Designed In Detroit

[@charlesdalton985]

Happy Independence Day! I have to believe this has been said before but if not, today’s episode cemented it. Mr Magnante is a Car-chaeologist. Indiana Jones, step aside for Massachusetts Mags. The history you uncover is more than impressive. Sir, thank you and Super Shane as always.

[@martinliehs2513]

I chuckled when Steve said "Car-thritis" when trying to operate the seized release lever, but "Car-chaeologist" is pretty good too. 🙂

[@ThatGuyInOhio72]

Seriously, Sir, I've read you for years, and truly appreciate the history and details you've provided. Thanks for your dedication.

[@SteveMagnante]

@@ThatGuyInOhio72 Thanks for watching and writing. I am humbled by the fact other folks take these cars seriously enough to keep watching these videos. It also puzzles me why Motor Trend called my presentation "too technical". I feel I'm never technical enough and wish I had an hour to cover each single vehicle. They're certainly worthy of the exposure. In future, I may engage a fork lift or bucket loader to be able to investigate the underpinnings of these vehicles to add more information to the discussion. Until then, THANK YOU for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@debbiebermudez5890]

@@SteveMagnante Mr. B. Here ! Don’t cut yourself short many of love insights on the vehicles some more than others ! Your good at what you thank you ! Happy 4th ! 👍🍺🌭🍔🍕🍺

[@charlesdalton985]

@@SteveMagnanteI’ll never understand the cancellation either. However, I think the work you and Shane are doing here is even better. I’ll reiterate - thank you both. ~ Chuck

[@donhoffman3206]

Happy July 4th! In May of 1974 my lady friend and I drove my 59 Karmann Ghia in New York City down Times Square past the the Twin tower Trade Center on our way to the Statue of Liberty. The rockers had some serious car'thritis so there was no heat. We draped a Hudson Bay Co blanket over over legs to keep from freezing. Similarly the defroster was useless but a roll of paper towels sufficed. That year this Karmann Ghia took me from the Pacific Ocean in BC to the Atlantic Ocean in NYC! I even stopped in Rochester NY on my way home to visit with the Blues legend Son House. We spent an afternoon at his apartment drinking beer and listening to him play some blood curdling slide guitar and moaning. On the wall of his living room was hanging a large wide picture of his 3 heros....MLK, JFK and RFK. Afterwards he jumped in my Karmann Ghia and I took him to the corner liquor store to p/u a jug of wine for him. Good Times....i still have my Harmony guitar that he played on.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Greetings from Rochester!

[@dustydon6419]

Great memories! I had a ‘68 rag top. Had to wear my ski suit and scrape the inside of the windows. That was when we had winter here in the Mid Atlantic

[@fishgeralding9224]

I worked at a custom/restoration shop in Florida in the early 70's. The owner was a vw fan. He had 2 dune buggies, cut down from vw vans, and a couple of bugs. He had a bug with 30 k miles on it and had alot of valve noise. One Saturday we pulled the engine to do a valve job. They were carboned up, but none were burnt. After a quick resurfacing/reseating we put it back together. The valves still rattled. The next weekend I helped him drop the engine and went to work on disassembling a camaro for restoration. He was placing the valves on a bench, stem up. From across the shop they look ed odd. As I walked towards them I noticed the stem lengths were slightly different. I showed him, and after closer inspection we realized the valve stems had stretched. He replaced all the valves, problem solved. I'm sure many have heard the stories of, I had a friend, or my parents had a bug that went 100k without a rebuild. My thoughts are, if it went 100k, they pushed it 70k of those miles!! Lol Happy 4th, and happy birthday 🇺🇸!

[@burthenry7740]

I too, have heard stories of those 100k bug engines. Every one I knew of maybe lasted 50-60k at most. After that each subsequent engine lasted less than half the miles of the previous rebuild! But J.C. Whitney would have everything you needed. And Happy 4th to you!

[@googleusergp]

@@burthenry7740 Even Sears had specific catalogs devoted to popular cars, including VW. I've seen some old catalogs when they were touting their metric tools and how they had the tools needed to service "today's foreign cars". At that time, some US cars still used SAE fasteners, although by the time my 1979 Trans Ams was built, you had to buy the combination SAE and metric sockets and wrench sets to have what you needed to properly fix them. I still have both my original Craftsman wrench set bought back then (duplicated probably ten times over with other I got in a package deal or picked up cheap over the years) along with the 1990 mechanic's tool set I bought new. I still have the receipt for it and it's 95% original with only a few sockets replaced over the years. I just used it yesterday in fact.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Uh... the valve stems had stretched ???

