Volkswagen

Wilhelm Karmann and Luigi Segre played a decisive role in the development of the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. Wilhelm Karmann had taken over the management of the family business in 1952 and was toying with the idea of ​​building a sports car based on the Volkswagen Beetle. Segre was the owner of Carrozzeria Ghia and was looking for a way to put the company on the map internationally. The men met regularly at car shows and after Karmann had suggested the idea, Segre had bought a Beetle to serve as the basis for a prototype. At the end of 1953, Segre showed the coupé to Karmann in Paris, who was immediately enthusiastic. The design and prototype were well received by Volkswagen executives, and the Type 14 debuted at the October 1955 Paris Auto Show as a styling concept "by Ghia." Public reaction to the Type 14 exceeded expectations, and more than 10,000 were sold in the first year. In August 1957, Volkswagen introduced a convertible version of the Karmann Ghia. Exterior changes in 1961 included wider and finned front grilles, taller and more rounded rear taillights and headlights relocated to a higher position.

In September 1961, Volkswagen introduced a new Karmann Ghia model (Type 34), based on the new VW 1500 (Type 3) 'ponton' models introduced that same year. It had a new body, designed by Italian engineer Sergio Sartorelli, featuring more angular 1960s styling. The Type 34 offered greater interior and cargo room, despite unchanged wheelbase-length. Based on the 1500's platform, with its bigger and more powerful 1,493 cc engine, the Type 34 was the fastest production Volkswagen of its day.

1963

In 1969, the curtain fell for the Typ 34, after which Karmann used the production line for the new Porsche 914, the unofficial successor to the Karmann-Ghia Typ 34. The Typ 14 would remain in production until 1974, when it was succeeded by the Golf-based Scirocco.