The information in the page is the work of Chris Carr and is copied from the lowlight UK site
http://www.tomholdermark.co.uk/KGOC/forum/viewtopic.php?t=296
Chris did a great work in gathering information about the lowlight Ghia and shared it with the rest of the world. Unfortunately the forum was crashed and Chris couldn't continue the work.
Chris agreed to post the information on this site and the work will be continued.
Prototypes The Early Days
1952: This was a Karmann design for a 2-seater VW coupe. Heinrich Nordhoff (head of VW) and Wilhelm Karmann (head of Karmann) were in discussions to build a sports-coupe based on the VW Beetle Karmann was already building the 4-seater Karmann Beetle for VW
The boys
Italian Designer Luigi Segre, owner of the Turin/Italy based Ghia styling studio, proposed a new Coupe design to Karmann and VW
The 1952 Chrysler D'Elegance 2 door hardtop - a design influence for the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
The grandaddy '53 prototype Coupe
Pic1: From '53. A lot of early pics seem to have been taken in this location
Pic2: With split front bumper
Btm: Use of photo kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
I understand this is a 1953 VW Karmann Ghia Cabriolet Prototype
Prototype Cab
6.2 The Kasino Hotel Launch 14.07.55
14.07.55: Wilhelm Karmann introduces the Ghia to car journalists and VW dealers at the Kasino Hotel in Georgsmarienhutte. A Gazelle Beige Coupe was then unveiled to car journalists and VW Dealers in the Kasino Hotel’s small hall
Karmann repeated this exactly at the GMH05 '50th anniversary celebration' (15.07.05)!
And 10 Cars are made available for test drive, all shown parked to the side of the Kasino Hotel near the lake
I think we know the car 'pulled forward' was a Lizard Green Coupe - the car behind it may have been Antelope Brown?
An extension (the cafe/patio) has been built here since, but you can still park there
Is this a row of four Gazelle Beige 56's, ready for you to take on a test-drive?
Not enough black plastic
Luigi Segre and Wilhelm Karmann take a breather
The 'pulled forward' Lizard Green Coupe?
Use of top pic kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
I think maybe Ledge Johnny was there with the wife
Shows more of the Kasino Hotel
6.3 The Frankfurt International Motor Show September 1955
The sensational new Karmann Ghia Coupe was first unveiled to the public at Frankfurt's International Motor Show in September 1955
Two cars were displayed - a Lizard Green (with Deep Green roof) Coupe on a turntable, and a Toucan Black Coupe at floor level first unveiling of the Ghia
The Lizard Green Coupe on the turntable
Cool Dunlop signage
With the whitewall-equipped Toucan Black Coupe in the foreground
The turntable Coupe was tethered to the stand from behind each wheel
From the four pictures above you can tell the 2-tone wheels changed colour right at the groove - this obviously changed in later production
If a rear seat was fitted, it was folded down for these shots
This lady will show you around if you ask nicely
Use of photo kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
The Lizard Green Coupe
Use of photo kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
& in colour. The object top right is a super-cool Karmann logo'd glass sales cubicle
A similar Karmann sales cubicle at a later motor show?
Use of photo kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
Colour pic including the Toucan Black Coupe. Yours for 7500DM. Check out the Hella sign & the upstairs detail
6.3a The Frankfurt International Motor Show September 1957
The sensational new Karmann Ghia Cab was first unveiled to the public at Frankfurt's International Motor Show/Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung/International Automobile Show (The IAA) in September 1957
Cabrio launch! There was at least a Pearl White Cab! Was there a second Cab?
6.3b Motor Shows, Other
German car show? Lowlight Ghia, Beetle Kab, Standard Bus
6.4 The Karmann Factory
Masking for 2-toning the roof!
Comments to be added (or give OGR a call - he speaks German)
Coupes get trucked around the Karmann factory
22.10.56: The 10 000th Ghia is made
I see Jeff Lipnichan's cool Early Ghia Registry lists a Coupe with body number 10 022 (produced 23.10.56)
It lives in Finland
God is in the Detail
Ok, a 60s Cab, but still cool to see
COOL COOL COOL 1
Checkout the clarity
Use of photo kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
COOL COOL COOL 2
Checkout the detail, and the single Black Coupe
Karmann Assembly Line 58/9
The fully assembled body was craned onto the (slightly modifed) Beetle floorpan
Those Karmann hoods, to protect the Cabs
Karmann factory car park
Anyone fancy making some for a Ghia?
Check out the 58/9 Coupes loaded onto the Karmann delivery train out of Osnabruck
Bamboo, Brilliant Red, Cardinal Red, Cognac, Black, Dolphin Blue?, Aero Silver....
Note no hubcaps or headlight glass installed
No swan-neck mirrors either
A Brilliant Red/Black Lowlight Coupe gets loaded into a ship's hull
58 Cab from the 1958 VW Workshop Manual/How to trim the hood
Crumpled 58 Cab from the same Manual/How to replace damaged panels
More factory hood detail, 58/9 – note the window tapers as you go up
May 06: Karmann Lowlight production line (58/9) overload!