[@burthenry7740]

@@BuzzLOLOL Yes, due to heat and valve spring tension they will 'neck down' or become thinner (thus longer) just above the head of the valve. Fairly common on old engines. Weird huh?

[@dustydon6419]

@@googleusergpmy father still has his first Craftsman set and box from 1955. We both have accumulated a vast array of real American made hand tools. Pop operated his own shop for 17 years beginning about 1986. We have some foreign made hand tools too. I’m a Union Millwright and have learned that on some jobs it’s better to have some cheap hand tools as it doesn’t hurt as much when they walk off. Just a couple days ago I bought some US made measuring tools from a neighbor who passed. A couple years ago I scored an old American made tool box ( MBC out of Chicago ). It was full of American made hand tools. It even had old Husky tools with “Made in the USA” on them. The widow I got them from was down sizing. I paid $100. The SnapOn 3/8” drive swivel sockets were worth that.

[@FosterCovers]

Always wanted a 66. Happy 4th Everyone 😊

[@andrefiset3569]

Ghia built the Exner Chrysler Norseman concept car for 150.000$ (one and a half millions in today's dollars) in 1956 but it was lost in the sinking of the Andrea Doria liner near New-York along with 46 passengers.

[@NativeMainer53]

The Andria Doria sank off the coast of Nantucket Mass. 1,660 passengers were saved.

[@privateprivate1865]

Do they know the exact location? Can the use a submersible to see it?

[@signalsparks]

​@privateprivate1865 in light of recent events, I don't think there's much interest in performing such explorations.

[@andrefiset3569]

A diver said only the wheels are still recognisable.

[@samholdsworth420]

​@@privateprivate1865oceangate has left the chat

[@edwardwilliams2438]

"Where does this guy get all his gadgets and information?".No Joke...Steve has more magazine specs and plastic model car examples than a professor in a Masters Class. I just marvel at his expertise and well of knowledge..I could listen to his channel for hours. Who could imagine a "junkyard crawl" would be so entertaining. Mr. Magnante...you are a Maestro! Why you are not on Netfliks or Vudu or something with a wider arc of viewership. There are plenty of us ol' gearheads that would eat this stuff up. Kudos!!

[@lelandcarlson1668]

Great video! Always learn new and interesting things about automotive history from Steve. A minor note of interest: the Ghia floor pan was wider than the beetle's by about 7 inches, so was unique to the Ghia.

[@brokewheels5]

I always thought the "whistling exhaust" sounded like the Jetsons' car.

[@DanEBoyd]

And the Pontiac 2.5 liter Iron Dork four cylinder had a sort of burbling sound to it, which I thought very loosely imitated the air-cooled VW sound.

[@googleusergp]

@@DanEBoyd Except that the 2.5L Iron Duke, while a good engine, couldn't hold a candle to the simplicity of the VW engine. It as the "Slant 6" of the VW world.

[@peterantonopoulos2572]

Morning Steve.... a happy 4th of July to you and all proud American cousins south of the border. Always liked the ghia,buddy had one with a porche transplant . Ran like a bat outta hell.

[@justralphajerseyguystuckin3671]

Steve Magnante, FYI- incorrect info on '67 VW Beetle/Karmann Ghia Wheels- they were still 5 Lug until 1968 when they changed over to 4-lug style. !

[@kenwolford6901]

The U.S. Beetle saw the introduction of the 4 Lug Rim in 1968. The 4 Lug design was actually introduced in Europe with the 1967 model, but didn't make it to the U.S. until the following year.

[@kenwolford6901]

Also, @ 9:25 in the film, this car has a "Ball Joint" front end ..... This did not come out until 1966 (?) and the two different beams, king pin vs ball joint were not interchangeable kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKDGg5-cramLhsk

[@justralphajerseyguystuckin3671]

@@kenwolford6901 I posted that because Steve mentioned the 4 lug style came out in '67 and knew it was '68 for U.S.A. cars, and that is what most people encounter here and wanted to correct Steve's mention. FYI- I was a VW Dealer certified Mechanic in the 1970's and knew all this.

