the glas company was a family business started in pilsting, bavaria,
in 1883 by mechanic maurus glas. it began as a mechanical repair workshop for
steam powered agricultural machinery & then, in 1905, started producing sowing machines. in the same year they set up a branch office in nearby dingolfing
& then in 1908 moved their factory there.
post ww2, with demand for sowing machines declining, the glas company diversified
into bakery machinery & then goggomobil motor scooters
- after andreas had seen the vespa in italy.
andreas chose the name goggomobil based on his nephew’s nickname.
production of the scooters began in july, 1952 & went through until 1956 - a total of 46,181 were produced starting with 125cc & later 150cc & 200cc.
as germany’s economy started to pick up in the ‘50s many manufacturers were looking towards providing cars to meet the growing demand.
glas started with the t250 saloon - with an air cooled, 250cc 2 cylinder motor
mounted just behind the rear axle & 4 wheel independent suspension.
it had "suicide doors" & slide windows with a single windscreen wiper
& was first displayed to the public at
the 1954 ifma international bicycle and motorcycle show.
in 1957 Glas went on to also produce 300 & 400cc versions.
between 1955 & 1969 a total of 284,491 goggomobil vehicles were produced
- of them 214,313 t series,
66,511 ts series
& 3,667 tl series.
the majority of the tl series went to the german post office.
"i felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery - air, mounains, trees, people.
i thought, "this is what it is to be happy"
sylvia plath from "the bell jar"