Goggomobil
Encyclopedia
Goggomobil was a series of microcar
s produced in the Bavaria
n town Dingolfing
after World War II
by Glas
.
Glas produced three models on the Goggomobil platform
: the Goggomobil T sedan, the Goggomobil TS coupé
, and the Goggomobil TL van
. The engine was an air-cooled, two-stroke, two-cylinder unit originally displacing 250 cc, but later available in increased sizes of 300 cc and 400 cc. It had an electric pre-selective transmission
built by Getrag
and a manual clutch
. The engine was behind the rear wheels. Suspension was independent all round using coil springs with swing axles.
214,313 sedans, 66,511 coupés, and 3,667 Transporter vans and pickups were built from 1955 to 1969.
at the 1954 IFMA international bicycle and motorcycle show. The T250 was a conventional-looking two door sedan with a rear-mounted 245 cc air-cooled
two-stroke straight twin engine.
Design changes were made to the T250 in 1957. Two windshield wipers were used instead of the earlier system with one wiper, and the sliding windows in the doors were changed to wind-up windows. Also at this time the T300 and T400 became available; these had larger engines of 300 cc and 400 cc respectively.
The last design change for the T sedan came in 1964, when the rear-hinged suicide doors were replaced by conventional front-hinged doors.
214,313 sedans were built when production ended on 30 June 1969.
The Goggomobil TS 2+2 coupe was introduced at the 1957 IFMA show alongside the improved T sedan. It was available as the TS250, the TS300, and the TS400, the number reflecting the approximate engine size in cubic centimeters.
The only major design change to the TS coupe was the change from rear-hinged suicide doors to front-hinged conventional doors in 1964.
The TS coupe was always ten to twenty percent more expensive than the T sedan. Total production of TS coupes was 66,511.
A TS300 coupé tested by the British magazine The Motor
in 1957 had a top speed of 59.2 mph (95.3 km/h) and could accelerate from 0 to 50 mph (80.5 km/h) in 27.9 seconds. A fuel consumption of 50.5 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £625 including taxes of £209 on the UK market.
The Transporter had sliding front doors. It was available as an enclosed van with double back doors or as a pickup with a tailgate to the open bed. Transporter pickups were often used by municipal services as snow plows or street sweepers.
3,667 Transporter vans and pickups were produced.
s called Goggomobil Dart
s were produced by Buckle Motors Pty Ltd in Sydney
, Australia
.
Microcar
A microcar is the smallest automobile classification usually applied to standard small car . Such small cars were generally referred to as cyclecars until the 1940s. More recent models are also called bubblecars due to their egg-shaped appearance.-Definition:The definition of a microcar has varied...
s produced in the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n town Dingolfing
Dingolfing
Dingolfing is a town in Southern Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the Landkreis Dingolfing-Landau.- History :The area now called Dingolfing was first mentioned in Tinguluinga in the year 833....
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by Glas
Glas
Hans Glas GmbH is a former German automotive company, which was based in Dingolfing. Originally a maker of farm machinery, Glas evolved first into a producer of motor scooters, then automobiles...
.
Glas produced three models on the Goggomobil platform
Automobile platform
An automobile platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of automobiles, often from different, but related marques...
: the Goggomobil T sedan, the Goggomobil TS coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
, and the Goggomobil TL van
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
. The engine was an air-cooled, two-stroke, two-cylinder unit originally displacing 250 cc, but later available in increased sizes of 300 cc and 400 cc. It had an electric pre-selective transmission
Preselector gearbox
A preselector or self-changing gearbox is a type of manual gearbox used on a variety of vehicles, most commonly in the 1930s...
built by Getrag
Getrag
Getrag is a leading manufacturer of automobile manual transmissions. The company was founded on 1 May 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, by Hermann Hagenmeyer; as the Getriebe und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG...
and a manual clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
. The engine was behind the rear wheels. Suspension was independent all round using coil springs with swing axles.
214,313 sedans, 66,511 coupés, and 3,667 Transporter vans and pickups were built from 1955 to 1969.
