In the Karmann Ghia’s case, the mechanicals were essentially those of the Beetle and more family-friendly VW Type 3, while the styling was the work of Carrozzeria Ghia, and it was built by Karmann in Germany. The 34bhp engine available on the car’s 1955 launch confirmed the style-over-speed ethos, but buyers didn’t seem to mind then, and the classic’s owners don’t seem to mind now – although later 49bhp 1.3-litre versions are happier in modern traffic. Karmann built well over 400,000 during the car’s 19-year run.

Samba bus

Along with the Beetle, the Type 2, known as everything from Transporter, Bus or Camper to Bulli, Samba, Microbus and Kombi, defines Volkswagen. Like the Beetle, the original split-window bus and its bay-window successor used flat-four power and rear-mounted engines, and while they may not have got you to your destination quickly, they’d certainly get you there.

Today the split-window variants in particular are highly-prized classics, and the more windows the better: the best 23-window buses, named for every pane of glass you’ll find, have gone for six-figure sums at auction. Bright colours, incomparable style and an enormous sense of wellbeing are enough to make you forget the Type 2’s austere, commercial origins. It’s a trick that VW has pulled several times with the Transporter since.

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