How Italy and Germany United to Create the Karmann Ghia
Explore the history of the Karmann Ghia, a stylish classic car born from Italian design and German engineering on a VW Beetle chassis.
Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34 Cabriolet
The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34 Cabriolet
Vehicle Overview
The Karmann Ghia Type 34 Cabriolet remains one of the most elusive and enigmatic models in Volkswagen’s postwar production history. Developed alongside the standard Type 34 coupé, which debuted in 1961, the cabriolet variant was constructed in an extremely limited quantity—only 16 examples are believed to have been built between 1961 and 1962, all by Wilhelm Karmann GmbH in Osnabrück. It was never offered for public sale and did not proceed to series production, making it one of the rarest open-top Volkswagens ever created. Built on the Type 3 mechanical platform, the Type 34 Cabriolet inherited the same engineering architecture as its coupé counterpart. This included a rear-mounted, air-cooled flat-four engine with displacements ranging from 1.5 to 1.6 liters, mated to a four-speed manual transmission. While mechanically identical to the coupé, the Cabriolet’s significance lies entirely in its coachwork and rarity. It featured the same angular and modernist body design penned by Carrozzeria Ghia but reinterpreted with a reinforced open-top structure and a manually operated fabric roof. The result was a vehicle that visually balanced mid-century German engineering with Italian formalism, yet presented in an unusually refined and open configuration. The 16 units were likely produced for evaluation purposes—internal testing, executive use, or limited promotional display. Several were painted in distinctive period color schemes and fitted with luxurious interior trims, underscoring Volkswagen’s intent to position the model as a prestige offering. However, production costs, limited demand forecasts, and internal strategic priorities likely contributed to the decision to cancel its commercial rollout. Surviving Karmann Ghia Type 34 Cabriolet are exceptionally rare, with only a handful known to remain in private collections or under institutional care. Their scarcity has rendered them virtually unobtainable on the open market, and they are now regarded as near-mythical artifacts within the Volkswagen collector community. When one surfaces at a concours or exhibition, it is met with considerable interest due to its uniqueness, design provenance, and the broader historical curiosity surrounding what might have been Volkswagen’s most elegant convertible.
Technical Specifications
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Body
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Year1961
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MakeVolkswagen
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ModelKarmann Ghia
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CoachbuilderGhia
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Units built16
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Engine Type4L
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