1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe Electric Conversion

Description

The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (Type 14) stands as a true vintage classic, seamlessly blending the mechanical simplicity of the Volkswagen Beetle with the elegant, Italian-inspired styling of Carrozzeria Ghia. Produced from 1955 to 1974, this distinctive coupe was hand-built by German coachbuilder Karmann, featuring body panels that were butt-welded, hand-shaped, and smoothed with English pewter — a meticulous process more commonly associated with luxury marques. 

By 1973, the Karmann Ghia had undergone subtle refinements. That year’s model introduced larger taillights and reinforced bumpers to comply with evolving U.S. safety standards. Under the rear hood, it housed a 1.6-liter air-cooled flat-four engine delivering around 60 horsepower, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. The interior remained minimalist yet refined, enhanced with safety upgrades like a padded dashboard and energy-absorbing steering column. 

Though never a performance car, the Karmann Ghia offered a smooth, enjoyable ride and impressive fuel efficiency. With production ending in July, the 1973 model represents one of the final iterations of this beloved classic as it rolled off the assembly line October 1973 from VW history. 

This particular 1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe has been restored and thoughtfully modernized with an EV West Electric Vehicle Conversion Kit, bringing timeless style into the electric age with zero-emission performance. 

Highlights 

• 1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe restored and electrified 

• EV West Electric Vehicle Conversion 

• 36-cell LiFePo battery pack 

• Approximately 80-mile range on a single charge  

• Finished in Zambezi Green (L64K) with a Saddle vinyl interior 

Features 

• EV-WEST Electric Vehicle Conversion Kit including:  

  • Electric vehicle motor 

  • 36-cell LiFePo battery pack 

  • Regen braking system  

  • Accessories 

• New disc brakes front and rear 

• New bushings and bearings all around 

• New interior carpet, door panels, seat upholstery 

• New 12-volt wiring harness with rewired lights and components 

• New J-Bugs floor pans professionally welded to frame 

• New 12-volt battery 

Known Imperfections 

• A battery management system was not installed for uniform charging of each of the 36 battery cells 

• Paint chips on front spoiler, hood edge, and rocker panels 

• Driver’s side mirror mounting holes were in wrong location for OEM mirror replacement 

• Nick in vinyl driver’s side interior door panel 

• Passenger window crank set screw stripped 

Included 

• Adjustable IRS spring plates for rear wheels  

• Other parts and pieces sourced off the original car 

• EV West invoices 

• Extra rear quarter window.

Ownership History 

This restoration was a father/daughter effort as she was applying to engineering colleges. Her father wanted her to have practical experience before heading into engineering study. 

The consignor of this electrified 1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe states, “This classic 1973 Karmann Ghia spent most of its life in Southern California. In 2016, we acquired a failed restoration car that was missing its engine. We decided to restore the car and convert it to electric power. We chose Zambezi Green which was a VW Ghia color choice in 1973. We completed a frame-off restoration and mechanical refurbishment while the EV West conversion kit was assembled and delivered. We installed new bushings, bearings, and gaskets as part of the full mechanical refurbishment. The 36-cell LiFePo battery pack has an 80-mile charge potential.” 

“Weight is a consideration with an electric vehicle, so we chose to add aluminum racing wheels since they were 75 percent of the weight of the original steel wheels. We also chose not to have a spare tire due to the 15 pounds of weight. Body repair was done on the nose, a typical Karmann Ghia damage area, but this car wasn’t bad. The dents were mostly pounded out, and a minor amount of Bondo was used to finish the exterior. We upgraded the braking system to disc brakes all around, increased the master brake cylinder to match, and installed all new brake lines as well. We replaced the 12-volt electric wiring harness, the 12-volt system is the same as a gas engine, except there is no need for the electric starter. Because the torque of the EV motor is high, we took EV West’s suggestion to refurbish the transaxle to two gears with twice the gear tooth area.” 

“We worked with local auto mechanics for some of the specialty items like bushings and torsion bar adjustments, and had the car’s final paint prep and painting completed by NEXT Autobody, a Simi Valley company known for competition car paint projects. This is a fun car we’ve driven up to 65 mph, though we programmed the EV for efficiency.”