In Ann Arbor today, I saw a VW I've never seen before. At first I thought it was a Ghia, but the front wasn't quite right. The rear looked like a mini Covair. No pics unfortunately, but does anyone know what it is?
In Ann Arbor today, I saw a VW I've never seen before. At first I thought it was a Ghia, but the front wasn't quite right. The rear looked like a mini Covair. No pics unfortunately, but does anyone know what it is?
There were also some special-bodied VWs of that era with corvair-like rear ends, but the name is escaping me. Horch maybe?
Although I think Per's right, it's probably a Type 3 Ghia:
My favorite VW! They had the type-III motor, some with twin solex carbs. They were not officially imported. My dad had a chance to buy an immaculate '64 with 13k miles in 1976 for $4000, but he went for a new Rabbit instead.
I want to say that there were a handful of coach-built cabriolets that never made it past pre-production. Some amazingly small number, like 3.
Edit: Wikipedia says 17 cabrios were made.
The type 34 was never imported to the states because vw didn't think they would be able to keep up with demand. The ones that are here came from a dealer exchange program, tourist delivery, or were imported by a owner or buyer.
I saw a few around Wichita Falls, Texas in the '70's.
Likely brought in by USAF folks returning from Germany, or by the Luftwaffe detachment there.
914Driver wrote: Fugzamattawitchew? That's a Karmann Miranda if I ever saw one !!
You and I are apparently the only ones old enough.
bludroptop wrote: Edit: Wikipedia says 17 cabrios were made.
I believe that the cabrios are in the vw museum at Wolfsburg.
ratghia wrote: I believe that the cabrios are in the vw museum at Wolfsburg.
All of them? This is all long-forgotten VW lore for me, but I seem to recall that a few got out.
I remember seeing one in Lebanon PA when I was in high school (late '60s), and one came in to the dealership I worked at in '69 or '70.
I know that there are a few there and that they never got sold to the public. I don't know what happened to the rest but I do know that several people have made cabrio replicas.
Was the one you saw silver? It is a Type 34 Karmann Ghia.
If so I know the owner who is from Tecumseh; about 20 minutes from Ann Arbor.
The Brown Stig wrote:914Driver wrote: Fugzamattawitchew? That's a Karmann Miranda if I ever saw one !!You and I are apparently the only ones old enough.
I never thought I'd stand up for this kind of challenge..
I'm not that old of course, I only knew who she is because of these things:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037457/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039839/
randyvr6 wrote: Was the one you saw silver? It is a Type 34 Karmann Ghia. If so I know the owner who is from Tecumseh; about 20 minutes from Ann Arbor.
And if it is red the owners name is Shep, he used to work here.
randyvr6 wrote: Was the one you saw silver? It is a Type 34 Karmann Ghia. If so I know the owner who is from Tecumseh; about 20 minutes from Ann Arbor.
Yeah, it was. Also had VW logo covers on the inner lights. I live 5 min. from Tecumseh. Sweet car too, I've never seen one.
CGLockRacer wrote:randyvr6 wrote: Was the one you saw silver? It is a Type 34 Karmann Ghia. If so I know the owner who is from Tecumseh; about 20 minutes from Ann Arbor.Yeah, it was. Also had VW logo covers on the inner lights. I live 5 min. from Tecumseh. Sweet car too, I've never seen one.
That's the one. The guys name is Bob. He has a sweet early VW bus as well.
There is a huge car show every September in Clinton for their Fall Festival; he usually brings both of them there. He has also had them at the big car show held at the ididit business in Tecumseh every fall. I found a picture of them from last year posted below
I live in Somerset just 6 miles west of MIS down US12.
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