Karman Kopy Kat

Did legendary Chrysler stylist Virgil Exner really design the VW Karman Ghia? In this video the truth is revealed. Spoiler alert: the answer is YES!

[@scootypooper]

I'm 73 and have always wanted one. Have had 61, 64, and 63 bugs. The 61 had no gas Gauge. Had a reserve tank. Checked gas by putting a stick or a ruler in the gas tank! 😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@dunebuggy1286]

He menstions how cold it was in a beetle in the winter. A buddy had a beetle we would cruise around in, and he carried a scraper to clear the inside of the windows, front and side, in the winter.

[@jimh8644]

I owned a 1970 Volkswagen Square back (my third VW) and it was a great vehicle. My wife and our two kids loved it. Drove it till nothing was left of it.

[@burthenry7740]

All this great information, models, and literature is why this is my favorite KZbin channel!! In just 11 minutes Steve makes all his points. No artificial 'flavors or fillers'. I have never seen a commercially made wooden model car before, never knew anybody ever did such a thing! While I was aware of the D'Elegance, I always thought it was an original Ghia design. Now it turns out Exner was responsible. As 'Siskel and Ebert' would say, "Two thumbs up! " 👍👍

[@bobhill3941]

I completely agree, I never knew the Chrysler/VW history.

[@samholdsworth420]

One of the few channels I have Bell notifications on. Even though I know he uploads every day...

[@privateprivate1865]

Agreed.. STEVE RULES!

[@chrisscearce]

Hi Steve, great video on this VW Karmann Ghia. I drove a 67 Split window Bus to a show once. (Trying to advertise and sell it). It was at a 3 day Dead show and while I was out and about the clutch went out. I rolled back into the parking lot and luckily with some borrowed tools and skateboard from the crowd I changed out the clutch. I rolled the skateboard under the engine and when the last bolt was about to come out I bear hugged the engine and slowly sat it down on the skateboard. Then rolled it out of the way and installed the clutch. Then rolled it back in and bolted it all back together and made in the show that night. While everyone else smelt of body odor and Patchouli oil I on the other hand smelled like oil and gasoline! I didn't sell the van at that show but was later on contacting by some college kid. I hated that thing, 55mph maybe downhill fully loaded using 'Goergia overdrive' Have a blessed day everyone 🤙🏼 Namaste 🙏🏼

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Haha I was probably 9ish , so like 82 or so....the wild uncle got a 62 bus and took me to daily summer camp a few times in it when my folks couldn't. Bare bones and slow. Not at the time ,but with the rose colored glasses kicking in that thing was cool. Not much paint ,darkish green but surface rust all over, I think it had 2 doors on the right and not a slider...hah and it was dusty as heck inside I swear it came from a farm because I live next to a farm and the firm trucks resembled this thing 😂😂 Hah thanks man , it's always interesting how a comment makes you reminisce and have to comment (and in no way trying to 1up, just telling tales) ✌️✌️

[@chrisscearce]

@MrHillfolk Hi, thanks for commenting 🤙🏼 it helps Steve's channel. I also enjoy hearing other's stories. See you in the comment section bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Namaste 🙏🏼

[@pmafterdark]

Never realized Exner's design was the basis for the Karman Ghia. Pretty interesting stuff.

[@musclecarmitch908]

Awesome episode! I never knew Virgil Exner influenced the design of the Karman Ghia! Always a great day when you learn something new about auto history! Thanks for sharing Steve!

[@nonamesplease6288]

Every girl in my high school in the late 70s and early 80s had one of these. They were all painted in Easter egg shades of orange and pastel yellow, light blue, and light green.

[@VioletTorch]

I have a 1968 Karmann Ghia. I've always loved the styling. A true classic. Also, even though mass produced in the Karmann factory, all Karmann Ghia 's are essentially "hand built" as they contain hand laid lead in the seams in the front nose .

[@hughjass1044]

I'm a lifelong car guy but there's hardly a day goes by when I don't learn something. I had no idea that Virgil Exner was the designer of the Karman Ghia. Well done as always, Steve!

