Go Go Little Car: 1959 Goggomobile TS400
The postwar need for cheap transportation in Europe was met with all sorts of small cars, most of them powered by tiny, two-stroke engines. A surprising number of them made it across the Atlantic to the US to take advantage of the booming market for second (and third) cars. One of those microcars is this 1959 Goggomobil for sale on eBay in Gaithersburg, Maryland for a BIN price of $24,995.00 and seven days to go.
America’s middle class of the 1950s went on a buying spree for houses, cars and luxury items that was only a dream a generation before. Second cars or cars bought for pleasure driving became more common in a number of families. While not well known today, Goggomobil was one offering from Europe looking to cash in on the growing American market.
The Goggomobil TS400 Coupe for sale is a 2+2 sports version of the more sedate T Sedan model and it is tiny compared to the Detroit iron on the roads of the day. The TS400 is less than then feet long and weighs in at touch over 1,000 pounds. As expected, interior room is limited and the back seat would be appropriate for children or maybe adults you don’t like.
Originality is the word to describe the exterior of the little car. The paint is likely original and it has held on to the steel in most places, but there are areas of surface corrosion where the paint has failed. There are no major dents or scrapes visible in the photos supplied by the seller. The chrome trim is in good condition but some of the pot metal badges need attention. Glass may be near impossible to find, but this car has no problems in that department.
The engine is a 392 cc two cylinder two stroke manufactured by Glas, the builders of the car. When new, the little two banger produced about 20 horsepower from its place in the rear of the car. Power went to the rear wheels through a four speed manual transmission, although this car was built with the optional pre-selector, semi-automatic four speed with an electromagnetic clutch. The seller says that the mechanical and electrical systems have been “addressed for safety” by a marque expert in 2016.
An unworn-looking interior is a merit for the car, with seat covers, rubber floor mats and switch gear all looking good. A previous owner went to the trouble of making up labels to go under the switches on the dashboard, since the unmarked knobs are not intuitive. The door panels have some staining present and the map pockets are drooping, but that may be an easy fix, too. The cocoa mats on the floors are a nice period accessory. Twenty-four thousand is serious money for this microcar, but where will you find another one this original?
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Comments
These developed a cult following in Australia thanks to one starring in a television commercial in the late 1980s/early 1990s. People over about the age of 40 will remember the ad, and especially the part where the owner is spelling the name of the car to a mechanic. This brings back great memories.
Yes, but everyone in Australia confused the regular Goggomobil T400 “Limosine” (which simple meant Sedan) with the Goggomobil Buckle Dart, which was dedigned and built on a Glas Goggomobil floorpan by Bill Buckle from Buckle Motors in the land of Oz.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fk6pO7eLeiM
“Gee Ohhh, Gee Gee Ohhh.”
I just showed that ad to my kids, then I had to explain the Yellow Pages, then I had to explain the finger dial telephone and then I had to explain….
Perfect for Inspector Gadget…..Goggo( Gadget)mobile!!
I really dig the design of this car. (I am very well aware that it is not the case) This car looks like a pininfarina designed mini.
Another car that can be found in the parking lot at Pixar.
My grandparents neighbour had the sedan version back in the late 1950s. My brother and I thought it was pretty cool.
My big concern with this one is hidden rust, and the BIN price seems a lot to pay for what could be a four-wheeled pasta strainer.
As an aside, the Goggo engines were used in the Steinwinter versions of the Fiat 126, back in the 1970s.
I really wonder about such ridiculous “pie-in-the-sky” asking prices! My theory is that certain sellers want to develop at least one serious prospect based on their eBay listing, then negotiate a sale (far under the eBay B.I.N. but still too much for the true condition of the car) and complete the deal off eBay so that the buyer cannot leave the appropriate bad feedback once they realize that they’ve “been took.” Actually, it’s not a theory, I’ve known a number of sellers that do exactly that.
https://youtu.be/153hBzKPnGc
Check it out and the you tube shannons ad to see the Goggomobil dart. I think the sellers price might be achievable.
