I purchased this car over 25 years ago from its second owner. At that time it had 56000 miles on it. Its first owner was the accountant/secretary at the Volkswagen dealer ship in Truro, Nova Scotia. She had installed at the dealer the sport steering wheel and Riviera style wheels. I found the vehicle by placing a Want Add in the Old Car Autotrader in 1988. I was specifically looking for a 1969 1/2 convertible with a wholesome unrestored body and original top. It is the only year that had the combination that I wanted, which had independent rear suspension (IRS), rear glass window (instead of plastic), and most importantly, it did not have large bulky tail lights and bumpers that was later imposed by the government. In the 25 years that I’ve owned the car, I’ve only put about 11 000 miles on it. The car shows very well for its age. I’ve reframed from painting the car so people could see exactly what they’re getting. A few years ago, I removed the engine and resealed it. At that time, I also cleaned up the engine bay. The original engine runs like a Swiss watch and it is quite sprightly. The four speed is smooth and crisp. A rag with a bit of Varsol is all that is needed to reveal the original paint throughout the under floor pan.

When I purchased the car, I was told that the drivers door was hit by a run away shopping cart. Because the car was fairly new at the time, they were able to source out a replacement door, which also was the same pirolgelb yellow. If you look at the car, at just the right angle, you may notice the tint is not exactly the same. Also please not that this car was not painted yesterday and does show some history. I feel it is now time for someone else to enjoy this wholesome original car. So if a survivor car is what you are looking for, I can send you more specific pictures.

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When Android Automotive goes in the dash, Google wins — and automakers lose data

Tue, May 22 2018

You've gotta hand it to Google for the way the Silicon Valley tech giant has made indelible inroads into the car on multiple fronts. The most obvious is with its pioneering self-driving car technology that's caused car companies to get their act together on autonomous vehicles — and also collaborate with Google. Google has more directly extended its influence and data-mining capabilities into the car with its Android Auto smartphone-projection platform that most major automakers have adopted along with Apple's CarPlay. And now it's preparing to dig even deeper into dashboards by deploying its open-source operating system, Android Automotive, beginning with Audi and Volvo. Volvo recently announced that its next-generation Sensus infotainment system will run Android Automotive as an OS and include Google's Play Store for cloud-based content, Maps for navigation and Google Assistant for voice recognition, which can even command a car's climate control. By embedding Google in the dash, Volvo says owners will get an improved connected experience. "Bringing Google services into Volvo cars will accelerate innovation in connectivity and boost our development in applications and connected services," Volvo senior vice president of R&D Henrik Green said in a statement. "Soon, Volvo drivers will have direct access to thousands of in-car apps that make daily life easier and the connected in-car experience more enjoyable." Having Android Automotive onboard could benefit drivers Â— and provide a big win for Google, since it opens a deep and lucrative new data-mining vein for the company. But it's a wave of a white flag for car companies when it comes to delivering their own cloud-based content and services. It also represents a massive data giveaway and, for Audi, a reversal of earlier reservations about letting Google get too much access to car data. Not long after Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were introduced in 2014 and most automakers eagerly embraced the technologies, several German automakers second-guessed their decision when they realized what was at stake: data. At a conference in Berlin in 2015, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said car owners "want to be in control of their data, and not subject to monitoring." A few months earlier, Stadler stated that "the data that we collect is our data and not Google's.

Volkswagen offers Beetle Classic, priced from $20,195*

Tue, 23 Sep 2014

The current Volkswagen Beetle already tries to be a fairly retro-looking ride by cribbing styling elements from the iconic original. However, for the new, limited-edition Classic model, VW is hopping into the time machine to grab even more vintage cues. The company is even cutting the price, perhaps in hopes of turning around flagging sales this year. You don't need to wait long for any of these upgrades either because the automaker says that the Classic goes on sale this week for $20,195, *excluding the $820 destination charge. That's $100 less than a bone-stock Beetle.
Starting as a standard Beetle with VW's 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, the Classic edition comes with a six-speed automatic and then adds some retro flair. It includes new vintage-look 17-inch wheels with simulated dog dish polished hubcaps over black spokes. It also comes with a rear spoiler, and the automaker is offering the model in Pure White, Black Uni, and Reflex Silver.
The interior mixes in a few more classic touches but includes modern amenities like a standard navigation system, satellite radio and multifunction steering wheel. However, the seats are finished in a two-tone design combining light brown leatherette on the sides and checked cloth centers, plus lumbar support for the driver's side. The shift knob and handbrake also get wrapped in leather.

Former Audi chief designer Wolfgang Egger leaves Italdesign

Sat, Dec 27 2014

The latest word from the international community of automotive designers has it that Wolfgang Egger is leaving Italdesign, but just where the accomplished designer will land next and who will take his place remain big question marks. Egger is a designer who has bounced back and forth between Italy and Germany over the course of his career. He was born in Germany but studied in Milan. He began his career at Alfa Romeo in 1989 and was named its chief designer by 1993 before being head-hunted by the Volkswagen Group in 1998 to head up the design department at Seat. A few years later he went returned to Italy to run the Lancia design department, and was subsequently renamed to the same post at Alfa Romeo. In 2007 he went back to his native Germany to head up the Audi design office, over which he assumed complete responsibility by 2012, but left Audi in 2013 to run Italdesign. For those unfamiliar, Italdesign is the studio founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro (pictured at left next to Egger) back in 1968 but which, along with many other Italian design houses, fell on hard times in recent years. The Volkswagen Group swooped in to rescue the troubled studio in 2010, turning it into something of an in-house advanced design department to provide an alternative perspective on the direction in which the group and its various brands could take their respective designs moving forward. With Egger now leaving its helm, Italdesign and its German parent company will need to find his replacement, and we're sure they'll announce one in due course. The bigger question on our minds, however, is where Egger himself will head next. Given the path his career has taken to date, we wouldn't be surprised to see him land elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group or find a new role in the expanding Fiat Chrysler Automobiles empire. Then again, Egger could find it time to open an entirely new chapter. Watch this space. News Source: Car Design NewsImage Credit: Newspress Design/Style Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Audi Volkswagen designer italdesign giugiaro wolfgang egger

1969 1/2 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible on 2040-cars

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia for Sale

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When Android Automotive goes in the dash, Google wins — and automakers lose data

Volkswagen offers Beetle Classic, priced from $20,195*

Former Audi chief designer Wolfgang Egger leaves Italdesign