Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 14 Coupé
Italian styling, German coachbuilding and Beetle mechanical parts met in a low 2+2 coupé that looked far faster than its 30 PS suggested.
1958_Volkswagen_Type_14_Karmann_Ghia_(32316666454).jpg · Sicnag · CC BY 2.0
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More than a set of wheels.
Karmann began the Type 14 project in Osnabrück in 1953 and asked Italy's Ghia studio to shape a coupé around Volkswagen's proven platform. The prototype won approval, and production started in August 1955. The first cars used the Beetle family's 1,191 cc air-cooled flat-four, but a wider body, front anti-roll bar and low roof gave the Karmann Ghia its own character.
Look a little closer.
It had no running boards, and its wider body gave the front passengers more room than in the Beetle underneath.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Three companies, one shape
Volkswagen supplied the proven mechanical foundation, Karmann developed and built the body in Osnabrück, and Ghia created the Italian form. That division of labour explains the name and the car's unusual mixture of glamorous looks and familiar, easy-to-service Volkswagen hardware.
Source: Volkswagen Newsroom · Karmann Ghia Type 14 Coupé (1955–1974) ↗A sports-car silhouette with touring-car power
The launch 1200 made just 30 PS, yet Volkswagen quoted 116 km/h for the early car. The engineering priority was graceful, stable touring rather than racing: the body was wider than a Beetle, and a front anti-roll bar was fitted from the start to limit body lean and oversteer.
Source: Volkswagen Newsroom · Karmann Ghia Type 14 Coupé (1955–1974) ↗Where these facts come from
- Volkswagen Newsroom · Karmann Ghia Type 14 Coupé (1955–1974)
- Volkswagen Newsroom · Vehicle data Karmann Ghia Type 14 Coupé profile
- Volkswagen Newsroom · Engine versions Karmann Ghia Type 14 Coupé profile
- Wikimedia Commons · 1958 first-series Type 14
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-01.