I attended the German Car Day today with my friend and fellow Baur owner, Afonso, at one of my favorite venues, the Larz Anderson Automobile Museum in Brookline, MA. (We were the only Baurs there, btw!) If you have never visited this Museum, stop what you are doing, get out the calendar for next year, and plan a visit. In addition to their Featured Marque car shows on the lawn every weekend during the season, they have a different featured exhibition in the Main Hall every year, as well as their phenomenal in-house Larz Anderson Collection on the lower level. That collection contains what may well be my single most favorite car EVER, btw! And no, I am not telling which one it is! You are going to have to go look for yourself!
But today we are talking about the Goggomobils (and their Kin) at the Larz Anderson German Car Day! Wow! These cars made my day! I have never seen a Goggomobile in person before! I loved it!
OK. If you are not familiar with the Goggomobil, here is a little capsule summary and a link for more info:
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. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goggomobil.
OK, let's take a moment and put this car in perspective, shall we? Just how small IS it?
And we just happen to have the perfect pic to do just that!
(L to R) Goggomobil, Isetta, and Smart Car! And you thought that the Smart Car was tiny!! Yet it DWARFS the Goggomobil! I love this pic!
When I first approached the red Goggomobil, there were two little kids in the two front seats, one of whom is visible in this pic. Perfect: a little car for little people! Apparently, the car belongs to their uncle who brought them along to the show. As props? ;) Whatever the reason, it was flat out brilliant! And btw, they won The People's Choice award and a Museum Choice Award also. They deserved it, no doubt about it!
Here you can see the owner with his two Show Awards on the hood. And you can also see his little nephews inside the car. Perfect size for them! They told me they love this car, and they are hoping that their uncle will someday give it to them! True Story! :) I don't blame them a bit, and I hope that happens!
The Glas 1700GT
Italian-designed body by Frua.
Now I am going to assume you took the time to get a good look at those Glas cars above. Now take a look at this BMW 1600GT owned by Axel Coeln.
Does it look a wee bit similar? :) Indeed it should. BMW bought out Glas in the early 1960's , and this 1600GT is quite similar to the Glas 1700GT shown above. Well, except for the kidney grills, of course, and other details. :) Those single tail lights, for example, may look familiar to those folks who own "Roundie" 1600/2002!
Here is a little video for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl7QINXfdDk
Here is an earlier Baurspotting post that we did on the Glas/BMW connection, a compilation of articles from a number of sources which gives a pretty comprehensive account of the whole story. Enjoy!
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/07/vintage-at-saratoga-bmw-1600gt-and-its.html