T sedan
The Goggomobil T250 was introduced by GlasGlas
Hans Glas GmbH is a former German automotive company, which was based in Dingolfing. Originally a maker of farm machinery, Glas evolved first into a producer of motor scooters, then automobiles...
at the 1954 IFMA international bicycle and motorcycle show. The T250 was a conventional-looking two door sedan with a rear-mounted 245 cc air-cooled
Air-cooled engine
Air-cooled engines rely on the circulation of air directly over hot parts of the engine to cool them.-Introduction:Most modern internal combustion engines are cooled by a closed circuit carrying liquid coolant through channels in the engine block and cylinder head, where the coolant absorbs heat,...
two-stroke straight twin engine.
Design changes were made to the T250 in 1957. Two windshield wipers were used instead of the earlier system with one wiper, and the sliding windows in the doors were changed to wind-up windows. Also at this time the T300 and T400 became available; these had larger engines of 300 cc and 400 cc respectively.
The last design change for the T sedan came in 1964, when the rear-hinged suicide doors were replaced by conventional front-hinged doors.
214,313 sedans were built when production ended on 30 June 1969.
TS coupe
The only major design change to the TS coupe was the change from rear-hinged suicide doors to front-hinged conventional doors in 1964.
The TS coupe was always ten to twenty percent more expensive than the T sedan. Total production of TS coupes was 66,511.
TS 300 specifications and performance
The specifications of a 1957 Goggomobil TS 300 Coupe are:- Configuration — Glas 2-stroke rear engine, 298 cc displacement
- Engine — 2-cylinder, 2 stroke, air-cooled, 58 x 56 mm. bore and stroke, 6.0:1 compression, 15 hp. at 5,000 rpm, 17.4 lbft torque.
- Transmission — 4 speed plus reverse (with electric pre-selector as an available option).
- Top Speed — 85 km/h (52.8 mph)
- Tires — 4.80 x 10 inch.
- Weight — 420 kg (926 lb).
- Wheelbase — 71 in (1,803.4 mm)
- Height - 49 in (1,244.6 mm)
- Length - 114.5 in (2,908.3 mm)
- Width - 53 in (1,346.2 mm)
A TS300 coupé tested by the British magazine The Motor
The Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
in 1957 had a top speed of 59.2 mph (95.3 km/h) and could accelerate from 0 to 50 mph (80.5 km/h) in 27.9 seconds. A fuel consumption of 50.5 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £625 including taxes of £209 on the UK market.
TS 250 specifications
The specifications of a 1958 Goggomobil TS 250 Coupe are:- Configuration — Glas 2-stroke rear engine, 247 cc displacement
- Engine — 2-cylinder, 2 stroke, air-cooled, 13.6 hp. at 5,000 rpm
- Transmission — 4 speed plus reverse
- Top Speed — 75 km/h (46.6 mph)
- Tires — 4.40 x 10 inch
- Weight — 415 kg (915 lb)
Goggomobil Transporter TL van
The Goggomobil Transporter, or Goggomobil TL, was introduced at the 1956 IFMA show. The Transporter was built largely at the request of the German Federal Postal Service, which procured more than 2,000 Transporters between October 1957 and November 1965.The Transporter had sliding front doors. It was available as an enclosed van with double back doors or as a pickup with a tailgate to the open bed. Transporter pickups were often used by municipal services as snow plows or street sweepers.
3,667 Transporter vans and pickups were produced.
US export editions
Goggomobils were exported to the United States. These were special export versions, with the 400 cc engine, an automatic gasoline-oil mixer, and 7 inch sealed headlights as required by US regulations.Goggomobil Dart
Between 1957 and 1961 some 700 sports carSports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
s called Goggomobil Dart
Goggomobil Dart
The Goggomobil Dart is an automobile which was developed in Australia by Sydney company Buckle Motors Pty Ltd. and produced from 1959 to 1961....
s were produced by Buckle Motors Pty Ltd in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
External links
- http://www.goggomobil.com/ehome/ehome.html
- http://www.californiaclassix.com/archive/59_Goggo.html
- http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/goggo-t250sunroof.html