Lowlight Delight

Damian’s Lowlight Ghia sits at the beginning of the Karmann Ghia line, before the shape was softened and revised. The differences are subtle, but present everywhere — lower headlights, earlier trim details, a profile that feels closer to a prototype than a finished product.

I'd only met Damian once for about five minutes before I got an Instagram message from him asking if I was going to the 2024 Day of the Volkswagen show in Melbourne. I wasn't planning to, but welcomed this near complete stranger to stop at my house on his 3500km (2000 mile) journey from Brisbane, Queensland. When I learnt he had just finished restoring an infamous 'lowlight' Ghia and was debuting it at the show, I jumped at the chance to interview him and before long realised I needed to join him to document his epic road trip across Australia.

Over the next four days, not only did I learn about the huge effort it was to acquire and rebuild the car, I was reminded about the value of friendship and the unique bonds that connect the Australian Volkswagen community. And even though we reminisce about the good old days, the trip made me realise there's still more to come and new friends to be made. And the car.

The car is so beautiful. I would say one of the most beautiful cars ever made and it couldn't belong to a nicer person. Whilst humble and full of praise for others, Damian is an exceptional builder and shows what can be done at home with patience, determination, passion and a huge amount of style and talent.