[@tomstiel7576]

My buddy bought a brand new one in73,was lime green,,,had a cassette player,,,we spent many hours driving around listening to Jethro Tull Aqualung smoking the devils weed fun times great memories

[@SteveMagnante]

Thick as a Brick! Ahh, the good old days. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@randyauer7303]

Happy Fourth of July to you professor Steve thank you for all your videos they keep me going each morning peace

[@DeadInsideButStillSmiling]

If you sneezed Steve, that one would cease to exist all together. The rust always wins in the end.

[@SteveMagnante]

Dig the cleated snow tires on the back of this one.... a sure sign it was packed full of road salt and left to rot! A sad but common fate to most cars and trucks used in any of the "rust states". Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@SuperOperator4]

Must have hit a stop sign...

[@SteveMagnante]

Or perhaps a kitten. -Steve Magnante

[@garymckee8857]

@SteveMagnante Steve one ran into the side of my 80 Cordoba and just put a dent in door, but of course the Karma Ghia was totaled 🙃

[@kenney5454]

Very Interesting & Informative, Thank You Steve. This was my moms ' Holy Grail' car. All though she always had some nice car like '64.5 & '67 Mustangs, '56 Chevy convertible etc., but even now if she spies one in traffic she will let out a Sigh of Remorse

[@kevincosta9228]

Wow, as a lifelong VW guy (who once owned a Karmann-Ghia convertible) all I can say is, Mind Blown!

[@santaclause2875]

Thanks Steve, another great installment of automotive history! Happy 4th !!!

[@outdoorfreedom9778]

I had no idea!! I fell in love with the Ghia in 1975 but have still never owned one.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

I’d love to have a karmann Ghia with a 2276 cc stroker motor in it. They’re such cool looking cars and bigger inside for a bigger guy like myself

[@31847448]

Me too ! Hot VW lives !

[@paulrhodes8111]

Fascinating, always something new, Virgil was more prolific than I ever guessed. Looking at the Chrysler ghia, the headlight surround is very much reminiscent of the Barris built Lincoln in The Car. Or have I been pumping too much av gas?? Who can tell! Thanks for another great video, Steve

[@danielsweeney6742]

Steve I worked at Chrysler it was interesting to see how the designers and the engineers had to adapt. What was fantastic in clay could not be made in metal. So some adaptations needed to be made.

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@jaybeemhardscrote7466]

What period where you there? You're not partially responsible for the Crossfire?

[@sgtrock6213]

Prayers to you and your family Steve ....We miss you,.......speedy recovery my friend

[@dominickserignese8837]

I have owned many muscle cars in the past but I always thought Karmann Ghia and Beatles are cool!😎the exhaust note is neat!👍

[@Christian-wj7dk]

The "Beatles" are really cool. So are the Stones. 😉 I have owned many air-cooled Beetles. Loved them all.

[@Hyrev1]

Interesting video Steve! 👍👍💯🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day!💥🎉

[@steelwheels327]

I think they are a nice looking ride!! My Uncle had a 68 in British Green & i think it was a convertible if i remember correctly .

[@itsmewildbill2296]

Excellent video as always, Steve. Just for the sake of knowledge, the 4 bolt wheels came out in 1968.

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@dustydon6419]

Yes, along with the 4 jointed transaxle

[@itsmewildbill2296]

@@dustydon6419 Among other things - big changes for both the Beetle and Ghia (and even the bus!) in 68.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Slight correction on the HVAC controls...the lever on the right (red knob) turns on and off the flow of heated air into the cabin. The lever on the left (white knob) directs the heat to either the front of the car (footwell & dash vents) or to the heater vents in the back of the car

[@corey6393]

Yep, "cold air" wasn't really a thing unless it was cold outside.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon

[@DanEBoyd]

When I was a kid, the family down the street had like 12 or 13 kids, and their family ride was an extended '72ish Dodge passenger van. But the Father drove Volkswagens, including a mid-to-late '70s Bug convertible which had Karmann Ghia badges on the sides of the cowl area!

[@googleusergp]

The newest it could have been was a 1979 model as that was the last year the Beetle was sold new in the US market.

[@corey6393]

It was a Karmann badge since the beetle convertibles were built there.

[@googleusergp]

@@corey6393 Karmann also was involved in the top on my Pontiac G6 convertible as well.

