Porsche-powered Karmann Ghia | Vintage

Jochen Bader's Karmann Ghia RS is one of a kind. It's part Volkswagen, part Porsche and a whole lot of fun. He took the sporty body of a 1970 Karmann Ghia and pumped it full of Porsche technology. The result is a Ghia with an output of 321 horsepower and a top speed of more than 300 kilometers an hour.
► Liked the video? Let us know by giving us a thumbs up!
► Want to see more? Make sure to subscribe
► Check our website: dw.com/REV
REV - The Global Auto and Mobility Show from Deutsche Welle
#VW #DWREV #PORSCHE

[@markw208]

I like how he’s kept the appearance as close to factory as possible. That really brings out the beauty of the original design. He made a Karmann Ghia we all dreamed of

[@shanehnorman]

Pity about the wheels, though. Some beefy tyres on 16-inch rims would have been more 'simpatico'.

[@kevinpatrickmacnutt]

Finally an engine and suspension befitting the car's appearance.

[@Reefer-Rampage69]

Right? Lol

[@WHJeffB]

It really is a superb combination... Would love to have something like this!

[@DolphWorld]

Finally… now I can die

[@davemonro1990]

@@WHJeffB Why not build your own???

[@WHJeffB]

@@davemonro1990 I might just do something like that once I retire in about 3yrs.

[@bobfognozzle]

I put a 1600 cc Porsche engine in a 1962 Karman Ghia in 1968. It was a direct bolt up to the transmission, with a few cut outs to clear the carbs. I did nothing to the suspension or brakes. It was fast, but let‘s just say I learned a lot about brake fade and trailing throttle oversteer....The car was a blast to drive back then, I am lucky that I did not die.

[@MK-su6eg]

Bob F, you were way ahead of the TIMES! father bought a vs beetle to teach me ,olderbro how to drve, backing the late60s it was a62!? wished we kept it!!I wanted to beef it up with a porsche engine back then ! Peace, ironic I drive a 2006 boxster s, in paradise. Aloha!

[@bobfognozzle]

@@MK-su6eg I drive a 2015 M3 when it doesn’t rain ! After Vietnam I bought a Bahama yellow 911S.. then had children….🤓

[@howardmckenna]

The Karmann Ghia is one of the most beautiful cars ever made, let down by it's humble underpinnings. This one is amazing. The PERFECT K.G.

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

It's a beautiful car regardless of the engine and chassis. I owned a 1972 model, they were very prone to rust.

[@ingridbarth2773]

It was my first car in the 70-ies, an orange one. :D Loved it.

[@judeirwin2222]

Its humble etc, not it’s, which = it is.

[@motorman857]

You would think VW would see a market for a modern Karmann Ghia that looks as close to the original as the new VW Bug did, to the original. Especially since the Bug is now going out of production.

[@benjaminfitzsimmons1628]

Nah. Factory's would have to be made with this thing in mind, new manufacturing methods and production lines researched and developed, complete design reworks to meet safety and emission standards plus modernising every single bit of the car (plastic body, sound deadening, modern display and gadgets, it goes on and on). It'd now weigh a tonne and need a different motor to add to it all. It wouldnt be the same car and you'd lose the enthusiast who love the car for its old school character and feel and not gain any new customers caus realistically the ghia isn't the world's most famous classic car and it'd be crazy expensive to cover all the R&D costs. It'd be cheaper to buy shit one used and get it restored perfectly.

[@droid_protocol_official]

Ride Like a Pro Jerry Palladino so true! I have no idea why they’d build the beetle again. A retrospective concept of the Karman would definitely have been better.

[@gregorytimmons4777]

Take a bite out of Mazda Miata's customer base.

[@wtz650]

they ruined the new bug gy making it front wheel drive !!!!!!!!

[@crxdelsolsir]

The Karman Ghia will be doomed just like the Beetle and other sport 2 door compact before. They are niche cars and do not appeal to the new market taste and new generation of drivers. The new generation of drivers are just not the same as the generations before. They see size and convenience and want SUV's, big rear openings in the form of Hatch Backs or Lift backs to take all including the kitchen sink. Hence the dwindling sales of even the sedan for all things with a rear tail gate (hatch back and liftbacks) Sure you still have 2 door cars but not in the volume they once did although recently it has picked up again with the Mustang, Supra and Nissan GTR before that so there may be hope.

[@williamscheuer5933]

What a beauty...that silver paint just glows! I’d have no problem parking it next to my ‘95 Carrera with the identical air cooled 3.6. What the hell, I may drive the Ghia more than the 993. Looks like so much fun and done right! Nice job on this little classic.

