1960 Goggomobil Dart

Details

G O GG O . . . but YES it is the Dart!

Hans Glas GMbH was a German automotive company that manufactured scooters and small cars. Whilst Glas did manufacture cars under his own name, his greatest name to fame was for the Goggomobil. 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. In period these little cars were a great success and 214,313 sedans, 66,511 coupés, and 3,667 Transporter vans and pickups were built from 1955 to 1969.

The Buckle family was a big name in the automotive industry in Australia from the late 1920’s when Bill Buckle Senior ran a number of prestigious dealerships in central Sydney. Buckle Senior died in 1947 causing Bill Buckle Junior to enter and take over the family business. Buckle Junior was quite the entrepreneur and in the early 1950’s he had a vision to build a small fiberglass bodied sports car in Australia. That plan lied dormant and Buckle struck a deal with Hans Glas to import Goggomobil rolling chassis’ into Australia and body the cars here to minimise taxes. So production commenced and thousands of Goggomobils were built in Australia. Buckle hadn’t forgotten about his vision to build a small fiberglass bodied sports car. He built a car carrying his own name, the Buckle Sports Coupe, however, it was not a success and only 20 cars were built from 1957 to 1959. He then had a watershed moment . . . his plan was simple . . . use the existing Goggomobil rolling chassis & mechanicals and cloth it with a lightweight sporty fiberglass body. The Goggomobil Dart was born!

It was certainly unique . . . no doors, ‘hinged’ seats that pull up and back to allow easier access and barely weatherproof . . . but the Dart was a sensation gathering rave reviews in the period. The car was designed in 1958 and it sold well when it finally went on sale in June 1959. In total circa 700 Goggomobil Darts were built when production finally ceased in September 1961. Today it is thought that perhaps only 100 survive making the Dart a very rare and collectible microcar in its own right, but more importantly, it is a true icon of Australian motoring.

The Goggomobil brand gained great publicity through the Yellow Pages TV advertising in the 1990’s and in recent times the Dart has almost become a household name through Shannons advertising featuring a Dart.

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to confirm the sale of this 1960 Goggomobil Dart. This particular car has been in storage for in excess of 30 years and presents a fantastic restoration project for its new owner. It is fitted with the desirable 400cc engine boasting an impressive (maybe!) 20hp.

 

 

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