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1953Volks
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2004
Posts: 239
Location: SO. CAL
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 Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 8:50 pm Post subject: whats the differences on a 1955 ghia |
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what is differences on a 55 ghia than a later lowlight? please post pictures of everything.  |
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retrowagen
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Joined: October 11, 2004
Posts: 1856
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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The evolution was continous through the "Lowlight" era - such a question is rather nebulous and not easily answered.
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David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club |
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Bruce
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Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17290
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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There's no such thing as a 55 Ghia. The first model year was 56.
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| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
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gerry41
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Joined: December 04, 2006
Posts: 153
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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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..... |
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technik
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Joined: September 03, 2005
Posts: 379
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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1960bus
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Joined: September 15, 2005
Posts: 285
Location: UK
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 4:40 am Post subject: |
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| 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?
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Dan
1958 Ghia Vert
1960 RHD Deluxe Microbus
1966 RHD Devon Kombi |
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John Moxon 
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Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13957
Location: Southampton U.K.
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pbaptist
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2005
Posts: 1205
Location: Netherlands
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 4:57 am Post subject: |
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O no 
Not again the discussion about model years for the lowlight cars.
There was not such thing as a model year.
Patrick
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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 |
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retrowagen
Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2004
Posts: 1856
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 10:04 am Post subject: |
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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...
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David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club |
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aerosilver
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2006
Posts: 882
Location: UK
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| 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) |
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Bruce
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Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17290
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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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.
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| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
| ..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
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retrowagen
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Joined: October 11, 2004
Posts: 1856
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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Bruce, Karmann Ghias were not made by Volkswagen.
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David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club |
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Bruce
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Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17290
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 12:41 am Post subject: |
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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.
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| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
| ..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
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John Moxon
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Joined: March 07, 2004
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pbaptist
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2005
Posts: 1205
Location: Netherlands
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 3:19 am Post subject: |
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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
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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 |
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Bruce
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Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17290
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 7:47 am Post subject: |
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| 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.
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| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
| ..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
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retrowagen
Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2004
Posts: 1856
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 8:58 am Post subject: |
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| 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???
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David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club |
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Bruce
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Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17290
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| 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.
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| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
| ..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
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sparkleplenty
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008
Posts: 1110
Location: California
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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| 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.
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'56 European Oval Ragtop-Stock
'56 Karmann Ghia Coupe-Stock
'59 Italian Series I Li150 Lambretta-Stock
"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."
"Only when the tide goes out do you discover who is swimming naked." |
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lemke
Samba Troll
Joined: February 24, 2004
Posts: 1249
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| 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 |
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