Goggomobil may sound like a vehicle produced during the go-go era of the early 1960s club scene. But the Goggomobil was conceived in the mid-1950s, pre-dating by several years the caged dancers with their miniskirts and knee-high “go-go boots” at the Whiskey a Go Go and Peppermint Lounge.
The Goggomobil was a product of Hans Glas GmbH, Isaria Maschinenfabrik of Dingolfing, Germany. The company started making agricultural machinery in 1883 and in 1951 added motor scooters, not only needed but popular in post-war Europe.
Goggo was the name assigned to the Glas scooters.
In 1955, Glas added microcars, the Goggomobil, in coupe or sedan architecture and with rear-mounted, 2-cylinder, 2-stroke engines in three sizes — 247cc, 296cc and 395cc. Through the years, larger engines were available, as was a forward-control van version. Goggomobils also were built under license in Spain, and an Australian company, Buckle Motors, did a replica version of the Goggomobil T300.
Eventually, Glas added more versions, now with 4-stroke engines, and named Isar, the name of the river that flowed through Dingolfing. Frua also designed 1300GT and 1700GT coupes.
In 1966, BMW bought Glas.
The Pick of the Day is a 1958 Goggomobil T400 advertised for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller, who says the car has been driven less than 27,000 miles since new and was stored for more than 40 years.
“There seems to be no other rust-free, very original T400,” the seller reports.
The seller says the car was imported from Germany, has an electrically shifted 4-speed manual transmission, and enlarged headlamps and bumper bars. The engine is the “big block” 395cc engine, the seller notes.
“It was purchased from Tim Goodrich, the renowned 356 Porsche restoration specialist here in Southern Oregon,” the seller says. “Original owners of record are a local southern Oregon family for whom it was imported, driven, then stored in a warehouse all those years.”
The car reportedly has been driven less than 200 miles since its engine overhaul, and has its original interior, including “very rare” rubber floor mat.
“Door mechanisms and window regulators renewed,” the ad notes. Photos show the car has a sunroof.
Tires are new, as are fuel and brake hoses, steering gear seals, brake master and wheel cylinder seals. Exterior trim, including bumpers and handles, were removed, straightened and re-chromed.
“Body patina shows a few dings and scratches, showing original body of this 1958,” the seller adds.
“This car has only been shown once to the public at our small town cruise. People stepped into the street and stopped us to ask what it is,” the seller notes. “Parked on the street with the other classics and hot rods, the little Goggomobil had largest group people around it.”
The seller is asking $26,200 for the car, which is located in Wilderville, Oregon.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Since there are updated versions of the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500 (both bigger than the originals), I wonder what an updated version of the Goggomobils would look like? I have they would be bigger since they would both safety features and emissions devices. Would they be FWD or RWD?
I think they are neat little cars.
I was interested to note that Larry knew about Bill Buckle’s efforts to market Goggomobiles in Australia.
Given that l was a little surprised that there was no mention of Buckle’s little sports car, the Goggomobile Dart.
Mechanically it was standard Goggomobile but the fibreglass body looked like a cross between a flying saucer and an upturned bathtub.
I imagine the lighter body gave it enough ‘performance’ to outdrag the Holdens of rhe day
Yes, Malcolm, I’d read about the Australian program, but was focusing on the mainstream Goggomobil for this Pick of the Day story. Thanks for filling in that information for our curious readers.
Bringing out the WHOLE Goggomobil range WOULD be a great idea, if indeed they were a bit bigger, so larger people were not excluded from traveling in THEM! Same as when indeed they brought out new larger Minis, 500’s, Clips, and Fiestas! And some proper engines would help!