[@knytrydr73]

That silver almost makes it look like an Aston Martin.

[@joecausey8508]

Yes, I had the same thought.

[@dodril17]

just better

[@darbyheavey406]

Speedster? An Aston has a very different nose shape.

[@foadrightnow5725]

They really should make a modern version of this car!

[@louiejonesponation]

I’m a VW Purist and I really like this build. The Porsche/VW connection I like the most, mainly because the Karmann Ghia is a glorified Beetle (exterior and interior) and so is the 911 (performance). Combine them together and you’ve made a glorified Beetle. This is easily one of my favourite VW Air Cooled Builds, massive pat on the back to the owner.

[@Gwatts78]

Yes

[@lauriedooker1031]

One of my favourite car builds of all time

[@oceanhome2023]

Ghia the the way god intended it !

[@rpinarreta]

Wow, that looks like it was done properly. Guess that's what you get when 3 German mechanical / design engineers are involved in the project. Ghia was clearly ahead of its time with this design considering how it fits in today with larger tires. Congratulation Jochen and crew.

[@ronaldweed4599]

As a boy I remember how much I liked the design,many here in Washington State,1960s.

[@shawnjames3640]

I can imagine all the hours, talent, sleepless nights, money and ambition that went into this work of art . Well done.

[@davemonro1990]

Finally, an American video that does not knock European cars. And what a car, beautiful lines, low and smoothly sleek, then the engine revs and we know we are looking at a unique car. A truly great job.

[@1258-Eckhart]

It isn't american, only the voiceover is. This is Deutsche Welle.

[@davemonro1990]

@@1258-Eckhart Yes, I admit my mistake over the accusation it was an American video. A voiceover is a form of cultural theft that the Americans are very well-noted for

[@Stu31041]

Father had one. Mother had VW station wagon. Beauty and the beast. Great to see Karman perform so well. Even half that horsepower would still be a blast.

[@asimsherzai]

Genius, German engineering 👌 at its best thanks for sharing

[@DWREV]

Thanks! Much more content to come!

[@darganx]

Absolutely fkin gorgeous and great paintwork - and when the boot opened up to show the engine.. well, I almost had a full stiffy 😂😂

[@blackbolt3685]

I've always liked the shape and look of these cars,and,with that stance/suspension,the wheels,the color,and,that power,makes it a sexy Beast 💪🏿👍🏿

[@ferdinandchineduike4890]

I felt in love with this car when I was a very little boy. As I grew up as a man , I’ve been searching for this car . Back in those days I use to know this car as Igala . When I couldn’t find it any where in net. Then I fell in love with Porsche 911. Cos 911 is my birthday.

[@jacquespoirier9071]

a very well done conversion as increasing the power means increasing braking, handling and stability of the vehicule

[@Geonious]

I love it. I always wondered what a Porsche powered Ghia would be like.

[@chrisst8922]

Good to see a programme like this with no errors in the narration.

[@sjgreene785]

LOVE IT. I had 2 of them..one hard top, and one convertable. I will have one again. One day...😎

[@ithamarl4570]

King of sleepers on the autobahn

[@videojockeysword]

I would absolutely LOVE to have this car!

[@charlesfoster141]

Very nice job. I can see and appreciate the many hours and dollars that it took to build this magnificent Karmann Ghia. Most people do not realize that the Karmann Ghia front fenders are soldered to the body as one piece. This is the main reason that a new 1971 Karmann Ghia sold for over twice the price of a 1971 VW Bug! You could buy a brand new 1971 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible for only $300 more than the Karmann Ghia. I bought a used 1971 Karmann Ghia convertible in late 1972 for $1,500.00 after it had been professionally repaired following a front end collision. The paint shine didn't match so I got the car for a bargain. I later sold that car to my Dad who totalled it in an accident. I love the Karmann Ghia and could delight in owning and driving your Porsche version. I once owned a 911S and can imagine how spectacular your car must perform! Thanks

[@gregorytimmons4777]

Like an early 60's Lincoln Continental.

[@davemonro1990]

@@gregorytimmons4777 I do so dislike this sort of comment. All it demonstrates is that MOST Americans understand about making a real car that goes round bends and corners without tipping over or crashing into something as the car keeps trying to go straight on.

[@user-el9ep2lp7j]

Woooooooow!!! You blinded me! I don't know if I can describe it with words. ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!! But these two words are very poor to describe it.

