Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't open a photo sequence with a car's badging.  However, it's not often that bright work is as evocative as the example of art deco capitals and sexy cursive script shown above.  To me, the stern upper case KARMANN  is a metaphor for the car's Teutonic manufacturers while the curvaceous nature of the lettering used for  Ghia suggests its freer, more liberated Italian design origins.  Or I could just be being a bigger w⚓than I am normally. Either way, I am totally enchanted by this car!  The Karmann Ghia is easily Volkswagen's most beautiful creation, a collaboration also involving German coach builders Karmann - who made the bodies - and Italian carrozzeria Ghia.  Its style, elegance and presence easily eclipses anything from fellow German brands Porsche, Mercedes or BMW. Not only is the Karmann Ghia the jewel in VW's crown, this particular example is as lovely as you could hope to s...