VW Karmann Ghia Type 34

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VW
VW Type 34, the big Karmann Ghia
VW Type 34, the big Karmann Ghia
Karmann Ghia Type 34
Production period: 1961-1969
Class : Middle class
Body versions : Coupe
Engines:
Petrol engines : 1.5–1.6 liters
(34–40 kW)
Length: 4280 mm
Width: 1620 mm
Height: 1335 mm
Wheelbase : 2400 mm
Empty weight : 910-940 kg
VW Type 34, Karmann Ghia 1600 L
Great Karmann Ghia
Convertible prototype

The VW Type 34 is the “big Karmann Ghia” ([ 'gia ], not [ ' dʒia ]), the essentially two-seater coupé sports model as a parallel offer to the four- or five-seater air-cooled VW of those years. It was built for VW at Karmann in Osnabrück.

Positioning in the model range

Just as the "small" Karmann Ghia received the most powerful engine of the VW Beetle, the big Karmann was always delivered with the most powerful engine and the best equipment of the parallel model VW Type 3 . The car is not a real sports car, but "A Ladies' Sportscar", as VW emphasized. The large Karmann Ghia was mainly to be found as a second car for the lady of the house of wealthy classes and as a vehicle for academics. The four-seater only applies to small children in the rear emergency seats.

It is not the successor to the "little Karmann Ghia" (VW Type 14) , but both were produced and offered in parallel. While the Type 14 is based on a (slightly modified) VW Beetle chassis, the Type 34 is based on the VW Type 3 (VW 1500/1600) and shares the platform frame with it, including axles and drive. Until the appearance of the VW 411 , that is from the end of 1961 to 1968, the big Karmann was the most expensive and fastest passenger car in the VW range.

The Type 34 is officially a four-seater closed passenger car with rear-wheel drive . The wheels had independent suspension (front crank arm , rear pendulum axle ) and initially drum brakes all around . In the 1966 model year (from August 1965) the front wheels were fitted with disc brakes . In the following model year 1967 (from August 1966) a 12 V electrical system and the dual-circuit brake system were standard. From model year 1968, there was a fully automatic transmission in conjunction with a modern semi-trailing arm rear axle for an additional charge . From model year 1969, the cars with manual transmission also had the rear trailing arm axle.

Series production of the vehicle with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that developed 45 hp (33 kW) began on September 1, 1961 . It reached a top speed of 137 km / h. For the 1964 model year, the 1500 S model appeared with two carburettors, higher compression and 54 hp (40 kW). The S engine required premium gasoline. It was the standard engine for two model years. For the 1966 model year, the S-engine was replaced by a 1600 cc engine, also with an output of 54 hp, which could be run on regular gasoline. The 1600 with 54 hp was retained - with minor modifications - until the end of production of the vehicle type.

As with the small Karmann Ghia, a convertible version was originally intended to be offered alongside the coupé. There is speculation about the number of convertible prototypes; It is very likely that 12 vehicles (prototypes and pilot series) were built by Karmann in Osnabrück.

One of these vehicles, a white pilot series vehicle from 1963, is in the (not public) Karmann factory museum in Osnabrück. There is a silver cabriolet in the VW factory museum. This is probably an original convertible body that was placed on a coupé chassis from 1969. Various parts of the chassis and technology (e.g. automatic, disc brakes, even the enlarged speedometer of the later model years) were taken over from the 1969 donor vehicle.

The North Rhine-Westphalian company Lorenz (Wetter an der Ruhr) converted coupés into convertibles at the customer's request. There should have been around 20 Lorenz conversions.

The Type 34 was not an economic success. After only 42,505 vehicles, this type was discontinued without a successor.

Karmann-Ghias as a classic car

As a result of the low number of units from the beginning, the big Karmann is now rarely to be found in traffic. Its technology is relatively simple, easy to maintain and repair, and spare parts for the drive and the chassis are readily available. However, many Karmann-specific parts of the body are considered to be highly problematic. In contrast to the VW Beetle and the VW Type 3 , the fenders on the Karmann bodies are welded instead of screwed on. Front masks, bumpers, windshields and taillights are said to pose major problems for replacement; often cannibalized vehicles have to donate the required parts. Therefore, flawless “thirty-four Karmänner” have to be paid in five digits today.

Technical specifications

Type 1500 1500 p 1600 L
engine flat four-cylinder four-stroke boxer rear engine; air cooled; central camshaft; overhead valves operated by push rods and rocker arms; Oil bath air filter; Firing order 1-4-3-2
Bore × stroke (mm × mm) 83 × 69 85.5 × 69
Displacement (cm³) 1493 1584
Power (PS / kW) at 1 / min 45 (34) at 3800 54 (40) at 4200 54 (40) at 4000
Torque (kpm / Nm) at 1 / min 10.8 (106) at 2000 10.8 (106) at 2400 11.2 (110) at 2200
compression 7: 1 8.5: 1 7.7: 1
petrol normal great normal
a flat-flow carburetor Solex two downdraft carburetors Solex
transmission Four-speed manual transmission, from 9/67 also three-speed automatic
Wheelbase (mm) 2400
Front / rear track (mm) 1310/1346
Length × width × height (mm) 4280 × 1620 × 1335
Empty weight kg) 910,

Automatic: 940

Total weight (kg) 1250 1280 1310,

Automatic: 1340

Top speed (km / h) 137 150 150

Automatic: 140

Acceleration from 0-100 km / h (s) 22.5 19th 19,

Automatic: 25

construction time 1961–1962 1962-1965 1965-1969

literature

Web links

Commons : Volkswagen Type 34  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files