[@SteveMagnante]

@@googleusergp When Eric Carmen's hit single "All By Myself" was A Thing in the 1970's, every time the radio DJ said his name after playing the song, I immediately thought of my 2nd grade teacher Miss McCarthy's red Karmann-Ghia. I've been ill for a very long time! -Steve Magnante

[@googleusergp]

@@SteveMagnante Indeed if that's what she was driving, she was "all by herself".

[@my1vice]

Quality video as per usual.

[@aa64912]

One of my uncles had a yellow convertible with black interior. It was a great little car

[@jeffclark2725]

Gotta ask while I am thinking, is the concourse Delagaunce related to the Chrysler show cars with the Delagaunce name? Thumbs up, great video

[@robbchastain3036]

Thanks, Steve, for reminding me that I was always one of the slow cars at the Pinewood Derby. 😀

[@OKFrax-ys2op]

I bought a 1971 Karmin Ghia in the early 80’s. It was a lot of fun to drive, I called it my “poor man’s Porsche”.

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@corey6393]

Funny you mention the tail pipe inserts and whistling sound. VW nerds call it "fweem". I sold a 66 beetle yesterday, and one of the things I did when awakening the car from its 50 year slumber was to remove those inserts. Not a fan of that whistle. Two notes to make here, those wheels are correct for 66-67 KG and Beetle. This car would have had smooth wheels with no slots. Also, the running gear and suspension is the same as a beetle, but the chassis(also know as the pan) is different.

[@SteveMagnante]

Just curious, is the K-G floor pan an entirely different construction (for the extra floor width and body shell width) OR simply a set of outboard panels added to fill the gaps where the Bug running boards would have been fitted? So many questions on EVERY one of the cars and trucks I see in my Junkyard Crawl journey. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@corey6393]

@@SteveMagnante The central "spine" and the front and rear bulkheads for mounting suspension and transaxle are the same. But the left and right floor pans of the KG are quite different overall, mostly in width but also in shape, especially in the front footwell area. KG bodies were pretty much hand built, so replacing body panels is not a simple task of welding it into place. Even the very best quality panels will need some work to fit properly.

[@dustydon6419]

@@corey6393I wrecked my ‘68 convertible. I had an empty fuel tank and slid in the rain rear ending a Mercury Bobcat ( Pinto ). The front of my Ghia had a bumper imprint across it and buckled the sheet metal against the front tires. My tires were stuck in the turned position showing I tried to avoid the collision. My car was repaired by cutting it across the pan and splicing in the front end of a good car. I was a teenager then and had a shop do the work. I can’t speak to exactly where the cut was made and how it was reinforced.

[@geoffkeller5337]

At 3.33 in the lower RH corner showing just the front of the show car in the magazine. To me, it looks very similar to the front end of the Chrysler 300 from 2005 to 2007.

[@cookieman0916]

😊 Happy Fourth 🎉

[@johnrommelt6560]

Can Car window's be Polished/ Refurbished If So Who does Refurbishing of Vehicle Glass Windows? ( Front, Back, and Side) Is there any place that Specializes in Restoring Automotive Glass, you can send to have done?

[@marshmower]

Diamond paste? Large high speed buffer..... Probably cheaper to buy the tools

[@johnh8917]

Jewelers rogue is a compound used to buff fine scratches from glass.

[@throckmorton8477]

Look for cerium oxide. It's available as a kit with polishing pads. A long, slow process. If it's windshield wiper marks, they will leave a slight depression in the glass. It can distort the view. It's better than nothing, but not a cure-all.

[@googleusergp]

@@throckmorton8477 Correct. The GM shop manual actually stated back then that it was the preferred method.

[@rickwightman2366]

What is the car over your left shoulder at about 2:00? I'm falling in love with late 50s small cars...

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@jimhagenford79]

Steve! You are a walking encyclopedia of vehicle facts and I luv to hear these facts! Thank you so much! I even listen when I'm not interested !😊

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@iplaymytele]

I have a 1971 Karmann Ghia coupe it is my Daily Driver…. I had my first one in 1972…! It was a convertible 1965 …. Whenever I read anything about Karmann Ghia’s they always say the production run was between ( 1955 only Europe ) Ship to the US ( 1956 to 1974 ) I have never seen or heard of a 1975 Karmann Ghia…???

