1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

cool

barely

i think

Clear

Gasoline

how car a car that originally sold for 2250. be on the market for 16000. ? this is a volkswagen, for goodness sake; these cars are used as sandbags in emergencies. A group of neighborhood kids once hoisted a karmann ghia into a treehouse because it was easier than hauling up an abandoned sofa . a well maintained lawn mower can regularly beat a karmann ghia on a straightaway. a common door latch has more inherent technology built into it. the answer is simple. I am out of my mind. Yup. The fact that I even consider this 50 horsepower oddly shaped piece of metal a sports car is cause for, as my wife puts it….”concern.” Every day, as you know from my last listing, she asks, “Have you sold your stupid car yet?” Somebody sent me an ebay message; “Does your wife know you’re asking too much for your Karmann Ghia?” You see? That’s the perception. I am crazy to be asking sixteen thousand dollars for this…this…pedal car. What is it about Annie Lennox and myself that we see what others don’t see? You’ll recall that Annie Lennox recently commented that “I just love the elegance of [ the Karmann Ghia’s ] design. They don't make creatures like this anymore folks!” Apparently, they don’t buy creatures like this anymore, either. Indeed, American industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague selected a Karmann-Ghia for his list of the world's most beautifully designed products. quite a compliment for a 42 year old car. But really; to that admonishing ebayer that probably drives a Toyota Camry, my valuation is just not…well, practical. Ah! There’s the rub! It IS worth 16000 impractical dollars; we ALL have practical and impractical purchases- I bet that ebayer with the Toyota Camry has heated seats – Hey! Move to California ! Back to Ghia, the impractical purchase. This is pure emotion, from the moment you sit behind the wheel, to the moment you feel the wind through the hand as the car rolls slowly, and I mean slowly, toward the roadway from your garage. The heart pulses. With a 0 – 60 speed of approximately 35 seconds, you have a lot of heart pulsing between you and cruising speed. An impractical, emotional purchase. Let’s throw in impulsive- As all Ghia owers will attest, you never really actually remember purchasing the Karmann Ghia. One day you just….have one . Was it the tequila ? So where does all this leave us ? Are there practical ways to determine the fair price of an impractical purchase ? Turns, out there a fair amount of people just like me – out of their mind Karmann Ghia sellers…and here’s the weirdest thing of all …there are a fair amount of out of their mind Karmann Ghia BUYERS. Look! https://www.hagerty.com/valuationtools/HVT/VehicleSearch/Report?vbe=75832 Above, at Hagerty, my Karmann Ghia is described as ‘Condition 2’: #2 cars could win a local or regional show. They can be former #1 cars that have been driven or have aged. Seasoned observers will have to look closely for flaws, but will be able to find some not seen by the general public. The paint, chrome, glass and interior will all appear as excellent. No excessive smoke will be seen on startup, no unusual noises will emanate from the engine compartment. The vehicle will drive as a new car of its era would. The one word description for #2 cars is "excellent." And, tracking values from 2006 [ when America itself was valued at $ 2250. ], when the Ghia was 10,400. , it has, as of May of this year, tracked upward to 17,000. At NADA classic car valuation site, http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/1973/Volkswagen/Karmann-Ghia/2-Door-Coupe/Values there is a range of average price to high price of 12,050 to 23,000. Take THAT, e-bay Eurythmics haters! Impractical purchasers, bid with…with ….oh, heck, whatever. After that wild night, you’re just going to see that Ghia in your driveway, and wonder how it got there. p.s. yes- this is ebay's bluebumpe - feel free to contact me through that name