1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE 

Out of a combination of a lifelong automotive passion and an unyielding desire to support the people of his Alabama community, the Generous Collection was born. Mr. Greg Rusk, a successful business leader in the cardboard industry, with a big heart for helping families and friends in times of need, would regularly pay overly generous fees to acquire an interesting vehicle. After decades of collecting and supporting local automotive enthusiasts, the Rusk family is ready for these vehicles, each with their own story, to write their next chapter back on the road, where they belong. 

The Generous Collection debuts with Part 1 offering over 200 cars in October, all offered without reserve, emerging from years of long-term silent storage. Many additional lots will be offered in the coming months. From the quiet shadows of the Generous Collection to the sunshine of backroads and highways, enthusiasts now have the opportunity to own a piece of a generous car-collecting legacy. 

* * * 

The 1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia marked one of the final years of a beloved model that blended German engineering with Italian design flair. Introduced in 1955, the Karmann Ghia was a collaboration between Volkswagen, coachbuilder Karmann, and Italian design house Ghia. By 1972, the car retained its signature curvaceous styling but featured subtle updates including larger taillights and improved safety features to meet U.S. regulations. 

Built on the Beetle’s platform, the Karmann Ghia shared its air-cooled, rear-mounted engine, which in 1972 was a 1.6-liter flat-four producing around 60 horsepower. Though not a performance car, its elegant looks and solid build made it a popular choice among style-conscious drivers. Available as a coupe or convertible, the 1972 model offered a refined interior with improved ventilation and optional features like a radio and upgraded upholstery. 

Production of the Karmann Ghia began to wind down in the early 1970s as Volkswagen shifted focus to newer models like the Scirocco. Still, the 1972 Karmann Ghia remains a symbol of mid-century automotive artistry, prized today for its timeless design and connection to the golden age of Volkswagen. 

Highlights 

• Offered from The Generous Collection 

• Refinished in Kasan Red (L30B) over black vinyl interior 

• Powered by a 1.6-liter air-cooled flat-four engine rated at 60 hp 

• Four-speed manual transmission 

• The chassis number (1422491597) decodes as: 

  • 1 – Type 1 (Beetle-based platform, which includes the Karmann Ghia) 

  • 4 – Karmann Ghia 

  • 2 – Coupe 

  • 2 – 1972 model year 

  • 491597 – Sequential production number 

Features 

• Padded dash  

• Two-speed electric windshield wipers  

• Front seat passenger grab handle   

• Variable-intensity instrument lighting  

• Heater  

• Fresh air vents 

• 120-mph speedometer and 8,000-rpm tachometer  

• Alpine AM/FM/CD stereo  

Known Imperfections 

• While reasonable efforts were made during preparation for the sale, due to the volume of cars in this collection, it was not possible to diagnose or detect all imperfections present in the cars. 

• Hood latch isn’t connected 

• Glove box latch will not fully engage 

Included 

• Spare tire 

• Jack 

Ownership History 

This 1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe is offered from The Generous Collection of no reserve automobiles. 

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.  

Contact: William Cooper  Phone: 469.463.4542  email: wcooper@hagerty.com 

Alabama Sales Tax Notice to Bidders: Because this car is located in Alabama, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama state sales taxes of up to 2% of the purchase amount, even if the buyer plans to register the car outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer is located in AZ, CA, FL, IN, MA, MI, or SC (capped at $500 in SC), and (b) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives the car or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer). Additionally, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama county or city taxes from buyers located outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer), and (b) the buyer fails to provide an executed Drive-Out Certificate for Nonresidents. For additional information, please consult this publication and your own tax advisor regarding sales taxes applicable to cars located in Alabama that are sold to residents of another state.  

Please note that all lots in The Generous Collection are offered after many years of storage, without operation or service, in warehouse facilities. The seller endeavored to provide limited mechanical servicing to bring some cars back to running potential, however, not all cars will be running at time of sale. Because of the extended static display, it must be assumed that all cars will require additional mechanical attention before being driven safely and, in most cases, cleaning to both the interiors and exteriors. All the cars will have imperfections associated with long-term static storage and require extensive sorting to perform best and safely. The burden of determining a car’s status, both mechanical and cosmetic, rests fully on the bidder, prior to bidding and the close of the auction. All lots are sold as is, where is. 

Additionally, due to the location of the collection and limited access to the facility following the close of the auction, all lots must be retrieved while a Hagerty Marketplace representative is onsite beginning Monday, November 3 through Wednesday, November 19. No cars can be retrieved prior to November 3 and any lots remaining after November 19 will be re-located outside in the parking lot for retrieval by their buyers.