’67 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet

When someone tells you their previous experience with building engines was 302 Fords and alcohol-injected Chevys, and that their job is a crew chief on a Sprint Car team, then a VW probably wouldn’t be the first car that came to mind, let alone a convertible Karmann Ghia. But Robert Harkins from Alta Loma, California, is the exception. “I’ve been involved with VWs on and off for the last 20 years,” Rob told us, “mainly through my good friend Jimmy Arredondo, who runs a VW shop up the coast in San Luis Obispo.”

That friendship and Rob’s knowledge of engines and fast cars has led to him building one of the most hard-core Karmann Ghias we’ve seen in a long time, and one that has more than a passing nod to the other side of his automotive interests. What makes this car even more interesting though is its history. We’re used to hearing how European-built Ghias spent most of their lives in the sunshine states of the USA before being shipped back across the water by enthusiasts but rarely do we hear of it happening the other way round. Of course, all Ghias started their lives in Europe, at the Karmann factory in Osnabruck, but this particular car stayed in its home country. “From what I’m told, this car started out as being restored for the VW museum, but somehow ended up in Florida as a completely original German car,” Rob explains. “I found it on the internet and bought it after looking at just photos of it, then had it shipped to me in California.”

For the full story on this car make sure you pick up a copy of the June 2009 issue of VolksWorld 

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