None other than Walter Cronkite, yes the CBS anchorman, raced a Goggomobile at the 1958 Little Lemans held at Lime Rock. Walter was an avid racer in those days before his boses told hom to stop.
25k for the love child of an Edsel and a Crosley? Don’t think so.
Walter Cronkite, yes the Walter Cronkite legendary anchorman for CBS, raced a Goggomobile in the 1958 Little Lemans at Lime Rock. Back in the day Walter Cronkite was an avid racer until his CBS bosses told him to stop. His Goggomobile was recently discovered and there are numerous images an articles on the little car, just google it.
Thanks for the Walter Cronkite story rick, good stuff. Nice job on the labels, having those 3 switches has got to be confusing.
must B a 1/2 doz or doz models under this make (w/different manufacturers/owners?). I’m a fan of this model. Others R less appealing 2 me. Like to know more…
I have always been intrigued by these cars, but not 24,000 worth of curiosity! LOL
It was the fall of 1974 and I was stationed in Mannheim, Germany. My everyday driver was a 1956 Imperial sedan [the original Paris auto show car]. I was offered a similar Goggomobile, in beautiful condition, with less than 5,000 kilometers since new. The second owner had tried to trade it in on a new Opel, and the Opel dealer refused to even accept it as a trade in because he said it was impossible to get sell off.
The car’s owner, knowing I liked unusual cars, offered to to me for 100DM, about $35 at that time, so I bought it! Later than evening, after a few great German beers encouraged our line of thinking, we began measuring both the Goggo and the Imperial’s trunk opening! He kept insisting I could use it instead of a spare tire, because believe it or not, in Europe, a new spare tire for the Imperial was twice the price of his entire car! [It didn’t fit, no matter how many times we measured everything.]
I sold the car for 3 main reasons:
1. At 6′ 2″, I really didn’t fit in it.
2. I knew the cost to ship the car back to the US was about $400
3. It was the butt of “Clown Car” jokes all over the military base where I was stationed.
In the 1990s, I was the USA representative for a world-wide antique car club based in Europe [Club Ancient Autos & Ralleys, or CAAR]. Every other year the club organized a rally somewhere in the world. For example, in 1991, the club members drove their cars from Amsterdam to Moscow and back.
In 1993 I hosted the club in America. We had over 100 vehicles from as far away as Australia, Poland, Norway, & South Africa, and over 250 people participated in this 2-month long drive, first from Washington DC to Chicago, where the group followed Route 66 all the way to the Santa Monica Pier, staying at campgrounds most nights.
One young couple shipped their Goggomobile 250 from Europe, the luggage rack over the roof bulging with their camping supplies & suitcases. Every morning they were up at 5am and the first to head out for the next leg of the tour. They were generally the last to arrive in late evening, averaging about 35mph! But that little Goggomobile never let them down, not once!
The entire trip was filmed by a Dutch company named Wissink Films, and shown on PBS a few years later. It took several years of advance planning to make it happen.
Now that was an adventure I’ll never forget!
They do get big bucks for these cars but usually they are restored cor that price.
I remember going with my dad to by one of his every year Galaxies from the local Ford dealer and seeing a whole bunch of these brand .across the street
I have a pic of myself at 3 years old helping my dad wash his Red Goggo Mobile in Holland even, where they were made. Circa 1963. I dunno what year model he owned. All I remember was the last ride I took in the back seat when my parents kidnapped me and brought me to Canada and ultimately to the states when I was 7. LOL.
Wasn’t this It’s car in the movie – ? Cool just haven’t seen many complete nice one….lot’s of basket cases around here.
Nope. Cousin It in the Addams family drove a Messerschmitt KR175.
You can even use it as a parade car. But be aware of the tiny dimensions.
Reminds me of a poster my friend Dick Langworth published about 30 years ago; The poster was of a large brick mansion, with a Triumph Mayflower parked in front. The caption at the bottom of the poster said it all:
“It makes your house look so big”
Looks kinda like the car Peter Faulk drove in Columbo, seeing as this is a 392cc 2 stroke and his car smoked an awful lot on the show? Anybody?