Pick of the Day: 1964 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

what happens when you combine German engineering versus Italian design? The Karmann Ghia was a car that combined these elements into a compact car and was sold in large numbers from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s.

The Pick of the Day is a 1964 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Click the link to see the list)

“This two-owner Karmann Ghia has traveled 14,299 miles since new,” according to the listing. “The original owner was an older woman who purchased it new in 1978 and put it into storage.”

Simplicity is the name of the game with this Karmann Ghia, both inside and out. Its creamy exterior doesn’t inspire much excitement, and the spindly white-wall tires may not be suitable for performance. But in the big picture, that’s the whole point of this car: It’s attractive without being ostentatious.

Karmann Ghia’s magazine ad says, “Volkswagen – Italian style.” It continues, “Karmann Ghia will show you what happens when you hand a Volkswagen to an Italian designer. It has nobility Roman nose, graceful curves and low profile.”

The Karmann Ghia’s production volume over its lifetime was relatively high, in fact over 445,000 units. It was available in coupe and convertible versions, and its drivetrain was mechanically similar to the more common Volkswagen Beetle: a rear-mounted horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine paired with a manual gearbox. “Runs like a top – always starting and stopping,” the seller says.

The good news from a cost-of-ownership perspective is that replacement parts for Volkswagens are both readily available and cheap. As a result, Karmann Ghia’s Italian designs don’t cost much. Because of these benefits, the car still has a strong enthusiast base. The Kamanjia Club of North America (KGCNA) is one of them. The club’s magazine is called The Carman Chronicle.

If you’ve ever considered getting into the Karmann Ghia game, you’d be hard-pressed to find a car that still has less than 15,000 miles on it. “For sale due to age,” says the seller. “I’m 82 years old and have 20 cars.”

When new, the Karmann Ghia coupe will cost $2,295 and the convertible will cost $2,495. Today, you have the chance to purchase a 60-year-old version for $35,200.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, you can find it in “Daily Picks.”