[@johnt.848]

That's because he wasn't!

[@pl5624]

68 irs was only on auto stick models.

[@danielmeadows4204]

I love watching your crawls. I was surprised to hear of the inches on the 53 coronet. 241 cubic inches is amazing. They should bring that motor back in today's EPA motors. Dont quit what you do to inform the public of past auto engineering. Your doing a great job

[@kenttalsma7906]

At around 4:05 when Mags introduces the d' Elegance I looked at that grill and the first thing I thought was late model Chrysler 300.

[@tomwesley7884]

Yes, I thought the late model Chrysler looks like that as well

[@SteveMagnante]

Good call! -Steve Magnante

[@butcher390]

What a great automotive history lesson !! Never knew that . Virgil Exner 's design influences .

[@ChaChiVooDoo]

Back in 1983 I bought a 65 VW Beetle. The front starter motor bushing was in the bell housing and worn out to the point the rotor rubbed and shorted against the stator and wouldnt spin. I took a rope cup off a reel lawn mower and installed it on the generator and thats how I started it. Until Winter came and I saw just how bad the heat sucked. Traction was amazing though. I sold it to this old hippie next door that found a 66 and used body panels and the engine/trans assy off it for the 65. I found a 1969 Opel Kadett wagon with the 1.1 engine with twin carbs and it was like a Caddy compared to the VW and it had insane heat! Plus the cargo capacity was massive for such a small econo box. I owned that Opel 26 years before selling it in 2006 only to see parts off it on Ebay several years later. Had I known it was going to be junked I would have parked it in a yard to rot as it still would be around. Those air cooled VWs had great build quality but even the collapsable steering column didnt save them from being death traps in a crash. At least the Opel had an engine in front for a little protection but it was a beer can as well.

[@christopherbrown6697]

As a young child, I thought this model was the "Common Gear" because my native Brooklynite Mom would pronounce both phrases exactly the same way.

[@hackfabrication139]

Never knew the design history of the Karman Ghia. Thanks Steve! Would really love to find a cabriolet that I could afford! BTW: I believe GM changed from the swing arm rear suspension, to the 'fully independent' (double joint) in the Corvair with the 1965 model year. I owned a 1967 Corvair (140hp, 4spd). Loved that car!

[@burthenry7740]

in John Z. DeLorean's book, "On a Clear Day you can see General Motors" he tells that in 1961, the new Chevrolet big shot, Bunkie Knudson threatened the GM top brass he would publicly resign if the front sway bar and rear transverse compensator spring were not added to the 1964 Corvair. Both Knudson and DeLorean had worked at Pontiac and refused to have a similar Corvair model, known as the Polaris. The front engine Tempest was the compromise.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Love my veedubs,the little I know is when the Ghias rot the rockers, there's no replacements and they sag in the middle. Early on you'll notice the doors closing funny and the hinge pins are tight.

[@fk4515]

@@burthenry7740 BUT the front engine Tempest had a rear transaxle and the same suspension, it wasn't a problem on the Tempest so I'm guessing they either had a caster compensator or something else to limit downward travel, or maybe without all the engine weight not hanging off the rear of the car it wasn't a problem.

[@burthenry7740]

@@fk4515 Yes, the engine in the front helped out the Tempest handling. But it didn't cure the swing arm problem! The April 1962 issue of Motor Trend magazine had a 6 page feature on the Tempest. On pg. 22, the author, Jim Wright, states that "Under normal conditions at normal speeds this (oversteer) isn't very noticeable......In tight corners it's a different story.......You can scare yourself real easy.............The rear end breaks loose with very little warning........ The Tempest was also The MT 'Car of the Year' in 1961. I. like millions of others have driven Tempests , Corvairs and old Beetles and never had a problem. But push the envelope and if you don't know how to correct 'trailing throttle oversteer' bad things can happen.

[@oops1952]

I never would have guessed....Exner!!! That body looks like it might save a little gas on the hwy over the beatle. In the '60s Porsche used swing axles too. I heard the swing axles on the corvair were shorter, adding to the design problem. Thanks again Steve👍

[@jeffclark2725]

All these years, I didn't know Chrysler, was involved with the Giha

[@jimgerock9190]

Another great junkyard video. Thanks for featuring the Ghia(s).

