Ever heard of Glas? No not fiberglass, I’m talking about Hans GLAS GmbH, the West German concern based in Dingolfing that made scooters, microcars and, later on, a handsome line of more conventional automobiles. But the little Goggomobil TS 250 Coupé of 1957-1969 was a real gem, if you could fit in one.
When I saw this one online, I actually knew what it was, thanks to my recent purchase of My Cool Classic Car: An Inspirational Guide to Classic Cars by Chris Haddon (which I strongly recommend for your CC library; there is also a Citroën DS Pallas and a Panhard 24ct featured).
The sporty Goggomobil TS 250 debuted in 1957, based off of the T 250/300/400 two-door sedan that first appeared in 1954. Competing with other European microcars such as the Lloyd Alexander, the tiny Goggo was very stylish in its TS Coupé iteration, as seen here. Home market Coupés were available in TS 250, TS 300 and TS 400 models, with 245, 293 and 392cc two-cycle twin cylinder engines, respectively. The 250cc cars were popular in Germany because one only needed a Klasse IV driver’s license—also used for motorcycles—which was much cheaper and easier to obtain than a full driver’s license.
All US-bound models got the 400 engine and larger 7″ sealed beam headlamps, so this 250 must have been originally sold in Europe. GVWR was a mere 650kg (1433 lb), while overall length was 3035mm (119.4 inches–very nearly the same as my Town Car’s 117.7″ wheelbase).
It almost has a shrunken Studebaker Starliner look to it. For everything you ever want to know about these neat little cars, a visit to the Glas Automobilclub International website is highly recommended. Forget Wikipedia!
This lovingly restored 1966 TS 250 is a beauty in dove gray with a cheerful red interior, chrome wheel trims and wide whitewalls–though the latter probably aren’t correct for a 1966 model.
image: www.glasclub.org
As alluded to earlier, Glas also made a lineup of larger-sized cars, starting with the Glas Isar, which appeared in 1958. The Isar was still quite small compared to American cars, but Glas continued to make ever-larger cars (by European standards) including the lovely fastback 1300 GT and even a handsome V8 coupé–at least before the concern was swallowed up by a much more prominent auto company based in Munich in November 1966. BMW desperately needed more production capacity at the time for its hot-selling Neue Klasse cars, so buying Glas was the expedient solution.
Our featured car apparently has a lot of its original paperwork too, and even the factory tool kit. What a neat little car! If you really want to stand out at the local car show, this is your ticket. Interested? The auction ends on Friday; more details and pics can be found here.
It even comes with its own picnic basket. Sadly, the car is so small that there is only room for one sandwich. But who cares; it’s so cute.
1966 Goggomobil photos are from the eBay auction; photo of the Glas lineup courtesy of www.glasclub.org.
Wow. I recall hearing my car-mentor Howard mention the Goggomobile, but have never seen one, not even in pictures. A fascinating car that looks really good in this color combo.
I always loved the Germans’ use of chrome in the 1950s and 60s – judicious but conspicuous. It really gives the car some sass, but in a very tasteful way.
I remember these well, from the NY Auto Shows in the late 50s. A very sharp looking coupe but SO small. There was one that lived in the next town to me in suburban New Jersey that I used to see at the local strip mall. It was driven by a suburban matron who looked like she stepped out of a New Yorker cartoon. It was an odd green color — not as sharp as this example. Memories!
That town was home to a lot of odd ducks, including a Daf, an Isetta 600, a Vespa (car) and a couple of Bianchinas.
Cool! Interested parties should Google images of the “Goggomobile Dart”, Wiki entry available too. They appear at shows, never seen one driven on the road.
I was growing up in Melbourne when they were new, and I never saw a Dart either. There were more ordinary Goggos around than Darts. And I remember seeing a coupe like this in a local car yard in ’66 or so. I thought it was just the right size for a nine year old 🙂
It is very appealing. I see a little VW Kammback in it in addition to the Studebaker.
Saw one only amongst several Lloyds at the cavemans wrecking yard in Riverstone NSW he accumulated oddballs VWs Renaults and others no Darts though.
1433lb is light enough, but the curb weight was only 1000lb!
Goggomobils are most recognised in Australia from a phone directory ad about 25 years ago featuring a Scottish-accented gent (Tommy Dysart) working his way through the book searching for parts for his Goggomobil, inevitably needing to spell it out “g-o-g-g-o” before finally having success “Aye… aye… No, not the Dart”
In more recent years Shannons Insurance has picked up on this and use a small fleet (no pun intended) of Darts as promo cars. One happened to roll over at an event a few years ago.
The survival rate of Darts has far exceeded other versions, and it is quite rare to see those nowadays. I would say even Isettas and Messerschmidts are more often seen because they have more of an oddball factor that attracts collectors, whereas the Goggomobil is just a little version of a normal car.
Tommy Dysart aka Jock Stewart one of the many bent screws in Prisoner Cell Block H.I used to love that show,even met Joan”The Freak” Ferguson a very nice and glamorous lady in real life and a pretty good singer.
I haven’t seen that ad for years, still good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk6pO7eLeiM
For those not familiar with “The Dart”
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goggomobil_Dart&oldid=544941449
G-o-gg-o is etched into my brain!
Ooops, re rollover. Or ouch! If they need glass, the story I’ve been told is that the screen is from the rear of a Renault Dauphine.
Back in the day Motor Trend used to produce an annual “Imported Car Issue.” I still have a very raggedy copy of the April 1961 edition. Therein I first read of the Goggomobil. The MT summary mentions sedans, a step-in van, a convertible, and the sports coupe. Not sure I’ve ever seen one. The headlight visors look like big eyelashes on this one – who could resist such a face?
It really is a little cutie but totally impractical for an Amazon like me.I’m 6’1 and a half,built like Vanessa Feltz and often wear my hair up
A neighbor of mine has one of those sitting in his yard – it’s a project car, under a tarp, with all the brightwork removed. From the parts that peek out, it seems to me like it got so far as to receive a new paint job (in burgundy), and then he didn’t feel like finishing it. I never actually asked him about it, come to think about it. But it really is a tiny car and easily overlooked…
If you liked “My Cool Classic Car”, you should check “My Cool Campervan”, I think it’s even better.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-cool-campervan-jane-field-lewis/1110793463?ean=9781862059054
And there’s also “My Cool Campervan” : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-cool-caravan-jane-field-lewis/1110793461?ean=9781862058781
I might have to pick up a copy. I still have a B&N gift card from Christmas 🙂
I used to see a few Goggomobils on London streets in the mid to late 50s, along with bubble cars, but the debut of the Mini in 1959 made them redundant.By that time, in any case, Germany was becoming more affluent and Glas was starting to build more serious cars.
I think the tooling for the last Glas cars was shipped to BMW South Africa and the models gained BMW grills and badges.
So this is the spiritual father of the Nissan Figaro?