Another One Bites The Dust: Karmann Gone Bust

Ragtop lovers, get out your rags and cry. German maker Karmann, famous for its Karmann Ghia and later for many ragtop versions produced for makers such as Audi, Ford, Mercedes, Porsche, Renault and VW, has declared insolvency, is reported. The company still has 3470 employees.

Karmann’s last big job was the Audi A4 Cabrio. After that was insourced back to Ingolstadt, Karmann could not find another large account to keep them busy.

Two Volkswagen Karmann Ghias

Karmann Ghia's Clutch repaired

From a Karmann Ghia Discussion Group:

Harri Rautiainen:

KG clutch problem.

re: Karmann Ghia -58

The clutch wire tube in the shaft tunnel is loose. This prevents adjusting the clutch.
Any similar experiences? 

Andy Holmes:

I thought I had a similar problem with my KG - the advice from Luke Theochari at Terry's Beetle Services was that we would need to cut a small inspection hole in the tunnel to enable the wire conduit inside the tunnel to be welded back in place. Luckily this turned out not to be the problem with my car, it was a fault with the release bearing.

Harri Rautiainen:

More developments on the clutch. It came out that there were already inspection holes in the tunnel. There was some previous repair dome, but the welding was too sloppy and the part was loose again. After fixing that my trusted mechanic, Mr. Simo Makkonen went for a test ride, and broke the clutch release shaft. Cannot really blame him because the original shaft was 51 years old, and was heavily tried recently because of the clutch wire problem.

I found a new part from Kuplapaja in Mäntsälä, some 50 km from Helsinki costing 30 €. Simo is pleased because it is much sturdier and better material than the original. He is throwing in a new release bearing for free. It has been staying on his shelf, and looks like I am his only VW customer. On other hand he can afford a freebie because the overall repair bill will be pretty hefty. If Simo will retire next summer, I will be in deep sneakers with my Karmann Ghia.

 

Portable inside heater for air-cooled cars

My son is driving his 1970's Porsche 911 first time in the Finnish winter. He soon realized the short-comings in inside heating of a air-cooled car.

So he ventured out to build a battery-driven portable heater. The loaded batteries will power the heater for 20 minutes at 1000W and 30 minutes at 600W. Makes the winter-driving more comfortable and more safe.

I haven't taken my Karmann Ghia for a winter drive, yet. But if I need a heater, now I know from where to get drawings and instructions.

VW Karmann Ghia - Alive and kicking

My summer car, Karmann Ghia '58 (above), is now carefully parked in the winter storage for the next season. Year 1958 was the second full production year of KG.

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Becky, my loyal West Hollywood correspondent, sent me a link to a nice 1973 blue Karmann Ghia. The production of Ghias ceased that year.

This story was published in NY Times, and titled Of Maxwell, Uma and Omar the Car.



From that one can learn that VW Karmann Ghia has been playing a major part in the movies, associated with Maxwell Smart character and actress Uma Thurman.

Thanks, Becky, and be good.


View the video of the 1973 Ghia.