[@DeWittPotts]

Mu uncle had a Karmen Ghia back in the 70's. I drove that car many times. His had the 'Automatic Stick Shift'. This was basically a regular standard transmission but with an electric clutch that was activated by pushing down on the gear shift. This worked fairly well except if you were like me and liked to rest your right hand on the gear shift when you were driving. What would happen is that you would be driving down the road at normal speed and when you rested your had on the top of the gear shift it was the effect as depressing the clutch pedal. Overall it was really a fun car to drive.

[@rickcentore2801]

When I met my wife she owned a 1971 Ghia with an automatic stick shift. There was no clutch and if I remember correctly it was a 3 speed transmission.

[@nathanjoseph4284]

Hey Steve, more import content like this please!!! I always appreciate the coverage of non-American classics, because they're very different from the cars America was building back in the day, which makes them interesting. Besides, even though they're sort of forgotten about by a lot of muscle and classic car enthusiasts these days, import cars (especially ones from Japan back in the 1970s) were VERY important to the car industry as a whole because they helped American society get back on their feet during the oil crises of the 1970s. They were very efficient compared to the gas-guzzling, big American cars of their time.

[@ddellwo]

In the small Midwestern town where I grew up, there was a guy who had a couple Karman Ghia coupes parked out in front of his house. This would have been mid-to-late ‘70’s and they were probably the most “exotic” vehicles that I was aware of in my hometown at the time. Although there was a young girl who had a sky blue MGB who looked like Ali McGraw from “Love Story” and she would drive around town with her long, brown hair blowing in the summer wind! But to this pre-teen boy, that was “exotic” for different reasons……..😂

[@tomwesley7884]

Yeah, Ali MacGraw

[@googleusergp]

When I first got my 2009 Pontiac G6 convertible, I was dating a girl that had long hair. We took a trip up to Mystic, CT and took my convertible. She said, "Do we have to drive with the top down?" I said, "I didn't buy it to drive it with the top up, that's for sure. Bring the window up and put on the seat heater if you're cold....". She said, "No, I don't like the wind in my hair". Needless to say, I'm not with her anymore, but guess who still has that convertible?

[@ddellwo]

@@googleusergp - My brother-in-law got a convertible a few years ago and had the same problem with my sister! She was either too cold with the top down or the wind messed up her hair! I’ve never had good enough hair to worry about such things……😂

[@googleusergp]

@@ddellwo A friend of mine (just a friend) had a Jeep when I met her and she likes my convertible, but calls it "fancy". She didn't have such nice words for my ex-gf, calling her "mousy". Sometimes those ladies can be more vicious than us guys. LOL.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

​@@googleusergp ahahaha nice 😂 I don't have a tale like that but I have dad's 91 Jetta coupe I remember him pulling in the drive when it was new. Yeah mom and dad said they were going to look at a car, didn't know they were getting one! Fast forward to 2003 ,he calls and asks if I want it for 500$. He didn't want the 500$ , but that is what they offered him on trade in. Needless to say ,he keeps his cars nice but it was a daily driver too. Some cleanup and nos parts and it's staying in the family now. Ma and dad are still doing fine ✌️

[@vettekid3326]

I never was crazy about the looks of the Kamran Ghia so I never had one but my last VW was a 1973 Squareback Sedan and it had the 1600 dual port engine with Bosch electronic fuel injection and fully automatic transmission. In order to get reasonable heat out of it for Illinois winters I added an inline electric blower to boost the circulation and that worked quite well.