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

I'm pretty sure 74 was the last year. 75 started all the emissions stuff and a think the low production numbers compared to beetle and the new rabbit and it's cousins made the Ghia not worth the effort to update. They had bigger fish to fry. I don't know for a fact that is why the Ghia was dropped for '75, but it seems logical.

[@googleusergp]

He misspoke on that, 1974 was the last year for the Karmann Ghia. It was replaced by the Scirocco for the 1975 model year in the US. It was introduced in Europe in 1974.

[@SteveMagnante]

@@googleusergp The John Gunnel book "Air Cooled VW HIstory" says Karmann Ghias were built in Brazil into 1975. I thought about ignoring these non-U.S.-spec cars but figured an international viewer might call me to task...so I included the Brazilian run. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@googleusergp]

@@SteveMagnante Yes, but since the vehicle is in the US, that's what counts (I'm not discounting international viewers), because export markets are unique. They sometimes have engines that can't be sold in the US anymore due to emissions and fuel regulations, etc.

[@dustydon6419]

@@googleusergpI imagine the Brazilian Ghias and Bugs were held to the same import laws as the German built vehicles

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! Happy 4th to all ! 🇺🇸🇺🇸☕️☕️🍩. This vehicle was was a good looking vehicle! To bad to many rules of today it can not be rebooted.

[@dustydon6419]

Mr B at one time VW talked about bringing the Ghia back. This was around 1990. It would have competed with the Mazda Miata. I was working in the automotive industry at that time. A trade publication Automotive Insider, had a picture of what the new Ghia might look like. I cut that picture out and kept on my fridge for years

[@Bbbuddy]

Great research. Thanks again.

[@randyauer7303]

Get better soon Steve we miss you out here

[@dustydon6419]

My 2nd car was a ‘68 Ghia rag top. I currently have a ‘68 Ghia coupe that needs restored. The convertible was a fun car. Wipers wouldn’t work in the rain and I had to wear my ski suit in the winter and scrape the frost off the inside of the windshield.

[@saddletramp6935]

My grandma had beetles, taught me to drive in the 63 when I was 10 or 11. She always wanted a kg.

[@zach_diecast_mansur]

I'm a MOPAR guy, I knew there was a reason I liked these!😅

[@kenlamb502]

Happy 4th of July!!!Enjoy!

[@woof3598]

first job out of high school the gas station near the local Collage changing tires with those rims were a nightmare

[@rosshodge333]

1200cc 40Hp, VW used a 36HP 1200 up until 1961[?]. 40 HP can be identified by the bolt on generator support. 36HP had the generator support as part of the block casting. That's all I got, 1973 was a long time ago...lol

[@FosterCovers]

That Ghia in magazine marroonish...... front end looks similiar to the recent Chrysler 300.

[@FosterCovers]

Other looks Like a Studibaker hawk😊

[@deanstevenson6527]

oh wow, Bad Kharman!

[@rescuedandrestoredgarage]

Great video, brother.

[@thomasknox2325]

Again good job Steve thanks 👍

[@Blowinshiddup]

Wow, that one's actually rustier than the one my buddy owned...

[@Mercmad]

Oh yum look at the Ponton Mercedes in the back ground.... ❤😁 The Dual Ghia was another great Mopar too.

[@googleusergp]

He did a video on that some time ago.

[@rixkafer56]

Cool stuff Steve but i have to say those heater controls started in 65 and it has a ball joint front end that started in 66 replacing the king pin style suspension... also those wheels are 66 soooo im saying its a 66.. thanks for sharing 😎 🇺🇸✌️

[@Smarty1171]

That’s what I say as well. It’s six volt with ball joint front end. Heater controls dual Five lug wheels and. Steve forgot to mention the single master cylinder.

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@jimgerock9190]

The Karmann Ghia floor pan is wider at the front than the Beetle. It has better foot room space.

[@bretthewitt3890]

Didnt the later ones come with the semi-automatic transmission? I seem to remember a script on the back labeling some of these cars as being equipped with them.

