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The Goggomobil was a German microcar that took a cue from the three-wheeled Iso Isetta and Citroen 2CV, but also had a more practical approach. They were very popular with consumers who had limited budgets and who appreciated the fuel thriftiness of their little vehicles.
In the late 1950s, Sydney company Buckle Motors imported chassis from Germany and built fiberglass bodies here in Australia. This allowed them to avoid import taxes.
Engine
The engine is the brains behind the machine that is your car. It powers the wheels and a few other key components to keep it in tune. Those who have been around the block will recognize that engines are the lifeblood of any vehicle, and keeping one healthy is a top priority for many owners. That’s where Advance Auto comes in, providing the latest and greatest in Goggomobil car parts for a fraction of what you’d pay at your local dealership.
The most important part of the engine is the cylinder that fires up. It’s an air cooled, four cylinder unit with an accompanying crankshaft, camshaft and valvetrain. It is a nifty little number that has to be seen in person to really appreciate its complexity.
It is a little on the small side and can be a challenge to tame, but it will do the trick for a lucky owner. Luckily, Advance Auto has the tools and know-how to make this little gem a joy to drive for years to come. Be sure to check out the rest of our online inventory, we have plenty of Goggomobil branded auto parts for all your needs!
Body
The body of a Goggomobil is the most important component for a successful restoration. It can make or break a restoration project and is essential to understanding the history of the car.
Although the Goggomobil was a German car it had a unique Australian design and remained an icon in Australia for many years. It is arguably the most representative minicar of the time, it was small, fuel efficient and eminently practical.
In the 1950s and 1960s, there was a growing demand for low volume sports cars, which were often made from fiberglass. Some major automakers were using it for their own vehicles, but it was also a popular choice with smaller builders like Berkeley and Lotus.
During this time, Hans Glas GMbH was producing small cars and scooters under its own name, but the Goggomobil was one of its most successful products. It came in a variety of forms, including sedans, coupes and vans.
Buckle Motors of Sydney began importing rolling chassis from Glas in 1958, resulting in thousands of Goggomobil saloons, coupes and transporter vans being built in Australia. These cars were based on the same chassis as the German models and were manufactured with near-exact replica bodies.
Bill Buckle was an automotive entrepreneur who had a vision for a small fiberglass bodied sports car. The high import taxes on European microcars were a hindrance and so he struck a deal with Hans Glas to bring the chassis of the Goggomobil into Australia and body it here to minimise tax.
He then used his knowledge of glassfibre from building his own cars to fashion near-exact replica bodies of the saloon and coupe models, producing them in his Buckle Motors factory. Production began in 1959, and these Goggomobil bodyshells were fitted to the rolling chassis of either the T300 or T400 model and powered by an air cooled two-cylinder engine of either 300cc or 400cc.
The Goggomobil Dart is a rare and little known microcar in the world, it was designed and manufactured in Sydney in 1959 to 1961 with around 700 being produced. This makes it a real collectible in its own right, and it remains a popular vehicle in Australia with a devout following.
Transmission
The transmission is one of the most important parts of a car because it varies how much torque is sent from the engine to the wheels. This enables a vehicle to move in an optimal range of speed per minute (RPM).
The basic idea behind a transmission is that there are gears; when one of these gears is engaged, it sends more or less torque to the wheel. This allows the engine to operate at a higher or lower RPM, so that it can produce maximum horsepower and maintain proper fuel efficiency.
There are many different components that make up the transmission. Each has its own function, but they all serve to help the transmission get power from the engine to the wheels. These parts include the input shaft, output shaft, selector fork, collar, and dog clutch.
In addition to these parts, there are synchronizers that make it easy to change gears. These synchronizers have frictional plates that slow down the gear so that they are running at the same speed as the output shaft. This makes it easier to engage the correct gear, and also prevents the gear from grinding and causing damage.
Another crucial component of the transmission is the transmission fluid. This specialized lubricant protects the gears and other parts of the transmission from excessive wear. This can lead to a breakdown in the future, so it is important to keep your vehicle’s transmission fluid clean and properly lubricated at all times.
When a transmission isn’t working correctly, the driver may notice that their car is stumbling or slowing down. If this happens, it is a sign that the transmission needs to be repaired or replaced.
A transmission can be either manual or automatic. A manual transmission requires the driver to select a particular gear by using a clutch and a gear stick, while an automatic transmission has a shift lever located on the steering column.
Most modern cars use a transmission with multiple gear ratios. Each of these ratios matches the range of input speeds to output speeds, allowing for maximum efficiency and performance.
Electrical
In the aftermath of World War II, Europe was suffering from severe economic crisis and limited supplies of materials such as steel, glass, rubber and gasoline. The result was a burgeoning microcar market, with cars like the Goggomobil proving hugely popular.
The Goggomobil was produced by Hans Glas GmbH from 1955 until 1969 across three main model lines. These included a sedan, coupe and van/pickup. It was also produced in an antipodean version known as the Goggomobil Dart, which was built on a chassis designed and made by Australian businessman Bill Buckle.
After a trip to Europe, Buckle saw the German four-door, rear-engined Goggomobil and decided to import two cars late in 1956 with a view to getting Australian rights to the little car and an import licence.
He opted for the cheaper option of using a standard pressed steel platform, rather than building his own, so that he could save on import taxes and duties. The body was made with a pair of molded-in sections that were bolted together at the waistline, and a rear window from a Renault Dauphine was used for the windshield.
The interior was also based on the same platform, with a pressed steel dashboard, headlight nacelles and a trunk lid being added to the chassis. A front air intake, a radiator and a fuel tank were also fitted.
Draxlmaier was commissioned to provide the Goggomobil with wiring harnesses. These would run through the entire vehicle connecting electrical components and relaying data and power between them.
Since then, Draxlmaier has grown to be a globally renowned manufacturer of automotive wiring harnesses and interior parts. The company has subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and several other countries.
Its products are sold to leading automobile manufacturers such as BMW, Audi and Volkswagen. The company also manufactures electrical systems and premium interior components for upscale passenger cars and luxury sports cars.
The Draxlmaier Group operates 52 production plants in 20 countries worldwide, with its vehicle electrical systems division averaging over 50 percent of revenue. Its subsidiary companies include Eldra Kunststofftechnik GmbH, HIB Holzindustrie Bruchsal GmbH and Draxlmaier Systemverkabelungen AG.