Did you see the 2 Cabs? LHS, 3rd back & RHS, 4th back?
6.5 The Montage Suisse Ghia
Apparently between 1957 and 1960 a Swiss company called AMAG (based in Schinznach-Bad, Switzerland) built a total of 1098 Karmann Ghias under VWs approval for the domestic Swiss market AMAG had been an VW importer since 1948, and also provided for Lichtenstein.
Cool period Suisse Montage pics (thanks Udo)
Differences from the German production included the nose badge and (for late 59 models tbc) the speckled/perforated dashtop.
6.6 'Press' Pics
All hubcap logos tend to be in the correct plane
The first Ghia to be shown in Sweden
Checkout the name, pre 'Karmann Ghia'
Apparently there was a Sedish press-pack issued, with 3 or 4 photos of this Coupe
With thanks to Jonas
Early brochure Ghia
An early newspaper article
Flying
Pressphoto Cab
Top: The same German-registered Cab
Btm: Tonneau cover is fitted to a Lowlight Cab - you can tell by the visors
Pressphoto Graphite Silver Cab
One of the first US import Cabs?
Coupes
Use of some photos kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
Unusual Gazelle Beige (tbc) with matching wheel centres/roof - was this an early colour trial?
I like it
Picnic time
From the Jan 57 Instruction Manual. Have you got the polish
The Pearl White Poodle Cab. Note the Gazelle beige coupe lurking in the background
The Gazelle Beige Poodle Coupe
I think we're worked it out that all these pics taken around a little green, & next to a lake, were taken round the side of the Kasino Hotel. We're not as stupid as we look
Shame we didn't take a wander at GMH05
Pelican Red/Toucan Black 56/7 Coupe
Paris? OGR would like to take her somewhere special
Cool UK period ad
Period 'brush' ad
Oil ad?
Cool factory pic of (i'm thinking) a 57 Coupe
Everything a girl could possibly want
Road-Test Gazelle Beige ‘56
I have that this is the showroom of the first VW dealer in Amsterdam, Holland, called 'Kost', around 56/7
Press-release 58/9 dash pic - notice the speedo reading, the ‘incorrect’ wiper arm, the Karmann standard issue key fob, and the gearshift lock - maybe a test vehicle?
6.7 Period Pics
Same car in the two pics above
Check Fake Grill & Fender Flags
A UK showroom
Hillclimb Coupe - looks red with a black roof to me
UK's KFO 490 (Antelope Brown '57), at a US army base in Germany. I think that's a young OGR
50s pic of a 50s dude showing off with his 50s Coupe
Miss Germany 1959 enhances a Pearl White Cab
Showroo
display. Looks Toucan Black to me
Check out the cool period (Routers) Beetle poster
Pearl White Cab at a gas station
The UK's well-known Bambus Golde Sunroof '58 Coupe in earlier days
Dude
Frederich Strasse Berlin 1959
I reckon this is a Bamboo/Deep Green Coupe. Nice whitewalls
Xmas
Not sure where this came from
Santa in a Diamond Grey Cab
Elegant
Use of photo kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
Looks like a 56/7 to me by that location of the exterior mirror
Use of photo kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
German 56/57 Gazelle Beige Coupe in receipt of a few unusual dents
Cool postcard of a scene in Kramfors Northern Sweden showing perhaps a Brilliant Red Coupe?
My German speaking source tells me this is a Hamburg animal welfare march
Whatever – the important thing is there is a sleek new 56/7 Black Lowlight
Coupe taking all the attention!
'Linz - The gay town on the Rhine' says the reverse of this German postcard
The supplier of this pic likes to visit just this sort of place but hey that's none of our business - let's stick to VWs huh
Possibly a Black 56/57 Coupe c/w spotlights framed by Ovals left & right
Linz is on the way to BC - maybe we'll check it out
Early concours d'elegance?
This Coupe seems a bit odd to me
It looks like a 56/7 (no rear window demister vent) yet the paint combo is light over dark
Like the VW Bus of the era in 58 the Ghia paint fashion flipped to being light over dark
Prior to this it was dark over light
Perhaps it is a Toucan Black Coupe where the owner has had the roof painted white
356 style wheels & front spotlight also give this Coupe some individuality
& is it my eyesight or are those painted swoops coming off the top of the headlights?!
Which car would you choose? No contest is there?
Climber
Snow Chain Coupe year/location unknown (but I can tell you the time)
Pearl White Cab
Period Lowlights in Colour
The car looks green but the greens always came 2-tone?
Must be one of the blues? Dolphin Blue? Trout Blue?
