with removable (one "unbuttons" them) rubber floor mats with loose asphalt sound deadening insulating panels beneath, whay would one need full rubber (which was seen by some as too austere for a "luxury" car!)? One could easily remove them to dry out a moist Ghia's bilge. What with the sieve-like window seals (especially in advanced age), it puzzles me why anyone would wish to glue carpets to the floors, guaranteeing rust after a rainy day!
_________________
David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club

[Broadacus]

Hi Dave,

Sorry to rub this in, but am getting ready for the trip tomorrow to Germany. I will scan the article when I get back and e mail it to you.

I am also interested in finding out about the seat material found in the early cars. Most early Lowlights have the leatherette / cord material combination, however from the early literature, pictures of all leatherette seats are shown. Do you have any information on how the interior could be factory ordered.

I was also told by the owner of a 1959 ( non lowlight, three slat grills) that all rubber mats could be ordered for countries with wet conditions. Were there options on the carpet combinations?

[Rome]

Dave and Ian, thanks for a very interesting, colorful and well researched topic!

Owokie, congratulations to being a lucky owner of such an original Ghia!

Dave, have you come up with this (and so much other on other posts) info "on your own", or do you share notes with Mr. Troy?

Roland in NY
'64 Ghia coupe, originally very pale "robin's egg blue/turquoise" but now gaudy orange with white top
'64 Ghia cabrio (L87 pearl white) with brown vinyl top

[retrowagen]

Ian,

I haven't seen that Volksworld article. I concur on the date and chassis number of the first Coupe build date (series production, of course) being 11 August 1955 at chassis 906 481. Noteworthy that this was almost one month after the Press introduction in Georgsmarienhuette (14 July 1955)!

Also quite true that the chassis was built over one month prior to the completion of the car. The chassis numbers were excerpted in series with the Beetle chassis, but shipping of the finished chassis from the Wolfsburg presses to the Osnabrueck Karosserie (and their warehousing until use) virtually always added at least one month to the build time, relative to a Beetle with a chassis number very near the Karmann Ghia's. And it must also be said that we have no hard evidence that Karmann assembled cars in perfect chassis number sequence!

As for the seeming pecularity of this particular early Karmann Ghia's color, I can only offer some educated guesses at why it might be outside of what the factory literature and records generally suggest for what was available for the early production. First: in the first calendar year of production (meaning, 11 August 1955 - 31 December 1955), Karmann tells us that they built 1,282 Karmann-Ghias. That's roughly 15 a day (6 day working week back then). The Coupe in question was built on 27 September 1955, but production got off to an exceptionally slow start in the first few months (body #280 leaving the factory on 8 October 1955, for a point of reference). At this retarded pace, it is concievable--yet unverifyable by me--that some experiments may have been occurring vis-a-vis the exterior color, a sort of "hey, how does this look?" that one might expect from a (then) limited series builder near the beginning of a model run of (then) unknown promise.

It could also be possible--and again, unverifyable by me--that the first owner of this particular example was a person of such prominence that (s)he not only made it near first in line to get a highly sought-after car, but exerted enough influence at Karmann to receive a special color. At this point in Karmann's history, they might have had the time to do a few of these as special "placements" with well known politicians and celebrities.
_________________
David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club

[Broadacus]

Hi Retrowagen (Dave),

I have just come across an article that was printed a long time ago in "Voksworld" magazine. It states the first Karmann Ghia coupe was built on 11th August 1955 with the chassis number 906 481. Also states the chassis was built in June 1955. The car pictured is from Czechoslovakia and has the chassis number 961 803, it states it was built in September 1955, also says it is owned by Jiri Hanak.
Jiri has totally stripped the car and the car was original painted red!!

Looking at a list I have of the Lowlight register, Jiri Hanak's car is number 3 on the list. There are 23 cars on the list built between 11th August 1955 and Dec 1955, should all these cars be Black or Gazelle Beige?

[Broadacus]

Hi Kyle, Dave and everyone else tuning into this post.

Would like to thank Dave for the information above, and would agree, the only true Areo Silver cars came from the factory with a grey / white roof. This is shown on the Karmann Ghia literature of the day( see my posting) This is why I always believed Kyle car to be Trout Blue.

Kyle, the car looks great and I would not go to the length of re sraying the roof, but you can always count on Dave ( retrowagen ) to set the records straight.

Like others, I just love the colors of the early lowlight ( where are you Tan, are you on holiday? I need you to stick up for Toucan Black)

Why did they drop the animal names?

Lizard green has always been one of my favorite colors, with the deep green roof.

Thanks for the information Dave, this may explain why Lizard Green and Pelican Red never seem to be mentioned in Karmann Ghia books that state the color codes for the early Lowlight cars.

[1958ghia]

Dave,
What do you mean that Aerosilver was the only color not available in body color and roof color? I was told by Richard Troy a while back that the white top was actually an option... I painted mine all Aerosilver because mine only had the whitewall option, but if the white top was not an option I might have to be having some paint applied to the roof... Thanks!

Kyle Kimball

[Tonny_Larsen]

Thanks

[RockStock]

hi tonny

i mean setting up a web page purely for registering pictures of pre-1960 ghias (nicknamed lowlights), with just the chassis number listed, no owners names, no forum.

you know pre 1960 ghias are nicknamed lowlights because after 1959 the headlights were raised up the wing to accommodate changes in US law?

i just think there is a gap to set up a nice web page, following a similar format to your own, for these pre 1960 ghias. hope this doesn't infringe.

best regards
RS
_________________
-StockRocks-

[Tonny_Larsen]

[retrowagen]

Good post, Ian!

A couple of corrections from my research: