When 34 bhp Wasn't Enough!

It’s always seemed to me that the VW Type 14 Karmann Ghia is one of the most frustrating concepts in automotive history.  Here we have a machine with looks I’d consider to be completely emblematic of a ‘sports car’ of the era, but performance little better than the blue ‘invalid carriages’ that always seemed to be smokily in the way back then.  Whose idea was it to sign off something which looks so purposeful, lithe and cheeky, but which was unable – in early production - to unleash more than 34 bhp from its flat four engine?

Karmann Ghia brochure, circa 1959

Happily, there were some people down in Brazil who took a similarly dim view of such dim performance.  Paulo de Aguiar Goulart ran a VW dealership named with the acronym DACON, in Sao Paulo.  Seven years after the model’s introduction, DACON became able to display the Karmann Ghia in its showroom, local production having been commenced in a new factory at nearby São Bernardo do Campo.  Goulart was also part owner of a company named Rampson which had the contacts and expertise required to source and import Porsche engines.  Thus, Goulart was in a position to implement his concept of a Karmann Ghia with motor sport capability.

Though short-lived – ’64-‘67 – the DACON racing team ran their track Karmann Ghias in a programme of continuous development, introducing for instance their own ‘silhouette’ body in fibreglass, and using differing engine types/capacities – VW 1.6,  Porsche Type 547 (110 bhp) and the 906 (200+ bhp).  These options certainly made for cars with a 0-60 mph capability much better than the benchmark 26 secs attributed to the original standard production version.  The first significant result was achieved by driver Chico Landi, winning the Barra da Tijuca.

In ’66 there were wins for Fittipaldi/Perez in the 1000 kms at Guanabarra and Carlos Pace at Interlagos.  Pace also finished 2^nd in three other races at the end of that season.  So, just there, is an indication that the Karmann Ghia was worthy of serious consideration as a race car, campaigned as it was by three future Grand Prix drivers, one, Emerson Fittipaldi, who would be World Champion in ’72 and 74,’ CART champion in ’89, and Indy 500 winner in ’89 and ’93 – not bad CV highlights!  Brother, Wilson, would also compete in F1 in ’71-5, and Carlos Pace, a ‘coming man’ in F1 ’72-7, but tragically lost in a plane accident at the age of 32.

Carlos Pace in a DACON Karmann Ghia-Porsche, Rio, July 1966

Success for the Fittipaldis and Pace continued in ’67, across a variety of events, including longer distance races such as the 500 kms at Interlagos, 1000 kms at Guanabara and 3 Hours at Rio.  Altogether, seven major victories were gained, together with numerous podiums.  Additional drivers, including Aylton Varanda, Francisco Lameirão and Anísio Campos also achieving good results in the cars.  However, given the costs of competing relative to diminishing returns in terms of incremental car sales, Goulart decided to disband the team during that season.

Since the creation of the DACON Karmann Ghia racing enterprise, 18 cars had been built.  A typical ’66 specification utilised the 2.0, 4 cylinder engine, giving 130 bhp, which, coupled with a kerb weight of just 650 kg, made for a very competitive package.

DACON Principal, Goulart checks Pace’s car

Varanda formed his own team, bought two of the DACON cars and ran these in a red and white livery, as seen below.

Varanda at the Circuito de Petrópolis, 1967

By the early '70s the Karmann Ghia, whatever engine implant might be envisaged, could no longer provide the basis for a competitive car to be raced in the relevant contemporary conventional circuit racing classes.  Seriously modified examples were more likely to be found on the Hot Rod/Dragster scene, e.g.:

Jeff Lenininger's Drag Race Karmann Ghia, courtesy of WheelerDealer

Courtesy of TheSamba.com

More recently, a ’64 car, rebuilt for racing in ’79, has been offered on Bring a Trailer in 2020, selling for $13,000.  With chassis number 5851811, the car now features a 1600 engine, with a power output of near 160 bhp:

Courtesy of Shiftgate.com 

In mid-2021 Tuning Blog.EU presented a set of photographs of one of the DACON cars, now in apparently excellent, restored condition:

Pictures posted at TuningBlog.EU and Quatrorodas.abril.com.br/

Writer, Markus Castedo, postulates a value of around €40,000 for this vehicle in today’s market.