[@robbchastain3036]

I have to agree about the looks, it was sort of like a sports car but not nearly as stylish as a Triumph or the handful of European sports cars still on the road in the Seventies, and it certainly didn't have the personality or versatility of the Beetle and at the time, late '71 to late '74, our family car was a yellow '72 Super Beetle and we lived in California and that was a common sight back then, all those Beetles in lots of flavors, including Baja style with the off-road accessories and somewhat exposed engine in back. And with Steve showing us all the options Chrysler was cooking up for the Ghia of the Fifties, one has to wonder why VW kept it a relatively staid little car, tho' at the time that was their thing, no doubt, just basic transportation and they were doing small cars a whole lot better than Detroit that decade and the next one and I was the happy owner of an '84 Rabbit GTI which offered true sports car performance in a lowly econo-box body. And i remember explaining to a date--and this was in the heyday of the Yuppies drive BMWs deal--that it was actually a high-performance car. Turns out she had a taste for the richer things in life so my car and I had not so much appeal to her and O well, I was still proud to own a GTI and it didn't cost me all that much new, certainly not Porsche money tho' it ran like one.

[@charlesacker8552]

I thought it was quite interesting to see the pod-like tail/turn signal light perched on the rear quarter panel of the D-Elegance. It would resurface years later on the 1962 Chrysler Imperial for that model year only. Not exactly a styling trend.

[@chuckeecheese162]

We used to party on and around one in the woods lol

[@googleusergp]

I assume someone had left it in there. LOL.

[@1984xlx]

A lot of folks aren't familiar with another Karmann Ghia body that was made for the Type 3 chassis. It looks more like a BMW than a Chrysler Ghia. They are pretty rare, I've only see a few in the wild.

[@jonathangehman4005]

WOW! I had no idea there was an Exner connection to the Karmann Ghia. Once you know it does become sort of obvious, the greenhouse especially reminds me of "The Norseman" and several other Exner designs. You really bring the goods on this show

[@christianmccollum1028]

My first car was a 74 Karmann Ghia. So many wonderful memories from that time. Fantastic little car.

[@Oldbugssy]

Great history on the design of the Ghia. I was incorrect in my knowledge of the origins. Odd how I am a collector of aircooled VW's but have had only one Ghia. At least now I have an excuse. The prices are through the roof!

[@volktales7005]

It is a stretch to say Chrysler designed the Karmann Ghia. No question Exner did the D'Elegance design, and no question that Ghia "borrowed" many aspects of it. But Exner and Chrysler certainly were not commissioned to design Volkswagen's specialty car. VW was well known to have different specifications for their cars throughout the world. Those four lug wheels were introduced for the US market in 1968. US Ghias received disc front brakes at the same time, but US market Beetles were stuck with drums, despite European Beetles using discs (on higher spec models). VW's official line on the switch from swing-axle to IRS rear suspension was to accommodate the new "Auto-Stick" semiautomatic transmission. The IRS soon became the standard rear suspension design for US markets, but swing-axles in Beetles continued on in many parts of the world, including the "custom" models sold in Canada.

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

Well! I have been an air cooled VW fan since I was a kid and never knew the Ghia's Chrysler roots. Amazing

[@AlanG58]

Another great video! I've had 6 Karmann Ghias over the years and even one of the European Type 34 ones. These were beautiful cars. The fenders were each welded to the bodies and hand finished which gave a very nice uniform flow. Their main enemy was rust.

[@fk4515]

Great finish and flow but poor rust prevention, the 356 Porsches were about the same, heck Karmen even made some Porsche 356 bodies.

[@buggyridge]

I have a '68 and now know twice as much about it as I did. Thanks Steve!

[@rixkafer56]

Great info Steve ! Im a vw dude ! Ive owned 66 vert , 68 sedan, and 74 all ghias.. it was replaced by the Sirocco in 75 so ive heard... looks like that one has been there awhile.. thanks for sharing

[@fk4515]

The 924 Porsche was supposed to be the Karmen Ghia replacement but it became to expensive. That's why the 924 went into production with a VW engine. The Sirocco ended up replacing the Karmen Ghias since it was essentially a re-bodied Gulf it meet the price criteria.

[@andrefiset3569]

These usually had the gas heater in Canada but became gas guzzlers during winter. My sister had a 73 beetle and the gas heater didn't work.🥶

[@throckmorton8477]

A high school friend had one in his Beetle. It worked, but used almost as much gasoline as the car,.....according to him!

