1974 | Volkswagen Karmann Ghia 1600

Freedom on Four Wheels – The Final Karmann Ghia Cabriolet from 1974

With the Karmann Ghia, Volkswagen aimed to take the Beetle to the next level. In the post-war boom years, buyers wanted more than just practical transportation. The Beetle's reliable engine and suspension made it an ideal foundation for a more stylish vehicle—while keeping costs low.

The bodywork, designed by Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin, offers the look of a sports car—without necessarily delivering the performance of one. But that was never the point. As auto motor und sport noted in its 1956 review: “The customer gains the satisfaction of owning a car of individual elegance—one of the most beautiful small cars in existence.”

Americans in particular took to the compact Karmann Ghia—especially in its cabriolet version. Kim Novak drove one in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 thriller Vertigo, and Brad Pitt followed suit in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

The example offered here was originally delivered to the U.S. and represents one of the final models produced, rolling off the line in 1972. Since then, it has been partially restored and converted to European specifications.