How The Karmann Ghia Got Its Shape.pdf - RetroAutos

RetroautosCollectible & Classic It’s about The cars !!How the VW Karmann GhiaGot Its ShapeThe VW Karmann Ghia of 1955-74 is one of Germany’smost stylish cars and is now a sought after classic.The low slung coupe has a timeless quality and although fansof the car might seek to minimise its styling heritage there’sno denying it was based a 1953 Chrysler concept car, theGhia D ‘Elegance coupe.The D’Elegance was the work of Virgil Exner, the newlyminted design supremo at Chrysler. Exner's credits go backto the 1930s where he directed Pontiac’s styling efforts. Hethen moved to the Raymond Loewy studio, penning the 1947Studebaker.RETROAUTOS October 2012 ISSN 1836-9472In 1950, Exner was headhunted to Chrysler to save theirailing line of stodgy looking cars .These automobiles werethe result of engineers being charge of the drawing crayonsand assuming that American consumers wanted practicalcars. Wrong!

RetroautosCollectible & ClassicSoon after landing at Chrysler, Exner asked Ghia in Italy toproduce concept cars and design studies to spice up thecompany’s imageFirst out of the starting blocks was the 1952 Chrysler K-310concept car of 1952. It was a 4 door sedan.The sleek D ‘Elegance coupe was next. Exner made a quarterscale clay model in Detroit and had it shipped to Ghia, whothen made it into a fully functional car.Chrysler initially ordered production of 40 D ‘Elegancecoupes but material shortages because of the Korean Warmeant only one was built. This left Ghia with unusedcapacity.While all of this was happening VW decided it too needed alittle image boosting and asked Ghia to design—wait for it—a two door coupe on the VW Beetle platform.The outcome was essentially a scaled down DÉlegance. Ghiainserted two front "nostril" grilles for visual effect, the VWbosses said “make it so”, and production started in theKarmann factory in Germany in 1955.Exner’s son, Virgil Enxer Jnr, who visited Ghia in 1955, saysthat the VW was a “direct and intentional swipe off theChrysler DÉlagance. Nobody minded it. It was wonderful.”Exner Snr was gifted first Karmann Ghia imported into theUSA by VW. So, that says it all!VW produced over 450,000 Karmann Ghia coupes andconvertibles during its 19 year production run.They were sold in Australia and good ones now go forupwards of $20,000.Last year the 1953 Chrysler DÉlegance sold at RM Auctionsin Monterey for $936,000USD.RETROAUTOS October 2012 ISSN 1836-9472

RetroautosCollectible & ClassicRETROAUTOS October 2012 ISSN 1836-9472