[@haljohnson5729]

Wow that little car gave its life so another could live......

[@googleusergp]

Today we'd call that the "frunk". (the front trunk). LOL. I always thought these looked like toilet bowls, but that's just me. Karman did help GM design the convertible top on my 2009 Pontiac G6. 1974 was the last year for the Karman Ghia, not 1973 and the Scirocco replaced it in the VW line after that point. No VIN, can't win, but 1972 model year chassis on the Karman Ghia started with number 142 2000 001 in August of 1971 and 1973 model year cars started with number 143 2000 001 in August of 1972. Possible code L21E Tangerine exterior paint. I've always liked the Beetle (the old, German made ones) as they were simple, reliable and easy to fix. Parts support was always great for them, even when they were just "used cars".

[@erroneouscode]

"Today we'd call that the "frunk". (the front trunk). LOL." To many non Americans your joke gets the boot. 😉

[@googleusergp]

@@erroneouscode Keep that one under your bonnet. LOL.

[@SteveMagnante]

@@googleusergp Don't be TWO "GUARDED"....since the Brits call fenders "guards". They also have an odd way of calling cigarettes "f*gs" and non-heteros "poofs". Never ask a Brit to take a poof off his f*g! Not being hateful here, just examining words and their many meanings in other places. And that's the fun of it all. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@googleusergp]

@@SteveMagnante They also call fenders "wings". Just watch some of the Thames TV shows from the 1970s and 1980s. Diesel fuel (on road) is called "DERV". (Diesel Engine Road Vehicle). If you want a good laugh, read a British shop manual or parts manual. "Whilst every effort has been made to ensure this catalogue is up-to-date, British Leyland reserves the right to provide product updates at any time", or "Withdraw the bolts with the appropriate spanner", or "Take due care to prevent swarf (debris) from entering the sump", or "Hide Food" for leather treatment, among many others. Then there's always, "Caution: Negative Earth (ground)". My friend and I still comment on this some 15 years later from when we worked together at the auto parts manufacturer. The British service and parts publications were the best for a good laugh.

[@DanEBoyd]

@@SteveMagnante Great! Now explicate the term "fanny pack," and contrast its etamology with that of the British term for that particular wardrobe accessory.😃

[@savedin87ify]

My favorite VW always wanted one. Keep them coming.

[@marioncobaretti2280]

Thankyou lockjaw and steve

[@grumblyone3334]

Miss seeing those cars all over. The Karmen Ghia, the Thing, Bugs, & the Squareback, (admittedly forgot about that one).

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

For '67 and '68 VW added a "compensator spring" known as a "Z-Bar" to the rear suspension of the Beetle (and possibly the Ghia, not sure)...it would prevent a rear wheel from tucking under the car in a violent steering situation. From what I know VW didn't think it really necessary but the fallout from Nader & the Corvair was so strong that they added it to placate public concerns. The Beetle went to independent rear suspension in '69

[@fk4515]

I had both 67 and 68 Beetles and none of them had one. In all fairness both the 68's were automatic stick shifts so they had full IRS. The '67 did have a sway bar in the back. The VW suspension was transverse torsion bars that were in a housing with trailing arms that went from the torsion bar back to the Hub/axle assembly. The trailing arms fit inside the outer end of the housing and were prevented from rotating to far up or down. When you put one together you had to engage the splines on the trailing arm with the splined end of the torsion bar twist the arm up putting preload on the torsion bar and then push (okay drive with a RBFH as in Really Big F****** Hammer) the end of the trailing arm into the housing, when you got the training arm pushed all the way into the housing then there was a cap you bolted over the end of the torsion bar housing.to keep torsion bars and trailing arms in and dirt and grime out.

[@classicmusclecarexhaust1988]

I love this type of automotive revelation. I mean, who knew? I've heard the BMW 6 series was designed with a poster of the '65 Corvair hanging on the wall of the BMW styling team but whether it's true or not who knows. Steve when you run out of cars at Bernardston maybe you can do a series about automotive 'Roots'. It's fascinating to find out who influenced who.

