Norev 188648 Type 34 Karmann Ghia review: a roof made differently
Norev’s green Type 34 combines a metal body with a painted plastic roof assembly. Review the color match, trim and absence of suspension.
At a Glance
Model essentials
- Metal body with plastic roof/glazing assembly
- Opening compartments and doors
- Beige and green cabin
Collection highlights
- Successful roof/body color coordination
- Separate bright trim
Before you choose
- No suspension in inspected model
Available from Diecast Models Wholesale
View model at retailer ↗Price and availability subject to change
The green roof is not another metal panel
Norev combines a metal lower body with a transparent plastic roof-and-window assembly, painted where the roof should be opaque. That construction explains why calling the entire model “all metal” would be misleading.
The Smaragd Green inspection finds the painted roof and dashboard color well coordinated. The visible result matters more than assuming that a plastic upper assembly must automatically look wrong.
| Detail | Collector consequence |
|---|---|
| Roof and glazing assembly | Judge paint match and window clarity together. |
| Separate chrome treatment | Bright trim has a different visual character from simple silver paint. |
| Beige cabin with green dashboard | Opening a door reveals a coordinated interior rather than an unrelated black insert. |
The offer is labeled 1963 and the inspection 1962. Both identify 188648 in green; retain that year discrepancy when making a period-specific collection label.
This coordinated green treatment has a different role from the bright and dark Golf editions in a color-organized collection.
Pros & Cons Analysis
See the source attributions and review limitations below.
Pros
- The inspection finds the painted upper assembly visually consistent with the body, supporting a coherent closed-car appearance.
- Chrome-treated pieces give the trim more definition than a uniformly painted silver substitute.
Cons
- The wheels steer, but the inspected chassis is unsprung; do not expect wheel travel for an uneven-surface scene.
Judge the assembled shape, not an all-metal promise
188648 is attractive for its green-and-beige treatment and bright trim. Its plastic roof assembly is a documented construction choice; the absence of suspension and the conflicting year labels are the practical boundaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does steerable mean the wheels also have suspension?
Not on the inspected 188648. Steering is reported, while suspension is explicitly absent. They are separate functions.
Technical Specifications
| Brand | Norev |
|---|---|
| Product code | 188648 |
| Subject | Volkswagen Type 34 Karmann Ghia 1500 |
| Edition / version | Early Type 34; merchant 1963 / inspection 1962 |
| Color / livery | Smaragd Green |
| Scale | 1:18 |
| Model type | Model car |
| Materials | Diecast metal lower body; painted transparent-plastic roof/glazing assembly; other plastic parts |
| Length | 9 in |
| Width | 3.75 in |
| Height | 2.75 in |
| Measurement basis | Approximate merchant catalog model dimensions; pose unspecified |
| Opening panels | Front compartment; doors; rear compartment |
| Moving parts | Steerable wheels; no suspension — inspection |
| Lighting | Unknown |
| Power source | Unknown |
| Included figures | Unknown |
| Included equipment | Unknown |
| Display base | Unknown |
