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Spotlight on standout air cooled Volkswagens from the community, featuring unique builds, survivor cars, restorations, and the personal stories that define vintage VW ownership.

Danny Bonaduce's Palm Springs Ghia: The Story of Tamale

Danny Bonaduce has spent a lifetime in front of cameras and microphones, but behind the scenes he has always had a soft spot for Volkswagens. Known for his work on The Partridge Family, decades of radio, and a long career in entertainment, Danny’s connection to VW goes back to childhood. His current car, a 1971 Karmann Ghia he calls Tamale, is more than a cruiser in Palm Springs. It is a link to his earliest memories, his family, and the cars that quietly shaped his life. “Everyone loves the Tamale,” he says, and in a town full of Ferraris and Lamborghinis, that says everything.

Front view of Danny Bonaduce’s red Karmann Ghia convertible parked in a sunny Palm Springs driveway

Danny’s interest in Volkswagens began early. When his father landed a writing job on The Dick Van Dyke Show, the family moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. “The whole family piled into our VW Bus,” he recalls. That bus became part of their story, and so did the Beetles and Ghias that followed. One of his earliest memories comes from a family vacation in Italy, where his father bought a VW Bus to drive them around the country. Later, his mother’s 1971 Karmann Ghia became the car that took him to the set of The Partridge Family every day. “That’s what drove me to the set,” he says, remembering the car that unknowingly set the tone for his future love of air-cooled VWs.

Air cooled engine from Danny Bonaduce’s Karmann Ghia showing the clean carburetor setup and polished components

Over the years Danny and his wife have owned four Volkswagens between them, each one adding another chapter to their story. He had been searching for a Karmann Ghia for years when he finally found Tamale online. The car was located in New Jersey, and he had it shipped across the country to his home in Palm Springs. “I had actually been looking for a Karmann Ghia for years,” he says. When it arrived, he knew immediately that whoever restored it had taken great care of it. The paint, the stance, the personality, everything felt right.

Danny Bonaduce standing beside his red Karmann Ghia near the Marilyn Monroe statue in downtown Palm Springs

The car needed a few essentials before it could be enjoyed. “It showed up with no seatbelts or brakes,” Danny says, so those were handled right away. New tires followed, and the Ghia quickly became the perfect Palm Springs cruiser. He added a customized license plate, something he says is practically a requirement in the area. Tamale fit right in, but it also stood out. “I wanted to drive it around Palm Springs to the envy of Ferrari and Lamborghini drivers,” he says. And he does. The Ghia gets attention everywhere it goes.

Interior of Danny Bonaduce’s Karmann Ghia showing the wood dash, tan carpet and vintage controls

Danny enjoys the simplicity of the car and the way it connects him to the past. He talks about how Tamale feels familiar in a way modern cars do not. The Ghia’s personality, its vintage charm, and its unmistakable style give him the same feeling he had around the Volkswagens of his childhood. It is a car that fits him, not because it is flashy, but because it carries the same spirit as the cars he grew up with.

Red Karmann Ghia convertible parked in front of a mid century modern Palm Springs home with a pink front door

Today Danny enjoys Tamale exactly as it is. The car is simple, stylish and unmistakably vintage. The only thing left on his list is a stereo. “I think a stereo and then I’m done,” he says. It is already a great little car, and he has no plans to change its character. Future plans are straightforward. “Driving around the Coachella Valley,” he says. The Ghia is his cruiser, not his daily driver. His wife’s Range Rover handles the everyday miles, but Tamale handles the fun ones.

Rear view of Danny Bonaduce’s red Karmann Ghia convertible with the top down, parked in a sunny Palm Springs neighborhood

Danny plans to attend more VW events, including one in Costa Mesa this November. He enjoys the community and the reactions the Ghia gets. When asked if he would ever sell it, his answer is immediate. “No. I plan to leave it to a loved one in my will.” Tamale is part of his story now, and he intends for it to stay in the family. The car has become something he values not just for its style, but for the memories it represents.

Red Karmann Ghia convertible parked in front of a white building with a turquoise door in Palm Springs

Owning a vintage Volkswagen means freedom to Danny. He talks about how the Ghia brings back the feeling of uncomplicated driving, the kind that lets him enjoy the road without distraction. In a world full of complicated, modern cars, his 1971 Karmann Ghia offers something different. It is simple, nostalgic and unmistakably his. Every trip behind the wheel brings back a piece of the past while creating new memories along the way.

Danny Bonaduce posing with his red Karmann Ghia convertible in a sunny Palm Springs setting with palm trees behind him

Danny sums up what Tamale means to him with the same feeling he had when he first saw it. He talks about how the car represents joy, simplicity and a connection to the life he has lived. It is a reminder of where he came from and the roads that shaped him. When he describes the feeling of being behind the wheel, he puts it simply and clearly. “Put the top down and just cruise,” he says, capturing exactly why Tamale will always be part of his story.

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