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Úvod »Automobily osobní a dodávky»BMW»BMW Motorsport » VW Karmann Ghia Gold Portfolio 1955-1974
The association between the once family-owned company Karmann GmbH in Osnabruck, north Germany and the Volkswagenwerke in Wolfsburg has become legendary. It stretches to half a century, from 1955 to 2005, when designer Mario Boano and owner of Ghia, Luigi Segre, showed a coupe concept they had developed in their Turin studios to Wilhelm Karmann. He liked it and so a viewing was arranged with Heinz Nordhoff, the chief of Volkswagen. Nordhoff, too, liked the design and an historic agreement was soon signed between the three businessmen. At the Kasino Hotel in Georgsmarienhütte in 1955 the definitive Volkswagen Karmann Ghia coupe was released to the world's media. At that moment the pretty coupe walked onto the world stage and into the motoring Hall of Fame. Its actual road performance was no better than the humble VW Beetle but that seemed to be irrrelevant to the many happy KG owners. It was the coupe's captivating styling rather than any actual performance that induced buyers to willingly part with their money. Top speed was around 75mph from the 34hp 1.2-litre VW engine, hardly figures to get excited about but it did not matter to the many who bought them. The world's motoring media asked why owners were happily paying over the odds for the KG 1200, rival car companies struggled to understand the mystique behind the KG; many buyers were divided in their opinion towards the KG: and yet with little or nothing by way of an advertising campaign or any other form of promotion the ubiquitous Karmann Ghia continued on its merry way unhindered by the controversy it was creating. In late 1961 Karmann introduced a second coupe. The Karmann 1500 was based on the Type 2 VW 1500 platform and running gear. It was exactly the same in concept to the original K-G but it lacked the original’s timeless beauty and again was not a performance machine. It was discontinued in 1969, long before its older sibling. When someone says the words Karmann Ghia today it is invariably the original to which they are referring such is its international profile after more than 30 years since the last one rolled off the Osnabruck assembly line. Models covered: Coupe, Convertible, 1200, 1300, 1500, 1600 & Okrasa. 160 pages including 16 colour, 200+ illus