Cognac/GreyBeige roof '59 Coupe (top) and Pearl White Cab (btm)
From a 1960 model-year VW calendar
Top early shot of a Pearl White Cab. Black hood bag whitewalls
Use of photo kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
Top early shot of a Cardinal Red Cab. Ivory hood bag Cardinal hubcap logos
Use of photo kindly agreed by www.typ14.de
Cool 'Press' pic of the Cardinal Red Cab at ‘the GMH Kasino Hotel lake’
Hubcap logos are body colour
Great period pic of a Pelican Red/Toucan Black 56/7 Coupe
Assumed taken in Holland
Check the accessories - Petri horn push solid wheel trims + spinners tiny rear view mirror reversing light
Check it!
Amazon Lowlight Cab at St Gilgen nr Saltzburg and Lake Wolfgangsee Austria
Can you spot our own cultured Irreverent (with the shorts) - crossing Mozart Platz (Mozart's mother was born there) back to the Post Hotel where he was staying back in 1960
Top: Fantastic early colour shots of a US Cognac (with GreyBeige roof) '59 Coupe
This Coupe was purchased new by Geoff's grandfather for Geoff's mother
The Coupe took Geoff's parents on their honeymoon and it was the family daily driver until 1981
Since '81 it has been stored in their garage
Geoff has purchased the Coupe from his mom (see 2nd btm pic) and is currently undergoing a full resto
When complete the Coupe will remain in the family
Update 04.11.05: 30hp engine resto complete
Jonas’ Swedish 1959 Brilliant Red/Toucan Black Ghia
The owner was a young wrestler from Gothenburg - apparently lots of Swedish guys either wrestled or boxed at that time
Top picture is from 1959 taken outside the wrestler’s house
The wrestler also ordered a more powerful engine an Express unit from Knust in Hannover Germany - Jonas has just finished restoring this
Coupe will be strictly stock (except for Porsche A brakes) interior is original
Floor is restored body close (was good for a Swedish Ghia). Could be on the road 2006...one to look forward to
My cab (2 366 171 Graphite Silver)
6.8 Forlorn
Oooofff
Seen on a trip to Texas in '96
'58/9 Lowlight sandblasted and left to rot like a dog
I gave her a pat & loved her one last time
Btm pic shows (left to right) middle ('60-'69) early ('55-'59) and late ('70-'74) Ghia shapes
6.9 RockStock's Top 10 Ghia Patina
Cabs
4 Cabs have been waved through by The Patina Police
Cab 2 438 398 (Cardinal)
Do they come better than this?
Cab 2 475 680 (Amazon)
Cab 1 985 690 (Pearl White)
Cab 2 366 171 (Graphite Silver)
Coupes
To follow
6.10 Other
I was told by the guy who posted this pic on thesamba that it was taken around 1995 in Jerome Arizona. A friend of his took it - a guy drove up in the Ghia got out and started playing a guitar in the park. The cat just walked across the street
Still around? Soon to be transferred to 'Gallery: International Cabs'
Top pic & I'd roll it
Top: A young untroubled (heterosexual) RockStock instructs JohnBoy in ‘97
Btm: Merry Xmas 05 from Bedfordshire England! Pic taken in 2001
GMH05 - were you there?
Thank you to the five Lowlight Cabs that attended:
1. German (formerly Austrian) Cardinal Red 1959 Cab 2. German (former USA) Amazon Cab 3 Spanish (formerly Dutch) custom red early '58 with later nose grills 4. German Black Cab
I'm not sure I have the right Cab circled for 3)
Dude taking snaps of Cab 340 (or The Fonz) at GMH05 at the start of the convoy to the Karmann factory in Osnabruck. And who can blame him
Cool rescue op
A rich high school hunk falls for quirky creative college girl Andie
Unfortunately Andie is from the ‘posh end of town’ but hey she drives a cool de-trimmed pink Lowlight Karmann Ghia Coupe
The Coupe bears an Indiana license P9C-489
My sis has just lent me the dvd and I reckon it’s a 56/7 judging by the steering wheel
Just for you freaks I’ll be sitting through the whole film soon for age confirmation
This coupe looks right up Irrevelent’s street
LLUK Line-up 1 ACE 20.09.05
The Original Dream Team
KPPR Treffen 08 Ventura CA May 06
4 Lowlight Cabs attended Treffen 08 (Cabs 240 690 300 & 600)
There were 5 at GMH05
Will the UK match this soon?
Ken's Big Day Out April 06
lluk asked Irreverent to get to Denmark to check out Jan’s cool Cab 365
Jan even took him out for a ride
The DG interior is Honey Brown markedly different to the Red that the PW/GS/Black Cabs share
Irreverent also bought a couple of choppers while he was out there as you do
Jan turns a few doughnuts
Like a kid in a candy store
Sorry about the glare
Had you spotted the Kienzle Ashtray Clock? Desirable
OKRASA!
All the correct knobs
Off the hook!!! Love it!
Previous lluk Headers
The Peppercorn show Kent UK 09.07.06....Irreverent & OGR get down to some heavy buffing alongside 3 of the UKs coolest lowlights
