1953 Karmann Ghia Prototype

After the idea for an elegant coupe based off the Volkswagen Beetle was “born” by Luigi Segre, head of Construction at Carozzeria Ghia”, in March of 1953, the car you see on this page was designed and hand-build in Turin without Volkswagen’s knowledge.
The makers went to great lengths to keep the project secret, reportedly even buying a Beetle from a local dealership rather than asking Volkswagen for one.
Wilhelm Karmann got to see the concept car in October of 1953, and five weeks later they presented the car to the chief of Volkswagen at the time, Heinrich Nordhoff.
He had concerns about the expensive car harming Volkswagen’s image (after all, “Volkswagen” means “Peoples’ Car”, and the first-series Karmann Ghia started at 7500 German Mark, twice as much as the Beetle), but still green-lit the project.
A good decision, as history shows, with especially Volkswagen’s sales in the American Market getting a massive increase through the introduction of the Ghia in August of 1995.
The prototype remained with Karmann until the company’s end in 2010, and was then moved to Volkswagen’s “Autostadt”-Museum, where it is on display while being kept in perfect condition, even being able to drive with no problem.

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