RESERVE REMOVED – 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia |

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RESERVE REMOVED – 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

Sold Price

£13,507

Mileage~34,692 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine1.3-litre
LocationRochester

SOLD

RESERVE REMOVED – 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Dom Ginn

Professional Consigner

Elegant, distinctive, and instantly recognisable - the Ghia perfectly captures the spirit of classic motoring from a bygone era.

Few classic cars combine style, charm, and heritage quite like the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Often described as one of the most beautiful cars Volkswagen ever produced, the Karmann Ghia brought together the proven mechanical simplicity of the iconic Beetle with elegant coachwork handcrafted by Karmann and penned by the renowned Italian design house Ghia.

Imported from California in 2018, the car was originally left hand drive which was converted, and a respray completed before it came into the hands of the current keeper.

This example comes from ~4 year ownership and benefits from servicing and refreshment in August 2025. Works here included new ignition components, fluids, hoses, and new gaskets. Extensive chassis and suspension works were also carried out, featuring updated to the brakes, torsion bushes, and an upgrade to the front end setup, totalling over ~£1,800 in investment.

As one of Volkswagen's most celebrated and enduring classics, the Karmann Ghia continues to attract admiration wherever it goes. Combining Italian-inspired design, German engineering, and a rich automotive heritage, this Volkswagen Karmann represents a fantastic opportunity to acquire a truly iconic classic that is sure to be enjoyed for years to come.

Whether admired at a show after a little paint work, or simply enjoyed on a leisurely weekend drive, this 1969 example is a wonderful opportunity to own an automotive icon.

This listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting Andy the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

It's been a firm favourite of mine and always stands out - it shall be missed!

When he first set eyes on the Karmann, Andy knew it was the car for him, and tells us, "It felt like something a bit special compared with more ordinary options, and perhaps more importantly, I recall loving the style from my youth".

Since taking custody of the car, Andy has enjoyed using it regularly and showcasing it at numerous classic car shows. He tells us, "It's a real crowd-pleaser and always draws attention wherever it goes. For me, the colour scheme is what really sets it apart and makes it stand out when on display. A friend of mine once told me that a true indication of a car that you really love is when you give it a second glance when you walk away from it."

Now retired, Andy and his wife are looking to embark on new adventures and plan to purchase a campervan to explore further afield. As a result, this much-loved Karmann Ghia is reluctantly offered for sale to help fund the next chapter of their travels.

Andy will be happy to answer any questions into the comments section below.

Andy

Vehicle Owner

Andy saved £2,340* when they
sold their VW with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Beautifully styled and effortlessly elegant, the Karmann Ghia's flowing lines and distinctive profile ensure it turns heads wherever it goes.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15" steel wheels, finished in chrome, are well suited and preserve the classic feel of the Ghia. We noted no major issues with the presentation of these, just mild signs of lacquer peel. Porsche badged caps feature on the centre of the wheels.

The wheels are fitted with Excelon tyres, with a spec of 165/60 to the front and rear, date coded from 2020.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

Bodywork

Shut lines are visually equal and matching, as is the rear bonnet, front boot, and both doors. During our visit, we didn't notice any major dings or dents on the main bodywork.

Andy believes a new floor pan and other sub-body works were carried out by various owners during the life of the vehicle once in the UK, although we were unable to verify these works.

There were a few signs of age to the lower sill sections around the car, these may benefit from future restoration works to bring back some of the quality here.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The 'Roman Bronze' paint finish really stands out, especially against the contrast of the cream roof and chrome trim.

The car was resprayed in 2022 and previously finished silver. The paint coat shows good coverage and fair in its presentation - the main things we noticed was a slight split on the driver side front quarter panel, signs of wear to the drivers side door edge, the bonnet top edge and some blistering to the passenger side front quarter - we noted a few stone chips also.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass is in keeping with the age of the vehicle, presenting well with no visible chips, cracks, or delamination. Windscreen, windows, mirrors, lights, and lenses all remain in good condition throughout.

Inside the cabin, the headlining and door cards showed with great levels of presentation.

Exterior body trim all showed well and badges and decals were presented in smart condition. Chrome work for the most part looked good, just some notes of pitting to the rear and a slight mark to the front bumper.

We've taken you around the car in greater detail in our exterior review video, please take the time to look over the video and see how the glass and trim look from different perspectives.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Inside you'll find a beautifully simple cabin that perfectly blends classic VW charm with a nostalgic driving atmosphere.

Seats and Carpets

Finished with two-tone brown and cream leather, all of the seat coverings are in lovely condition front and back, with the supports retaining good firmness, and only a few notes of age.

