It’s time to revisit our favorite street-side car lot and check out the inventory. Today we have a 1971 Karmann Ghia that doesn’t look like all it’s cracked up to be.

This car is offered at the street price of $5,800, and with a claimed $17K invested. It’s too bad that investment didn’t include a better paint job as the car is crazy with the crazing. Aside from that, it has been auspiciously de-chromed and has had all the trim removed. This, along with the white over gray cracker barrel paint makes for a clean but boring appearance. There’s none of the small bits of flash to catch your eye, and the lack of side strakes denies the car the optical illusion of length they provide. This results in making the Ghia look stubby and without definition.

There’s no clue as to what’s going on under the hood and, as with any aircooled VW, it could be damn-near anything. The ’71 came with a 50-hp 1600-cc motor, and front disk brakes so at a minimum this will keep up with traffic, and stopping won’t as questionable as with the older drum brake cars.

If you’re interested in this Karmann Ghia, give Lou a call. Hopefully he shows less crack than his car does.