Here at The Ghia Gab, where we Speak Karmann Ghia, we love the clever engineering details most people never notice.

Let’s go back to 1955.

Modern styling demanded the “hardtop” look. Clean lines. No bulky posts breaking up the glass. Detroit achieved this by making quarter windows disappear dramatically into the rear fenders.

Karmann had a different challenge with the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.

They wanted the same sleek look — but without the heavy, cumbersome support posts holding up door and quarter window glass.

So they did something brilliant.

The “If You Can’t See It, It Doesn’t Exist” Trick

Instead of eliminating structure entirely, Karmann designed the quarter window to remain stationary and made the aluminum support post as thin and visually minimal as possible.

It was engineering sleight of hand.

The post was there.

You just barely noticed it.

The result? That elegant, uninterrupted hardtop profile that makes a Ghia so unmistakable.

Then Came the Complaints…

Beautiful? Yes.

Ventilated? Not exactly.

Owners began asking for more airflow. And suddenly Karmann faced a serious design puzzle:

How do you add pop-out quarter windows…
Without ruining the hardtop illusion?

Pop-outs, by nature, require sturdy support pillars. And sturdy usually means visible.

Karmann didn’t redesign the entire structure.

They borrowed what was already there.

The Plastic Block Solution

Instead of rubber seals sliding in that thin aluminum post, Karmann engineered a clever workaround.

They used three small, one-inch plastic blocks that slid up and down inside the channel. These blocks were pinned in place by self-tapping screws entering from the front of the chrome post separating the door and quarter glass.

Why plastic?

Flexibility.

The blocks had just enough give to allow the glass to pivot slightly. That slight pivot is what allows the rear of the quarter window to pop outward.

Presto.

Ventilation achieved.
Structure maintained.
Hardtop illusion preserved.

Form and Function, Ghia Style

It’s one of those details that perfectly captures what makes the Karmann Ghia special.

Elegant styling.
Clever engineering.
Solutions that serve both beauty and function.

Next time you admire that sleek side profile or crack open your pop-outs for airflow, remember — it wasn’t an accident.

It was thoughtful design.

And around here, we notice those things.

We Speak Karmann Ghia.