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

They did. In 1968, the semi automatic was available. It was quite an interesting design. In basic terms, it had a conventional gearbox...3 speed rather than a 4 speed that every non automatic VW had..., But it had a torque converter and a clutch! The torque converter allowed idling in gear like a normal automatic and the clutch allowed gear changes. The strange part of that is, there was no clutch pedal! There was a micro switch on the gear shifter, so when you touched the gear shift lever, it would electrically engage the clutch for gear changes! Really bizarre. If you inadvertantly rested your hand on the shifter while driving, it would kick out the clutch and the engine would just Rev til you took your hand off! First gear was just for pulling a steep hill and such from a dead stop. You could run around town leaving it in second gear and you would have to shift from second to third once you were underway for freeway driving. Once you got used to it, it was pretty cool...kinda like the best of both worlds.

[@dannyschoolcraft5984]

The script read Automatic Stick Shift. Vacuum operated clutch. I drove a 69 Beetle with the 4speed A.S.S. Great invention.

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

@@dannyschoolcraft5984 they were actually a 3 speed, but yeah, it was cool, for sure

[@jayport]

Is that the Flintstone edition?

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@madmike2624]

"No rust here"....tooo funny Steve! Happ 4th everyone!

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@DanEBoyd]

I see some of that Chrysler Ghia De Elegance in the original Olds Toronados, in the sides of the greenhouse area.

[@dadde5907]

this was a studie by chrysler they didnt run with it the same company made a studie for vw and they ran with it not long after this chrysler made the 1960 valiant which would you have picked?

[@Babarudra]

"I can't add anymore." Classic! haha!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Cool vid!!! 👍👍

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man I used to see so many of those in the 70s! My neighbor had two of them! One was in fair condition and the other one was rotting away! Kinda sad! It was definitely one beautiful styled car! He also had a few beetles!

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@advilshenk]

I always dug the karmann ghia

[@rawbsworld6604]

4th 🇺🇸 🧨 .. 🤔 interesting! Window washer system , wonder how many folk miles from anything went to change a tire and the spare was flat too? 🤷‍♂️😳 ✌️🤙

[@burthenry7740]

They actually had a little regulator valve that wouldn't allow the tire pressure to drop beyond a certain level. VWs had a few clever ideas.

[@rawbsworld6604]

🤦‍♂️ didn’t think of that 😝 thanks 👍

[@dannyschoolcraft5984]

​@@burthenry7740What about a pressurized bottle with the schrader valve. Maybe put a bicycle tube in there. I used a finger dash mounted pump on a67 Renault 10.

[@captainsupermaket8003]

Gotta love that Volkswagen exhaust chirp

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@janetdanner9706]

Always liked these little cars

[@o.c.smithiii2626]

So, basically this is a Karmen built beetle chassis kit car.

[@edwinhesse11]

The D’Elegance seems to have influenced the current 300 in more ways than one!

[@geoffkeller5337]

Definitely agree on that! I commented about it aa well. Look at the lower RH of the screen at the 3:33 mark.

[@BrianJacobsen-vn6is]

Got a rusted out 67 roller. No motor thought about chain drive street bike motor. In the back got 1200 bandit motor sitting in the corner.

[@pl5624]

Beetle had the stabilizer as well.

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

I remember a teacher at my junior high had a white one. She really thought she was all that and a bag of chips buzzing around in it. She wasn't.

[@googleusergp]

I would have asked her, "I don't see the flush lever on this toilet bowl, where is it located?"

[@gregorycaloregon3667]

Good Education. Fun! Thanks!!

[@phillipanderson2607]

When inside the car Driving it. It could be pretty scary. Being so small and all. The windshield was pretty close to your face. For get about air bags and safety features like todays cars. Just look at James deans accident. Similar to this car . Even though his was a Porsche. They say cars are cheaper now but they are designed to crumble to save lives .

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Always loved the look of these. Had a 69 Beetle, but never owned a Karman Ghia! (Would love one but not sure my 6.5ft body would fit. (Not a problem in the Beetles though!)

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@stephengreen3566]

The main difference, other than engine placement, was size. The Karmann Ghia was TINY compared to the American alternative. I have seen one after a wreck, and they didn't help the occupants survive.

[@davidgarris2513]

Look at an original MG. Talk about tiny.

[@bruceprentice6441]

Chrysler could bring back that de elegance in 2024 and have a hit new car on today’s market. Even if it was a 4 banger/EV type thing. People are hungry for a car with styling !

[@my1vice]

Style is dead in the car industry.

[@bruceprentice6441]

@@my1vice dead..? Maybe just A-WOL. First car company that addresses this hunger for a stylish car, will surge to the forefront of sales.

