Comments on: Another One Bites The Dust: Karmann Gone Bust

By: Karmannsucks

Karmannsucks — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:42:24 +0000

Karmann is in trouble due to their own ignorance, Mercedes, Audi, and more pulled out. but who is kidding who, look at he garbage they make. Rusty junk like the Karmann Guia to the junk G6 and sebring, from the top management to the janitor are a bunch of ignorants, they dont care about the customers, I wouldn’t let them tie my shoes and for sure never work on my convertible, if you are restoring a vehicle do yourself a favor and stay away from those assholes. I worked in their Plymouth facility and know that they only make junk. I am glad they are going under. BYE BYE KARMANN

By: MikeyB

MikeyB — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:49:42 +0000

Hey guys. I work at Karmann USA in Plymouth, MI and I just wanted it to be clear that Karmann Germany is not going out of business, it is simply restructuring early in case things get worse.

@NickR:
If your friend’s vehicle is a convertible, our facility in Michigan specializes in restoring the convertible top of Karmann Ghia’s. He can email me at TopRestoration@karmann.com for more questions.

By: oldyak

oldyak — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:33:09 +0000

Too bad that VW never took advantage of the name for another ‘niche’ car.
They are so damn stupid when it comes to marketing!!
Remember the Corrado..try to find a nice one now.
A damn fine care with no marketing behind it.

By: nikita

nikita — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:53:29 +0000

As the proud owner of a near-pristine Karmann Ghia, Im a little depressed. All spares, however, have come from the aftermarket, not the factory (VW nor Karmann) for decades now.

By: Bocatrip

Bocatrip — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:09:32 +0000

Karmann will be sorely missed. They designed some beautiful cars.

By: William C Montgomery

William C Montgomery — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:31:37 +0000

lerxst:

Yes, and the first and second generations of Scirocco’s, which I loved back in the day.

By: Sajeev Mehta

Sajeev Mehta — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:03:59 +0000

I always wondered why Fisher Body ever lived past the 1950s, but Karmann is a different story. I wonder if Karmann bodied cars will command premiums like 1930s Brunn, Hooper, Fleetwood, etc vehicles do now.

Probably not, since the average buyer never knows that the coachwork came from a company not related to their dealership.

By: lerxst

lerxst — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:06:48 +0000

Sad…the Corrado I once owned was built by Karmann.

By: Mirko Reinhardt

Mirko Reinhardt — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:57:05 +0000

@Rod Panhard :
So what’s going to happen to Valmet, once Porsche moves their contract to Steyr?

Allegedly, some good Karma from Fisker.

By: Rod Panhard

Rod Panhard — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:54:49 +0000

This is interesting because I worked with some auto industry consultants about eight years ago. They said the only way the American car companies could save themselves was to outsource their production.

When pressed, they meant companies like Karmann could help keep them afloat. So what’s going to happen to Valmet, once Porsche moves their contract to Steyr?

By: superbadd75

superbadd75 — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:18:36 +0000

We’re seeing some historic names fade into nothing as this global meltdown plows through every country. Meanwhile, fear of losing jobs or stock value keeps people’s money in their pockets, adding more fuel to the financial fire. The automotive landscape is going to look a lot different in a few years. This sucks.

By: Lokki

Lokki — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:55:45 +0000

Well, it comes as no surprise to anyone who ever fought the rust on a Karmann Ghia that the company dissolved just like their products.

Still, they made many beautiful vehicles, and they’ll be missed. Another part of our collective automotive soul has been eaten by accountants.

Sic transit gloria mundi

By: Gforce

Gforce — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:49:58 +0000

Yeah, that kinda makes sense. Convertibles are usually a second car in the garage, likely to remain in a pristine condition for the long haul. They must have missed out on the Cash-for-Clunker madness.

By: craiggbear

craiggbear — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:36:29 +0000

I met an attractive girl the other day. I asked her her name and she said it was Carmen (Karmann?). I said that was a nice name. She said she picked it herself – after her two favorite things, cars and men.

A moment passed and she asked my name.

I said: “BJ Titsandgolf”

By: Mirko Reinhardt

Mirko Reinhardt — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:05:29 +0000

It seems just weeks ago that Karmann built the Mercedes CLK, SLK, the Volkswagen Golf wagon and convertible, some kind of Kia SUV, Renault Megane convertibles, The Nissan Micra convertible, the Chrysler Crossfire and so many more – how could they lose all that?

By: NickR

NickR — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:54:45 +0000

Huh. Just yesterday I was chatting with a friend who is just embarking on the restoration of Karmann Ghia. I guess he had better hurry if he needs anything from them.