Above: The Ghia convertible was introduced Stateside in 1957.
Why the Karmann Ghia Wasn't Sold As A Sports Car.
VW was paying Porsche a royalty for every VW sold, and when Porsche learned of VW's intentions to build the Ghia, Ferry Porsche, son of Dr. Porsche, wasn't happy. He felt VW would be poaching Porsche sales. And it was confusing. The 356 engine and brakes were a direct bolt-on to the VW, Bug or Ghia. If VW sold a sports car, whose engine would it use?
The final agreement is history. VW sold the Ghia with absolutely stock VW hardware, not a Porsche part in the bunch, even through Porsche used a few VW parts at the time.
Ghia had sent the second Karmann Ghia to be imported to the USA to Chrysler, because it was derived by designer Virgil Exner from a Chrysler project. But the first Ghia had been sent to Max Hoffman in N.Y. Hoffman was the major Porsche (and other sports car marques) importer in the early 1950's.
From that, we can suppose two things. Chrysler was probably in the running as a Ghia seller if it had been a sports car, and Hoffman wanted to test the waters for the Ghia in general. His influence with both Porsche and VW at the time was so great he could have had special hot-rod Ghias if he had wanted them. After all, it was Hoffman who got Porsche to design and sell the Speedster.
And what happened to the Ghia sent to Chrysler?
Exner Sr. bought it from Chrsysler for his son Exner Jr. as a college graduation present. Exner Jr. drove the Ghia for a few months and traded it in at a VW dealer for a Bug and $600 cash.
FJC