[@burthenry7740]

@@bruceprentice6441 I agree. Maybe the 'Ugly Deep Sea Creature' or 'Angry Insect' style is starting to end. Seems a few cars and trucks are actually getting better looking. Or just less ugly! 🤔

[@CatholicBoy1957]

That car wasn't in an accident it was in a riot. Today's video would have been perfect if Katie had made an appearance. You only get a 9/10. .

[@robertchristie9434]

Buddy of mine owned a '61. It rusted badly due to Detroit winter salt laden roads. Drove to San Diego when stationed in the Navy in '67 & was constantly stopped by the locals wondering what happened to the Ghia. He said some thought it was cool & wanted to buy it. Fun car though. Too bad it literally disintegrated.

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@tonyelliott7734]

The "Beatle's Bulbous Body"...lol

[@randyarock]

Looking at that car, and that engine in particular, I would bet @mustie1 would give it a shot at trying to get it going again... 😂

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

He'd get the engine going, no problem

[@carguy53]

The Karmann Ghia actually ended production in May of 1974, not 1975. I own one of the very last Karmann Ghia’s built. Built in the last month of production.

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@weekendgarage3299]

Good stuff!

[@edwardbianchi192]

Like a golf and audi tt

[@alanbare8319]

Bolt pattern looks a lot like the "wide 5" bolt pattern seen on Modifieds, and some division of stock cars that race at Seekonk, Stafford and Thompson.

[@dannyschoolcraft5984]

The left side were Left hand thread. Not used for racing.

[@alanbare8319]

@@dannyschoolcraft5984 I was just referring to the rim design, not thread specifications.

[@SteveMagnante]

I'm with you. Many of the Modified stock cars were based on 1936-1938 Fords - which had those odd HUGE bolt circles and wheels with huge center openings. Not sure why Ford only went three model years with this configuration. I know 1939 brought Lockheed hydraulic brakes and the tighter 5-lug hubs. Maybe the Lockheed drums needed the smaller stud circle? Maybe the earlier mechanical drums needed the spaced-out lugs? So many questions. And lets not forget that Pontiac's 1959 - 1969 8-lug wheels and aluminum drums used a similarly huge bolt circle. I may do a side-by-side comparison video on these three wheel types some day soon. There is one of each example at Bernardston Auto Wrecking. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@jewishman2687]

Never heard the Exner./Ghia story before... WHICH is odd because I'm a big Exner fan. He was quite eccentric you know?

[@vwdarrin]

That’s a 66 or later being that it has ball joints which didn’t come out until after 65

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@JD-hh9io]

Didn't the 4 lug come out in 68?

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Yes, 1968 was the first year for the "standard" 4-lug arrangement

[@bw3506]

A friend of mines brother was killed when he crashed one of those. He was going on a group trip with the school and had forgotten something after he got to town. They lived several miles out of town and he flew home. There was a downhill with some curves on the way back. He missed one and wadded it up. Needless to say it didn't offer much protection. I always thought these cars were kinda cool but after that not so much. R.I.P. Mathew.

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you Steve

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@davidp2888]

My kindergarten teacher drove a Karmann Ghia. Cool car then, cool car now.

[@Hope-jx8oe]

🎉🎉🎉

[@googleusergp]

No, 1974 is the last year for the Karmann Ghia, and it was replaced by the Scirocco. It was released in 1975 for the North American market. The 1964 model year ran from August 1963 to July/August 1964 and the first chassis number for the 1964 models was chassis number 5677120 and ran through chassis number 6502399 and there were about 13,084 coupes made and about 3,691 convertibles made for that model year. I never liked these as they looked like "low boy" toilet bowls. The Beetle was a much better looking and performing car. I'll bet with some attention, that engine will still run. I'm going to guess this hasn't see a road mile since maybe Reagan or even Carter was president. I would have carried a hand pump or a foot pump to pressurize that rather than take air from a spare tire that you might need on the road. LOL. No tag, can't brag, but possible code L018 Brunswick Blue exterior paint. Happy July 4th to all. Tomorrow, I start my 19th year at my job, and another five years to go on paper, but four in practical terms (the last year is using up paid leave), and then I can retire if I so desire.

[@geoffkeller5337]

Happy July 4th to you, and early congratulations on 19 years for the job. Hope everything goes well for you.

