Karmann.

Hey

Going to look at a mk1 karmann gti cabriolet at the weekend. 

What extra does a karmann have over a normal gti or am I getting it all wrong?

Cheers. 

 Karmann was just the factory in Osnabruk in Germany that made the convertibles on behalf of VW.

Cars often  had the Karmann badge at the bottom of the front wings so sometimes people thought they were a special edition.

Dont expect the GTI to have as many sporting touches if it's an early pre 84 car such as the hardtop, interiors were generally a lot plainer and chrome exterior trim on grille not red. until the special edition models came out they were really European spec GLI's and badged GTI in UK after a while nothing wrong with that, though


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Karman are the company that build all the cabriolets, "karman coach company" so they're all technical a karman cabriolet.

There's a decent buying guy which will help you had though

https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/data/attachment.php?id=261&filtered=1&filtered=1

Si

Karmann made convertibles for VW, Ford notably the Escort cabriolet, peaguot etc.
They were made in Osnabruk as VW didn't want to disrupt the assembly plant and line at Wolfsburg. This would of interrupted the production of the golf.
All cabbies were made there inc those shipped to America, Canada etc.
Although the USA had their own tin top plant in/near Westmoreland.
VW supplied the engines, suspension and running gear.
It is a purpose built car and not as some say a golf with the roof cut off.
The wing badges are a tribute/homage to Karmann where the cars were made.
Around 1988 VW changed the look of the MK1 cabby by which time the mk2 was out. But it's rumoured that VW didn't want to spend money on developing a mk2 cabby so added the big bumpers to the car in an attempt to modernise the cars look.
People call it the clipper kit which is a misnomer.
Clipper referring to the base model. The cabby GTI also had the kit fitted.
It's known properly as a facelift model.
Hence pre 88 usually have small bumpers post 88 have the facelift kit fitted.
So as others have said there is no special Karnann edition.  It's often a ploy used to entice a sale by making a purchaser believe they are getting something rare and special.
I've seen people fall for this thinking they have a rare beast, and thinking they'll re sell it with an inflated price only to be told its a bog standard cabby and worth a lot less than they paid for it.

VW did special editions of the cabriolet, such as the CC,  even some to coincide with famous rock groups tours. You have the Gensis, Rolling Stones versions. Most special editions were released in Europe,  the fashion line,  classic line,  Etienne Aiger, to name a few.
Later models in the UK. Such as the Rivage and Sportline models hold their values well.
It pays to do your research and ask questions here before you part with your hard earned money.






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This is why I like the club , lots of people who know a lot more than I do about my car, Ive learned a lot already but have hardly scratched the surface. Going to get in the boot with a torch later and see if the spec sticker will give up any further information. Great post Chortle


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While we are sort of broadly on this topic is there anyway of getting a definitive model designation from the chassis number alone ?


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jamie8v said

While we are sort of broadly on this topic is there anyway of getting a definitive model designation from the chassis number alone ?


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Here's what you can learn from the VIN, Vehicle Identification Number.

VIN Decoder

Now if you have the data sheet which is the white sticker going across the rear beam in the boot you can find out much, much more!  

M-Codes

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Usually it's recoded on the log book.
I have a Rivage model and it's stated there.



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A lot of cars are identifiable by the year they were made
So knowing that and a picture or two of the interior, exterior and badging will help.
Pop some pics up.
Thee was the quartette model which you could combine different interiors, roofs and body paint colour when ordering from the dealers.


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Carl if my memory serves me right the Quartet range meant that you could colour mix and match to your heart's content with 64 different permutations.
It was a Dealers nightmare because buyers could choose exterior colour, interior colour and even the roof colour.

But of course when it finally turned up they hated the combo and would try to change it, mostly women I should add!  

 


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Brilliant I'll give that a go tonight thanks, my car says GTI on the v5 it originally had a grey vinyl roof it has a grey cloth interior and it also had red 15" alloys. I'll try and find some pics of it pre mods but here's one for now


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The boot sticker reveals all sorts of details such as engine and paint code.
Looks very tidy. Does it need work doing to it?
Keep you busy lol.





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Doesn't need lots of work but I'm doing a bit of a retro job at the moment, I have a thread in mk1 projects called Quest for the mars red cabby if you fancy a gander, I've started now so I've got to finish lol


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The Mk1 and  Mk2 Scirocco were also made by Karmann.
I can safely say "I don't own a VW" (even though both my cars do have VW badges on them?)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232279468772 

Looking at this one at the weekend. 

Ohhh the link says item removed or link no good


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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232279468772 

That's weird. The listing is still active. 

It's the grey one in Melton Mowbray. 

Lol just doesn't like the link, put just the item number and I'll drop it into eBay


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Found it, looks a straight car from the pictures, roof looks good, not sure what's happened to the dash with an immobiliser as there seems to 2 holes in it.

Things I would check. Remove the fuel filler cap and shine a torch down the filler neck and look for any rusty holes, rust, dirt and water will kill the fuel injection system.
Feel the inside lip of the rear arches for any rust as the plastic arch liner can hide it very well.

Feel around the inside of the rear window metal frame as they are costly to replace and can only be changed when fitting a new roof.