1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Cabriolet

This 1970 ex-California Karmann Ghia Convertible is fitted with the 1600cc engine and four-speed manual gearbox. Resprayed in Irish Green by The Karmann Ghia Centre when it arrived on these shores in 1997, it has been in the care of the seller since 2016.

He bought it from a colleague of his, who is also the Ghia’s sole previous UK keeper. She thoroughly enjoyed her time with it and when a change in circumstances warranted its sale, she was happy to pass it on to someone who had, by then, become a friend. We think this is an act of confidence that speaks volumes.

Still showing only 51,000 miles on the odometer, ‘ANM 364H’ is MoT’d until November 2024, which should give you confidence, too.

As for the seller, his eight years’ experience with it meant he could drive the VW to us from his home in West Sussex without hesitation.

It needs some cosmetic fettling though, which has the twin benefits of keeping the price down while also giving you something to occupy the long winter nights that will soon be upon us – and who doesn’t love a project?

The Irish Green coachwork looks great from a distance. It’s a lovely colour in itself and it suits the Karmann Ghia’s lines very well. The panels align neatly enough too; if it drove past you would stop to watch and probably comment favourably.

But closer inspection reveals micro-blistering with most panels being affected. There’re the beginnings of some rust on some of the wheelarches too, and a deep crack in the paint on the driver’s door: Clearly, while the respray has lasted well, its time is up.

It’s not all bad news though because a solid colour like this should be an easier colour to apply than a more modern metallic, so a home-gamer with the right tools and access to YouTube to pick up some hints and tips should be able to do a decent job themselves.

The off-white fabric roof has a glass rear window for better visibility and increased longevity, a piece of engineering foresight that was typical of VW back in the day. Yes, it’s a bit crumpled but then the hoods on cars like this spend far more time folded away than they do erected.

(In fact, the seller has fond memories of taking his daughter to the seaside in it – with the roof down, of course – which is exactly the sort of journey the Karmann Ghia excels at.)

The roof rises and falls as it should and seals decently well too, so if you do get caught out in a storm – or even fancy running it as your daily driver – you’ll be protected. An attractive tan tonneau cover hides it away when it isn’t needed.

The steel wheels are in a decent condition and complemented by some pretty good chrome hubcaps. They’re fitted with Michelin ZXZ tyres on the front and a mixture of Nankang and Continental on the rear. All have plenty of tread on them.

The chromework is generally good, and you might be surprised at the difference half a day and a big tin of Autosol makes to it.

Not the front bumper though because that’s probably beyond redemption. Yeah, you could restore it but it’s going to be far easier and cheaper just to buy a new one. You could add the missing door strips to your shopping cart while you’re at it, along with a pair of wiper arms.

The lamps and badges are pretty good though, so if you remove them carefully you should be able to save a few pounds there.

The interior looks to be largely original, which is a definite plus. But, with that comes the acknowledgement that, like so many 54-year-old Californians, it needs a little cosmetic assistance.

It’ll be limited though because the main items, the seats, are in a very good condition being firm and free of rips, tears, and other damage. Their light hue shows the dirt, but we think a deep clean would see them transformed.

The black vinyl door cards are very good too, as is the furniture attached to them. It also sports excellent carpets, the pedal rubbers are largely unworn, the top of the dashboard is free of sun damage, and steering wheel is only lightly patinated.

A modern Alpine Bluetooth stereo is fitted, along with a Clifford Virtual Key security system. The installation certificate for the latter is in the history file.

As for that cosmetic titivation, the instrument bezels are showing their age, as are the panels on the A-pillars and rear three-quarter panels. There’s also a rip on each side of the inner roof lining at the rear, and it’s come unglued in places.

The frunk is also a bit messy with some untidy electrical wiring and some light surface rust to the metalwork.

The VW’s service history from its time with its previous owner is recorded via invoices as follows:

• 29.04.1998 – service by Chris Cross Motors
• 27.07.1999 and 33,725 miles – service by Ridge Garage
• 30.05.2001 and 37,310 miles – service by Ridge Garage
• 28.07.2003 and 40,152 miles – service by Ridge Garage
• 23.07.2004 and 41,837 miles – service by Ridge Garage
• 18.07.2006 and 42,228 miles – service by Ridge Garage
• 16.07.2007 and 42,270 miles – service by Ridge Garage
• 24.06.2010 and 43,226 miles – service by Ridge Garage
• 19.07.2011 and 43,536 miles – service by Ridge Garage
• 12.07.2013 and 45,472 miles – service by Ridge Garage
• 15.07.2014 and 45,718 miles – service by Ridge Garage
• 25.07.2015 and 48,305 miles – service by Ridge Garage

The seller has maintained this record, telling us he has had the car serviced and MoT’d every year. Sadly, there’s no paperwork to back this up but the MoT record speaks for itself.

As does the engine and engine bay, which are both nicely presented and bear witness to new components such as a battery, fuel filter, distributor cap, and ignition coil. Not conclusive proof, of course, but supportive, nonetheless.

It also starts nicely for us, idles as it should, and revs freely – and it does it all without making any obvious smoke, which is another tick on the credit side of the ledger.

As for the underside, the underseal is flaking off in places and will need to be removed and replaced after treating any rust.

The VW comes with a full-size spare wheel, a trolley jack, an extendable wheel nut wrench, a steering wheel lock, a fire extinguisher, a warning triangle, a first aid kit, two rear lamp lenses, and a small bottle of lead substitute to add to the petrol when you fill up.

Despite not needing one, we’re delighted to be able to tell you that the Karmann Ghia’s MoT runs out in November 2024.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported vehicle and the history file contains a wealth of invoices, old MoT certificates, and a V5 registration document in the seller’s name.

There’s something about the thought of a winter project, isn’t there?

Scouring the Internet for parts, reading forums for clues as to who to commission to do the work we can’t, and imagining what it’ll look like when it all comes together. It’s catnip for classic car enthusiasts like us.

And hang the cost; we all know it’s cheaper to let someone else do the heavy lifting but calculations like that are for accountants, not engineers – and if you need any more motivation then read The Gold-Plated Porsche by Stephan Wilkinson.

Not that it’s going to cost you anything like the sum he invested.

Oh no, we think this one could be yours for a very reasonable £12,000 to £16,000 – and as it’s being offered with no reserve, it’s going to sell from the very first bid, no matter what.

Beats watching re-runs of Escape to the Country on iPlayer, doesn’t it?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.