[@googleusergp]

@@geoffkeller5337 Thanks, thus far I cannot complain overall.

[@SteveMagnante]

Interesting coincidence, I'm also in my 19th year doing the Barrett-Jackson TV auction commentary. Though I enjoy the process of "giving the cars a voice" I tune out the cash-lust element of the bidding. I'm kind of planning to resign / retire from that scene at the end of this year when my contract is up for renegotiation. We shall see... Congratulations for YOUR path to retirement - or maybe at least slowing down a bit and taking life at YOUR pace. That's my plan. -Steve Magnante

[@googleusergp]

@@SteveMagnante Thanks and "happy anniversary" to you as well. I've seen a few of your presentations there and the thing that gets me is that you're a humble, down-to-earth, salt of the earth guy and that's what makes it great. Well, I don't watch BJ as I'm not into all that hype over, "this one still has the factory dirt and the sweat from the first guy that drove out of the plant when he had a mullet and you could swill a beer on the way out of the plant" type of thing, which is what sometimes they get into. I once saw a 1978 Gold SE Y88 roll across the block and my brother in law who is not a car person at all told my sister, "Go get your brother (I was there visiting in another room), he's going to go nuts over this". I said to my BIL, "Thanks, but that car is a mess...." Wrong decals, didn't run, not well optioned, etc., etc., and I was astounded by what it went for. I said, "My 10th Anniversary Trans Am, must be worth a lot more now". The problem with BJ is that everyone with a rusty hooptie in their yard thinks it's "BJ Gold" when in reality, it was scrap a few years ago and pretty much still is. I got out of private industry in 2005 and I'm glad I did. I liked the auto parts company I worked for and I still miss some of the people 19 years later, but I stayed in contact with the ones that mattered, and still talk to them on a regular basis. One posts here from time to time. The reason I got out was that my current job is a job earned by merit (testing, but I'm done with all of that), and offers lifetime employment and a pension and benefits upon retirement--something I was not going to get in the auto parts industry when I was there. My department still exists today but friends of mine still there tell me that, "You wouldn't like it". My current job has me traveling the country at times (including this month), as well as allowing me to use my MBA and also a "hands on" type of job in an automotive/fleet/heavy duty setting. This same friend and I created a multi-media research library with parts books going back decades, some of them into the 1940s. We had parts books for domestic, foreign, exotics, small engines, marine, industrial engines, you name it. When I came there in 1994, the library was all books and microfiche. By the time I left in 2005, my friend and I had converted a lot of it to electronic look up and we had the same systems the dealers did. Upon my leaving, my friend was asked to take over the research library and I believe he did for a while, but it was never appreciated. They've since tossed much of that old stuff and they rely on outside sources for information now. Yes, you got that right----parts books from the muscle car era, including vintage MOPAR, Ford, GM, and AMC parts books to my knowledge were all tossed out to "make room". For what, I don't know.....

[@dustydon6419]

@googleusergp You believe the beetle performed better than the Ghia? To each his own but I disagree. I’ve owned both and the Ghia ( wider platform, lower center of gravity ) out cornered any old Beetle I’ve driven.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

A lot of folks say the karmann Ghia was inspired by the 53 Chrysler and tge 53 stude combined

[@johngranato2673]

Now, it's a V-Double-Yuck

[@demetridar506]

Perhaps the main reason Chrysler hired Italy to build their prototypes was cost. Back then America had high wages, especially for craftsmen. Italy was still super poor, and you could hire top craftsmen for nothing.

[@googleusergp]

A lot of Italians came to the US and became craftsmen here. The body shop I use is owned by two older Italian guys (a Mario and a Frank) and they talk with heavy Italian accents. When I drove my Trans Am by there once to drop in they said, "Ah, dissa car witha bird on da hood. You can no do this twice. It's a pain in da asssa to do these. But thisa car a beautiful. Built like a truck-a. They don't make a like dis anymore....."

[@TechTimeWithEric]

I bet Mustie1 could get it running

[@wilco3588]

The Karmann Ghia had a different floor pan than the beetle I believe it was a little bit wider I know they used it on the German built military m181 Kubalwagon of the late 60s and 70s and also the VW Acapulco and Thing. Also I thought the Karmann Ghia usually had the little bit bigger engine than the beetle.?