[@1968CudaGuy]

That was the most beautiful video of a Karmann Ghia ever!! In my youth I had a 69' convertible and 71' hardtop wish I never sold them.. Guess I should start looking for another one..

[@mehboobrattansi7191]

very nice like porsche

[@infowazz]

i hope u find one.

[@venturefanatic9262]

I've always loved the look of the Ghia and always wanted one.

[@martinschmidt2683]

Es ist immer schön wenn solche alten Wagen wieder aufgebaut werden auch mit moderner Technik. Die Frage ist dann nur was der Spaß kostet.

[@RonnieFry]

Jochen and I would be best friends... LOL My mother had one, my father had one and I had one. A beautiful body on a beetle. It was always my dream and my father's to do exactly what Jochen has done. No easy transformation but brilliant. Thanks DW News this made my day,.

[@oldenweery7510]

Back in the early '60s, I was tooling along at the speed limit when I saw a VW bug in my rear-view mirror---growing fast!---and ;passed me doing about 80. Farther u; the line, I saw it in a drive-in restaurant and pulled in next to it as the driver came out with a bag of burgers. I asked, and he said it was a Porsche engine. "They drop right in; have the same motor mounts as the Beetle." I knew the early Porsches used the VW engines, which Porsche had designed after all, with better breathing and other improvements. Maybe it's the same with later Porsche engines.

[@paulking54]

Wow ,what a beauty!!!

[@ivankuljis1780]

Bought my first KG in 1985.....a 1960 36 hp with '61,000 miles. Sold it in 2000 with 64,000. Needless to say l kept that one in factory new condition. The '69 Chrom Blau Australian delivery that l purchased in '88 was fitted with a 1641cc twin Webber motor for a while.... always wanted to go the 911 route, even considered a mid engined layout like our '72 914 1.7litre that we bought in '97 for $10K.....the same price paid for the '69.

[@onfin3al6]

I thought my 62 Corvair Monza was kinda hot till a ghia passed me at 105 mph , shifted , got rubber and all I seen were tail lights . Followed best I could to his house . We removed the fiberglass tail section , there was 380 HP porche turbo looking back and laughing . Didn't feel so bad after that .

[@TzadikTheManic]

One of my favorite cars, bone stock is a dream enough....this is on another level!!! In the late 90s I had a girlfriend who lived in Manhattan & a neighbor had the most beautiful example; it was off-white with gold badging/lettering (it looked fantastic, not sure if it was original to the car or not) & I always walked by to stare at it.....such a glorious design!

[@zurcherzurich213]

🎉 Der Wolf im Schafspelz! 🎉

[@hmishin843]

Only a few make their dreams come true. This is definitely one beautiful dream machine.

[@antoninorex5857]

Finally!!! Hope I Can Recreate this Masterpiece : )

[@johndouglas4528]

Incredible! Love it!

[@Mojo522]

I've daydreamed about a Porsche Karmann Ghia since I was a fetus, so wicked awesome. Totally one of my dream cars.

[@georgecrutchfield8734]

My dream car. In 1968 I bought my first car, a 1964 VW type 1. But the Karmen has always been my dream car and I would be happy with 100 hp!

[@manfredschmalbach9023]

.... but it would be way more fun with 300+ horses, wouldn't it?

[@240fxst]

outstanding automobile.

[@emmanuelofori6521]

The Ghia deserves this engine.

[@markcook3570]

had a 61 back in the day..She was clean, But this is stunning.That silver metallic set's it off nicely , kudos

[@washingtonfootballfanwgil8392]

Wow! Beautiful car. Amazing what he was able to do with it.

[@richardhanechak2177]

THAT is beautiful. THAT is a car.

[@allosaurusfragilis7782]

Always loved the look of this car. This is a brilliant build.

[@juanlopez4375]

IS PERFECT. DONE BY THE ONE WHO KNOW! LOVE IT.

[@christopherspiro9857]

Love this car. Its very sophisticated and done right.

[@Mojo522]

I'm just checking but yup, 2 years later, and this car is still flippin' awesome.

[@villdevill5800]

This is beautiful

[@Gordonseries385]

Yes I like this and would consider doing this, great job!

[@zzzzxxxx341]

I love the old look of the vintage cars than what is designed nowadays.

[@clonmore819]

Absolutely fantastic

[@mtufts1000]

Awesome job

[@13FloorsBelow]

This is amazing. I've always dreamed of putting Porsche suspension and engine in a Ghia. As far as bringing it back, I always thought that the Audi TT was the Ghia with a different badge.