[@SteveMagnante]

Hello Classic Muscle Car Exhaust. Thanks for watching and writing. It is true that many designs are shared, borrowed and otherwise influenced by what came before. In BMW land, every time I see a Bimmer with the trademark "Hoffmeister Kink" roof C-pillar (including the gorgeous 635i) I am reminded of my old 1963 DODGE DART! In fact, any 1963 - '66 Dart 2 or 4 door sedan or hardtop has this interesting little styling detail also seen on 1960's BMWs. Not saying "Chrysler is the root of all goodness", hardly. But it's fun to play junkyard design detective! If I ever encounter an appropriate Thanks again for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@WieDrDerJonge]

​@@SteveMagnante The Hoffmeister kink was already used by BMW before 1963 so Chrysler might have seen it on a BMW and decided to use it instead...😉

[@RoadNoise29100]

Sreve, man, what a fascinating story! You are a credit to youtube. I have shared SO many of your videos with my car buddies. Keep on rockin'!!!

[@bruceprentice6441]

Always wanted to drive a Carmangia, but haven’t had the opportunity. And I probably spelled it wrong too, lol

[@googleusergp]

Karman Ghia.

[@bruceprentice6441]

@@googleusergp Ya, I should have realized with a Germanic name the consonant K would have been used.

[@googleusergp]

@@bruceprentice6441 Also as I noted, they were involved in the Pontiac G6 convertible top design as well. I have one, a 2009 G6 convertible.

[@tomstiel7576]

my buddy had one,,,we used to ride around smoking the evil weed and listen to neil young eight tracks...and believe it or not,,,sometimes thru the affluent suburb of Birmingham Mi.....fun times

[@jeffsmith846]

My Dad bought a bank repo 69 K Ghia in 1972. A fun little car to drive and so different from the big US cars. Them and the beetles were so simply built. The only real pain was adjusting the valves every 2000 miles.

[@dougeurowerkz2881]

Steve, Great revue and interesting information. But simmer down on the anti VW lean. VW is was and will always be easily one of the most significant automakers. They won, we should celebrate that and enjoy all makers, models, and quirks. Keep up the great work!

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Always great to learn something new. Thanks again Steve

[@TheopolisQSmith]

I saw the Ghia in the background on the IH TravelAll and expected it would be up soon. A nice mix at the yard has to make it easier on you to do one after another

[@DansAm76]

2 other interesting tidbits, was that there were two versions of the KG sold in the US, and there were even more versions sold overseas. And the KG floor pan was wider than the beetle and was also shared with the VW Thing.

[@boyfrmnewyork]

I had an orange 1970 Karman Ghia. The only car I ever had that needed an ice scraper for the inside windows during winter..

[@union01089]

When I was a kid in the early seventies I remember a Karman Ghia had been dumped in a gully where we used to play along with old bikes and trash. Probably still there. It must have been an early model

[@aspalovin]

My Dad had a friend who had about 6 of these and some square backs and vans etc way back. They'd be worth a decent pile of cash today. Try to find a fender joint on a Karman Ghia.

[@brianalbrecht4423]

Steve.. it's amazing the auto history that u know...!...!..I was/am a VW lover since i was "7" yo....between my father & I...we owned close to 2 dozzen total VW's and VW based dune buggys....@ 63 years of age (now) I learned something I "never" knew...! thanks to YOU..!.!.in all those years I "never" knew that history of the Ghia...!.alought of Ghias were used as drag cars cause there were more aero friendly that the bug...but were a little heaver...the bug seamed to become the drag car of choice for the flat 4 lover...simply (i think) because of avabality....Thank u so much for that history lesson...u r never to old to learn...Thank u...reguards Brian😀..p.s.....I have never owned a Karman ghia personaly...my father did own a few...

[@johnlawfourtyfyve]

I had a 1961 Ghia in high school. The 61 Ghia was unique in that it had both both a gas gauge and and an aux gas tank. The beetle did not have a gas gauge until 1962 but lost the aux gas tank that year so it never had both.

[@bigchevs1]

The way that shortened hood opened...

