Tangerine Dream stands out in a crowd

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/09/2016 (3624 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Introduced in 1955 as a 1956 model, the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia blended the legendary chassis and mechanical components of the Beetle with a stylish, Italian-designed 2+2 coupe. Manufactured by Karmann, who also built the Volkswagen Beetle convertible, the Karmann Ghia offered a lower platform and sculptured body giving the car a more Porsche-like feel and appearance.

Built from 1955-74, the Karmann Ghia was a readily available sporty alternative to the tried and true Beetle. Starting in 1958, a cabriolet version of the Karmann Ghia was added along with the already popular sport coupe, allowing buyers to get their hair into the wind.

In October 1970, Winnipeg’s Monica Schade went looking for a new car to replace her 1964 Anglia coupe.

“I always enjoyed convertibles and getting lots of fresh air on the hot summer nights,” says Schade.

Ending up at Gran Turismo Motors on Nairn Avenue, there was no model on display, but she placed an order for a Tangerine Orange 1971 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet. The weeks went by and her anticipation grew until she took delivery of her car on Dec. 4, 1970. A custom order, Schade’s Karmann Ghia came with the 1.6-litre, four-cylinder air-cooled engine that produces 60 horsepower at 4,400 r.p.m. While it may sound underpowered by today’s standards, the Karmann Ghia’s 1,900-pound curb weight coupled with a four-speed manual transmission made it a lively driver. Equipped with floor mats, radio, block heater and gas-fired interior heater, it listed for a little more than $3,200.00.

While the top-down weather season had long past, Schade grew familiar with her new purchase and drove the car year-round for the next 12 years.

“We even got in a trouble-free trip from Winnipeg to Campbell River, B.C., and back without any problems,” Schade says.

While raising a family, Schade put the Cabriolet on the back burner and a small sedan was purchased for daily tasks. The Karmann Ghia then remained parked in the family carport from 1982-94. With the car sitting so long, it needed work to get it back into road-worthy condition. New brakes, shocks, fuel tank and a front suspension rebuild were in order and the Karmann Ghia became a fair-weather car.

With Schade’s son, Paul, at the wheel, a rear-end collision at a stoplight in 1996 saw the car take some damage. While having the damaged sheet metal repaired and needing paint, Schade elected to repaint the whole car. Since then, it continues to be a summer driver and her retired mechanic friend, Frank, keeps the Cabriolet serviced and in top condition.

The car still carries the factory black vinyl interior upholstery, black top and chrome trim. The only added item has been the black vinyl boot cover, complete with its orange piping detail and new radial tires.

With only a few Karmann Ghias around Winnipeg and its unique colour, Schade’s car tends to stand out and many have commented to her that they are familiar with seeing it. It even played a part in a drive-through street scene in the 1990s film short, The Big Pickle. With less than 115,900 kilometres registering on the odometer, the Cabriolet still features its original drivetrain and remains a great summer driver.

“I get a lot of pleasure out of driving it,” Schade says. “People look at it and smile and the kids light up, wide eyed and say, ‘look, Mommy.’”

As with most classic and collectible vehicle owners, Schade has found there is also a social aspect to the collector car hobby and thoroughly enjoys seeing people at the various car shows she attends and the attention the little car draws.

While Volkswagen produced nearly 1.3 million passenger vehicles in 1971, only 79,326 were Karmann Ghia Cabriolet models. By 1974, the Karmann Ghia sport coupe and Cabriolet were discontinued. It was a sign of the times in the 1970s, when convertibles were on the wane after being branded as unsafe and buyers focused more on reliable transportation and fuel economy than sporty flair.

Thankfully, today we can see a renaissance and people can still catch a glimpse of what driving excitement meant for many car owners. Just ask Schade about her Tangerine Dream.

 

57ford@mymmts.net