[@davemonro1990]

The AUDI TT is a direct steal from SEAT's Tango. SEAT was not allowed to build the Tango, a decision made by AUDI. And a bit later on we saw why!!! And the Tango is a much better-looking car. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAT_Tango

[@lexburen5932]

@@davemonro1990 that seat looks better

[@davemonro1990]

@@lexburen5932 I am glad that I am not alone in that view. The Tango is a superb car.

[@WHJeffB]

The TT is what the Ghia might have been if they'd kept in production... The SEAT Tango is a nice looking car, but only FWD... I'd take the Audi TT with AWD any day.

[@zzzzxxxx341]

Wow GORGEOUS FAST MACHINE!

[@Gate3739]

Stunning, tunning!

[@davidedgar7338]

goes like it should have. still subtle beauty. quickly elegant.

[@lewistasso8866]

Now that's a mating that we have been waiting for!

[@brianlee5649]

Exactly. I love how it turned out!

[@darrellterry1278]

Simply beautiful

[@wendyglasgow6394]

Lovely just lovely. My MX5 is crying 😢

[@kevinsalami]

Outstanding

[@jl8628]

Cool car!! What a great design.

[@thomascranston8503]

In the early 60's Harry Washburn (VW Dealer in Shreeveport LA) Raced a Porsche RSK. His personal car was a Karmann Ghia with Porsche Engine. One guy in Houston TX bolted a water cooled turbocharged Subaru 4 cyl boxer in his Karmann Ghia. A friend on hearing that put one of those turbo Subaru's in his VW Van. He could step on it and pass another vehicle that was doing 80 MPH.

[@otter25702]

Brilliant, I wish I had the knowledge to do that. I have the same wheels on my Porsche.

[@whitehot1746]

My prayers answered!The perfect Karmann Ghia>

[@connieschmitt714]

I love it!!

[@wdfaws8124]

Awesome!

[@r.blacky341]

German high end Porsche 911 parts in it,and the Ghia is the King of the road!! And the best for the German there made this wonderfull car,he have a car that no one other have around the hole wide world! Sorry for my bad english best wish Reiner from Germany

[@bouyant8659]

BEAUTIFUL

[@matasu]

Wow this is a beautiful car. Id love to drive it. There is no way I could afford something like this. Its nice. I bet its fun to drive. Enjoy.

[@gioviredigonda2887]

Gran bel giocattolo ! Complimenti !!!!

[@tomoday4450]

Beautiful

[@marlet1971]

My dream came true! Now I only need three things: the Karmann, the engine and the money to have it all done 😁😁😁

[@TheBeachedone]

Love this bad ass Karmann Ghia!

[@StandingUpForBetter]

AWESOME!

[@N-Scale]

That is just sweeeeeeeet.

[@davidcurran8788]

Sweet!!!

[@leithmurray736]

Absolutely love it even at my age 75 I would do almost anything to have it in my garage

[@superliegebeest544]

This car the design its unbelievable timeless. To me the best vw even tho I like the bug the golf the scirocco corado also. And im also a big porsche fan. I used to have a 911 964. The last aircooled 911. And ive never driven a car with that quality and emotion again. And I have owned over 40 cars from 1969 up tp 2015.

[@marcosargen3729]

This a story worthy of a movie.

[@mogensrasmussen8414]

Very cool 👍🏻

[@dfinma]

This thing is awesome 👍

[@carlcalvin1479]

One of the most beautiful cars ever made .save 70's firebirds

[@dgb5820]

Beautiful job there is hope for my Ghia yet

[@ghostrider369]

That's awesome. Nice work and car.

[@DWREV]

Glad you like it! Make sure to check the rest of videos. New ones released weekly.

[@MrKewlplayer]

What a good looking car!

[@timallbritton7329]

Badass! I want one!

[@austingode]

Beautiful.......

[@johnnyboy1586]

Beautiful car shape

[@edkinakin6197]

Very very cool. Dream car.

[@antonypaul540]

With vw's body and Porsche 's engine , All together makes it a classic + powerful car. 🚗

[@mwilks5528]

Beautiful job my dream car

[@tacobreather]

The Karmann is a sweet car. A restomod Karmann is a great car!!

[@dieter-georgjoschko3499]

super INGENIEUR JB is a also an aircooled friend PROSCHE & VW mit luftigen Grüßen der Dieter-Georg JOSCHKO

[@LS-he9xb]

Beautiful car.

[@tomthompson7400]

A thing of great beauty.

[@chrismuz]

When VW still made beautiful cars!

[@DWREV]

You can say that again!