An Australian enthusiast has transplanted the heart of a Porsche 911 into a 1964 Type 34 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.
Unlike the hugely popular Type 14 Karmann Ghia, of which over 445,000 examples were made between 1955 and 1974, the Type 34 wasn’t based on the Beetle. Instead, Ghia designer Sergio Sartorelli used Volkswagen’s Type 3 1500 as a platform for this bigger, faster coupe.
The styling was sharper, leading it to be known in the U.K. as the “Razoredge,” while U.S. fans knew it as the “European Ghia.” At home in Germany it was simply “Der Große Karmann.”
At its launch in 1961, the Karmann Ghia took on the role of VW’s flagship. Its “pancake” 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced around 50 hp, making it the fastest in the VW stable. Other innovations included an electric sunroof and ball-joint front suspension with full-width torsion bars for a ride quality that far exceeded the Beetle.
The Type 34 was built in West Germany and Brazil, but as this example proves, the 41,689 cars built found homes all over the world.
Now painted in Anthracite with a black leatherette interior, and shod with Fuchs 15-inch alloy wheels, this particular Type 34 Karmann Ghia has around three times the power with which it left the factory. That’s thanks to the neat installation, during the 1980s, of a 2.7-liter flat-six from a Porsche 911, fed by Weber downdraft carbs. Other engine mods include a Fireball Performance ignition system and custom air filter.
Adding to its restomod creds are a JVC stereo with Bluetooth connectivity, VDO gauges, Procar front seats, a wood-rimmed Moto Lita steering wheel and a carbon-fiber shift knob.
The car is claimed to be one of just 253 right-hand-drive models still in existence and passed its most recent roadworthiness test in May 2025. It’s currently for sale on Collecting Cars, and if you win the auction you’ll be collecting it from Tasmania.
Has a bit of a Corvair vibe.
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