Carrozzeria Ghia Design Phase
Italian Style & Innovation
1959-60
In 1959 Luigi Segre (head of Carrozzeria Ghia) met Heinz Nordhoff (head of Volkswagen) at the Geneva Auto Show. They began discussions about Volkswagen's secret new VW 1500 program. Segre called his designer Sergio Sartorelli and requested several preliminary design ideas to present to Nordhoff. Three days later the initial design was chosen. Within nine months a full-scale metal prototype was built at Ghia & shared with VW & Karmann executives.
The prototype still exists today in VW's AutoMuseum in Osnabruck Germany. The prototype has many unique design features that were redone for the production model. See how many changes you can discover ...
One of four preliminary side-view drawings made to show Karmann at the Geneva Auto Show
Sartorelli came up with a sculpted design for the fenders above the beltline and the cooling vents.
One of four preliminary side-view drawings made to show Karmann at the Geneva Auto Show