Bavarian Microcar: 1957 Goggomobil TS400
Goggomobil was a series of microcars produced by Hans Glas GmbH in Bavaria between 1955 and 1969. Three models were built, including a sedan, a van, and a coupe (like the seller’s unusual little machine). These tiny automobiles were powered by rear-mounted, air-cooled, 2-stroke, 2-cylinder motors with displacements ranging from 250 to 400-cc. So, fast they were not. This one needs a complete restoration as the seller has too many projects (and likely too little interest) to get around to it. Located in Ventura, California, this mini runabout is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000. Our thanks to Gunter Kramer for the heads-up!
The Goggomobil TS 2+2 Coupe was introduced in 1957 and came in three versions depending on engine size. With the 400-cc engine like in the seller’s car, the coupes would top out at close to 60 mph but would take forever to get there. Noteworthy is that they used an electric pre-selective transmission built by Getrag with a manual clutch and independent suspension was deployed at all four points. Coupe production would add up to 66,500 copies over the years, about a quarter of overall company output before it closed its doors.
They were fuel-efficient cars by the standards for the day at about 42 mpg U.S. Of course, that doesn’t compare to the hybrids that are populating the highways today. This was due in part to their low weight as none of them weighed more than 1,000 lbs. The TS coupe rode on narrow 4.80 x 10-inch wheels, which meant things could get a little hairy in tight turns or under windy conditions.
Seldom seen in the U.S. then and this one had an engine swap at some point, with a Honda 750-cc motorcycle motor under the deck lid now. But no indication is made as to whether it runs or if it’s air-cooled like its predecessor. The once red and white paint is long past its prime and we’re told that the floors are rusty (at a minimum). No photos of the interior are provided to gauge how much work is needed there. But if you were to take on this project, the seller says all the parts are present to finish it. Who is game to take it on?
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Comments
That’s a four cylinder Japanese motorcycle engine in place.
I was just going to say it needs a bigger, better, quieter motor. It’s already in there. Probably added to get out of its own way and not get stuck in the wheel well of a Chevy Tahoe. These things look great restored.
https://youtu.be/v4cRECbv33U?t=234
Cool video. Makes the black Smart that he pulls up to look large and I kept thinking of my red pedal car when I was a kid.
I have always wanted a project like this.
William,
Go for it! while parts can be hard to find, once you get to know people in the Goggo community world-wide, I suspect you can find everything it needs, even the motor/gearbox.
Back in the mid-’60s, my dad bought a used Goggo from a friend who owned two (!). It broke down so often that he became good at getting it running again, and my dad was by no means mechanically oriented. It was a short summer fling, as I recall.
Wondered why ot was so reasonlbly priced. Then I got to the replacement motor.
https://silodrome.com/goggomobil-dart-sports-car/
Bet it is unknown to all of you that there was another version of the Goggomobile that was built in Australia on imported chassis by Bill Buckle. They are very Collectable cars in Australia.
$5000 ???? If that is what he will pay to have me haul it off, I might consider it. But to ask $5000 for this piece of junk, no thanks.
At least one too many zeros?
Hey Russ,
Always nice to have less known vehicles shared on this site. For those not too familiar with these little Bavarian Coupe’s, they were well built in a time when industry in Germany was rebounding from the war. Quirky and fun to drive, the earlier (very sofisticated electromagnetic preselect transmissions) were later replaced with a manual unit. This particular 400cc model was an exclusive US export. The TS-250, 300cc cars reside mainly in Europe. Lots of cool history to read about if you’re so inclined. Even Walter Cronkite raced one of these coupe’s as an amateur driver. These micro cars have recently gained a lot of attention at auction, crossing the blocks at record highs. Suicide (rear hinged) doors changed over to front hinged after 1964. Unfortunately, this engine swap this seller is eluding to definitely is its downfall as he probably realized. The gearing is very specific and highly engineered the way it came from the factory. I am currently bringing back to life a TS-250 Coupe’ (13.6hp). I will replace the Pistons and cylinder heads from a 300cc (15 hp). It sounds comical, but for anyone who understands these minute gains, it will afford you significant highway speed…
I don’t know much about Micro cars, but the light weight of them can be a hazard on the hwys. I had a 58 Anglia that weighed about as much as this midget. A Semi passed me on a rainy day and blew me clean off the hwy.. I put the car up for sale the next day. These small cars would be best for city speeds of 25-35 mph. I would not trust one on a rural hwy. with speeds of 55 to 70 mph.
It’s so cute I’d love to pinch it’s fender.
I had fun for a day squirting around some country backroads in a friend’s Gogmobil 300 coupe outside Kaiserslautern, Bavaria back in the 1980’s.
To those that are so very concerned about cars like this car and Isettas and such: Nobody in their right mind drives these kinds of cars on highways or expressways. They were designed for urban transportation in the city but they’re just as safe and practical on country backroads as well.
35-45 mph all day long is fun.
The unsafe on highways tropes get really tiresome.
Apparently the “unsafe” guys have never ridden a motorcycle or driven a microcar.
Thank you.
The concern and saaaaaafety trolls are tedious in the extreme.
And predictable.
And boring.
@ Bruce Ironmonger
Ah, yes. The Goggomobil.
Had a friend whose family had a multi-line dealership in NZ. They had Auto Unions, DKWs, and Goggos. The latter was fun to drive but scary as hell on roads outside the city. Handling was on a par with the Lightburn Zeta. If you’re an Aussie, that should tell you something.
RB
In the 1990s I was the US & Canada’s rep for a world-wide antique car club based in Paris, France known as CAAR [Club of Ancient Autos & Rallies]. Every other year the club would plan a big rally somewhere in the world. In 1991 they drove about 75 cars from Amsterdam to Moscow and return, just before the end of the Soviet Union. Another year the club drove from Frankfurt to the Arctic Circle and back.
For 1993 the club came to America to drive the famous Route 66. We shipped 140 vintage vehicles from Europe to the port of Baltimore, and almost 400 people flew in on a charter 747. After a display of the cars in front of the Washington Monument in DC, the group headed off to Chicago where it picked up Rt 66.
The trip took about a month to complete and every night was spent at various campgrounds across America. One of the cars that participated in this 4,000 mile trip was a Goggomobile 300cc coupe. The young couple in the Goggo was usually on the road before dawn, packing up their tent and camping gear before being the first car out. They were often the last car to arrive every evening too, but they drove their little Goggo all the way to the Pacific Ocean, arriving at the Santa Monica pier just after dark!
Those same years, the Nash Metropolitan was the smallest car offered by an American car company. This looks like someone thought, the Metropolitan is too big, lets make a micro-version. With that rear window line and similar rear design, just widen the front grill into a wide oval and it will be close to a Mini-politan.
While stationed in Germany in the early seventies, there was a group that just loved these cars. Hill climbing was there thing, and the gogomobile was the machine of choice. I really never seen one on the road 😐 but was impressed with the look of the machine stripped down to a tube frame and a seat was all that was needed to enjoy that hobby 👌
“Oh ! If it were only in the isetta’s condition.”
@William,
Fortunately, all parts necessary to bring this Coupe’ back on the road are still readily available. The international go-to-guy is based out of Bavaria. Uwe Staufenberg runs an online business and supplies the Goggomobil community with all of their needs. He is multilingual in several languages including English. He provides friendly information as well as fair prices on parts and accessories. I have purchased many quality parts from him. I’m on the home stretch with my TS-250 Coupe’ (these are awesome little cars)…