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

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

[@Lakeman3211]

In high school I worked at a family owned furniture business, the company car was a hard top Karmen Ghia, what a piece…used to “borrow” it often….try stuffing 7-8 high schoolers in one of those!!! wishing I could do that again….

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Wow! Learn something new everyday! I never thought that Chrysler design was involved into the Karman ghia! Great history Steve! Thanks for sharing! Great video! 👌😎👍

[@barryandbonnievandergreft2265]

Thank you Steve for covering the K.G. A 58' low light Ghia sold at an auction in N.Y. state recently for $123,200, it was a convertible. Lots of great early history in this video, excellent job! P.S. Don't forget that old Squareback.

[@raymondkirby3910]

I like looking in the background while you are going over the car for the day and seeing what is there. Often times the car seen behind you is covered the next day as it is today. The Carman Ghia was behind you when you did the Travel All!

[@lloydgreen4091]

Steve -- Once Again Your Research Is Amazing. "My hats off toYou" Sir. Thank You

[@bwright5520]

ive had 3 bugs an a1969 van the heat was awful in the winter in wisconsin i did put a sleeper fan in the duck work in the van it did help some i miss those days maybe because i was 50 years younger who knows glad your on the mend buddy

[@haroldleaming2625]

My son bought the motor from that gia, Dale is a great guy

[@bobqzzi]

Beetle and Squareback were really, really good cars. Didn't have much use for the Ghias just because they were so cramped, but they look nice

[@peterkovacs8654]

“Here’s the thing” count this video, 4. You’ve inadvertently created your signature catch phrase. Run with it, we love your knowledge and passion for all things automotive! Keep up the good work!

[@robbchastain3036]

My mind is blown to know that this VW from the '70s had its styling roots two decades earlier in Detroit with Chrysler. But Steve tends to do that and then he reminds us to subscribe and hit the little bell for more mind-blowing car knowledge. 😀

[@nealsidor1323]

Thanks Steve, as always a boatload of info.👍 The Exner connection to the Karman Ghia was news to me...

[@daveridgeway2639]

Hi Steve, good video! Good Car! The VW Karman Ghia is much the same as the VW Beetle except for a lower floor, as did the VW Type 3, (fastback and squareback). My late father who was born in 1932, said that when he was a kid, the only model kits where air plains, and where balsa wood, not styrene plastic. He criticized the plastic model kits to me once, he said "plastic models do not show as much craftsmanship". Please reply. Dave...

[@slowridefpv9668]

That balsa model would have gotten a co2 Carthage mounted to it when I was a kid ;)

[@johngranato2673]

I learned something today. BTW, love the Isky and Square 8 ads!

[@mauriciofortunato6523]

Karmann ghia were also produced in Brazil, from 62 to 71, in its own factory, they were replaced by the TC model, 70 to 75 exclusive to Brazil .

[@madmike2624]

Leave it to Professor Steve to teach us something! I definitely never knew about the Chrysler influence!!

[@wilco3588]

One of Virgil exner Ghia show cars is sitting at the bottom of the ocean in the hold of the Andrea Doria

[@javierdenardo2607]

Either you love them or you dont, and they rusted like few others, but i know of a few people who were absolutely in love with this car

[@davidmiles8941]

another informative video Steve, I'll share this one on the VWOC.

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

WOW 😮 I never new. Always learning watching your videos. Thanks 😊

[@charlesduboise5198]

Not quite a Porsche but they were really good looking cars Another vehicle that had that swing axle problem was the M.U.T.T. the multi uses tactical truck that the military used from the early 1960s tell it was replaced by the Hummer in the 80s they were not sold to the public but many soldiers were in accident using them when they turned to sharp driving them being even taller than a Volkswagen or Corvair they flipped very easily

[@jameshoberg1609]

Awesome to have a balsa wood model of anything.

[@normenderle550]

Pretty neat little Berkeley balsa model car you’ve got. I have a Berkeley “American Ace 54” balsa airplane kit that my dad and I found in the trunk of a 55 Mercury he had picked up at an auction, the plans for it are dated 1940.