Grey, trimmed carpet sections of the cabin are in nice condition and we noted no major concerns with the floor pans, just a little sign of age. The boot area shows well without any major wear or concern with no observed marks on the flooring here.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Dashboard

Instruments are all nice and clean showing no signs of fogging or display issues. The odometer reports ~34,692 miles at the time of our visit.

Looking over the dash showed the cabin area has been well cared after over its life and we observed no concern with splitting or damage.

The cream driver facing fascia looked very smart along with the Karmaan Ghia central badging, overall, the dash complimented the classic feel of the VW nicely.

Our interior gallery section takes you over some closer images of the Ghia's dashboard, head over and see the car's interior in finer detail.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

What looks to be the original 2-spoke steering wheel together with gear selector, are both showing in great condition.

The handbrake and gaiter section reflected the same level of standard as the driver section. A very smart cabin setup.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Air-cooled simplicity with unmistakable Volkswagen charm - the heart of the Karmann Ghia, built to be driven and enjoyed.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine started promptly and idled smoothly during our visit, presenting no major issues. There were no unusual noises noted from either the engine or gearbox, and the gear changes felt good with no harshness. Andy did mention that he has noted that reverse gear sometimes jumps out when reversing uphill.

When driven on the day of our visit in very hot weather, the car performed well on the road. The engine pulled cleanly and ran well throughout our drive.

Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting up, driving around, and for a closer look underneath the VW and the well presented engine bay.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs or other issues from the suspension when we were driving, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling.

The car has had suspension works completed to raise the ride height after previously being lowered. Andy mentions this now makes the car much smoother to drive, but he said there is a little play in the steering since.

The brakes felt consistent on the journey, with no noticeable pull or vibration - they provided the kind of stopping power you would expect.

Overall the car performed as to be expected with no other concerns out on the road.

Please take a look over the mechanical videos and photographs to see close-up images from under the car.

The Drive

Light, responsive, and full of old-school charm, the Volkswagen offers a truly engaging classic driving experience.

Its modest power delivery is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace, where the car feels composed and easy to place on the road, rewarding smooth inputs and a measured driving style.

Rather than chasing performance, it delivers character and connection, with a simple, honest feel that makes every journey enjoyable. Whether cruising through countryside lanes or gliding through town, the Karmann Ghia turns every drive into a stylish, unhurried occasion.

Electrics and Other

Given the classic nature of the VW, the electronics in the car are fairly simple by more modern standards.

An aftermarket Bluetooth USB radio player has been fitted into the dash, finished with a period relevant display, Andy told us it is not connected but everything is there to do so, he prefers to listen to the engine.

Andy reported that all elements are working to the best of his knowledge.

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History and Paperwork

Italian design, German engineering - this Karmann Ghia pairs timeless style with almost ~4 years of ownership and a 2025 service.

Imported from California in 2018, by the previous owner, the car was originally left hand drive which was converted, and a respray completed before it came into the hands of Andy, the current keeper.

Through Andy's ownership, the VW has been taken to many shows and he tells us; "The car always gets a lot of interest and it's great to have it on display for admirers. It's the colour scheme that really shows it off".

The VW was fully serviced in August 2025 and extensively refreshed with a range of mechanical and chassis works carried out. This includes a full service with spark plugs renewed, gearbox oil changed, and replacement of the fuel and vacuum hoses along with associated fittings.

The rear braking system was overhauled with new brake shoes and wheel cylinders, alongside replacement inner and outer rear torsion bushes to improve stability and ride quality.

The front end had also been enhanced with modified Bilstein shock absorbers fitted, the front beam cut and repositioned for adjustment, and new ball joints installed. Works here were mainly carried out to raise the ride height - due to the car being previously lowered.

Additional work included renewal of the rocker cover gasket, oil strainer and gasket set, and steering couplings and fixings. These works were undertaken by VW specialists with costs in excess of ~£1,800.00 to complete.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
19.08.2025	Service	34,491

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Key Details

Year1969
ModelKarmann Ghia
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date01.01.1969
First UK Reg Date 01.06.2018
CC1,300
Mileage~34,692
ColourRoman Bronze
Interior ColourBrown / Cream
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #149952275
Engine #AB790783
Last Service19.08.2025
MOTNo
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - All Clear
Former Keepers5 in UK
Tyre BrandExcelon
Tyre Age2020
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~3 years, 11 months.
Key FeatureLow Reserve
Vehicle RegistrationVVK 532G
Driver’s SideRight
Fuel TypePetrol
Body TypeCoupe
Auction ID3786

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Vehicle Sold

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Seller : AndyKarmann Sale Date 16.07.2026

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1 Comment

Adam Purrier - Trade Classics

Admin

4 days ago

*** RESERVE REMOVED*** Andy has removed the reserve on the car so it will sell to the highest bidder. Adam – TC

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Rochester

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