[@kennyrichard2971]

Another great video Steve I enjoy them all

[@fk4515]

The Karmen Ghia was heavier that the Beetle, so actually you paid more for less performance. There were vast differences between VW swing axles and Corvair swing axles. The Corvair didn't have much of anything to stop the downward travel of the axle, just the shock absorber. On a Corvair the issue became the entire swing axle assembly, the wheel, tire, brake drum and axle end would drop until it was about perpendicular with the ground, this pushed the back of the car up. How far up? About the length of the axle assembly up. As you can imagine raising the back of you car 18-20 inches all at once effected your center of gravity real quick thus causing a roll over. In extreme cases the axle would fold entirely under the car with both rear wheels ending up in one wheel well. The VW system was designed so the end of the torsion bar housing also limited the up and down travel of the trailing arm. In fact when you reassemble a VW swing axle torsion bar assemble the trailing arm will have some preload while resting against the lower stop. Corvair used the swing axle suspension in 1960-64 but only the 60-63 cars are considered problematic as all the 1964 cars had the caster compensator fitted as standard equipment. The caster compensator was optional in the earlier years, I've heard it was an $8.00 option. and it was basically a transverse leaf spring that mounted under the transmission and attached to the outer ends of the swing axle and stopped them from traveling to far down.

[@edwardbianchi192]

Never appreciated these. Growing up they looked like a melted beetle. They also were always banged up or rusted. I’m kind of warming up to them? But love the history on them. I always thought they were just reskinned bugs!.

[@colinchung9722]

Nooooo! that poor Ghia!

[@meetjohndoe1078]

one thing I learned just the other day and did not realize after looking at karman gihas all these years is that the front fenders are NOT separated from the front end! so if you dented one, you had to cut it and weld it back in?! LOL!

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Ah man I'm a water-cooled guy but much love for the air cooled stuff if I could afford it. From what little I knew about em, if the rockers rusted out on a Karmann Ghia then that was certain death.

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! Morning to all ! This is a a eye opener, thank you Steve !😊😊😊

[@tomwesley7884]

Morning

[@debbiebermudez5890]

@@tomwesley7884 Same to you !

[@sonnyjenkins9202]

Steve hey man VW has grown in people wanted one. I like late 50 one's has small glass in rear! Steve what's coolest car you ever run across in Junk yard . From 60 to 71

[@Mark.G475]

Good morning from Milwaukee Wisconsin 🧀🍺

[@ddellwo]

Skol…….🍻

[@rescuedandrestoredgarage]

Love all the information.

[@jfu5222]

Virgil Extner, I never knew! With a little bit of hillbilly engineering this could be a great/dangerous Baja project!

[@dwhallon21]

I never knew Virgil a Was related to the. Karma ghia.. Learn something new everyday steve

[@Bbbuddy]

I think the Ghias had a “one-piece” body, with all the fenders welded on (probably why the junkyard one’s ends are sliced, rather than unbolted)

[@joeodonnell2594]

I have 70 bug still have generator still works great

[@jmark7390]

Thanks Steve

[@DanEBoyd]

Best looking VW ever! Steve, I can now see that that red cabover cab is a Chevrolet Titan 90! Produced from about '68 or '69 until maybe '79? The Astro cab is the best looking cabover truck ever, with its perfectly rounded corners and edges. I've heard tell that the Astro cab was designed by none other than the great Larry Shinoda!!

[@raycoleman3183]

The underpinnings of the Karmann-Ghia were straight off the Beetle production line with one exception….the floor pans that attached to the central tunnel were wider at the front than the Beetle pans that narrowed a bit coming forward. I have enjoyed Magnante’s videos but think he is bit off course on this one.

[@gilbertnowak5770]

Steve the VW Bugs built in Mexico and Brazil RETAINED the Swing Arm Suspention thru 2003....Only the Bugs exported to the US were built with the Newer Post mid-year 68 Suspention! They Actualy built the Karmann-Ghia thru 1974 which was the First year of the Alternator! I had a 73 Ghia built in July which still had the Generator!