Miguel Sánchez
PHOTOS GOGGOMOBIL DART: LLOYDS
We have always imagined time as a straight line. It may be interesting to see it as a circle. At the end of the day everything comes back, even if it is under different fur. For that very everything is a copy of another copy. On that we can agree. At the end of the day that of "creationism" it is only defended by some who are outraged when compared to a monkey. And in comparison the monkey seems kinder.
This is seen even in the design of the bodies. Maybe we are swinging a bit but ... When we see the Goggomobil Dart there is one thing that catches our attention. How wacky a simple microcar can be? Good too. But it's really funny how much this little boy has in common with two of our favorite classics: the Alpine A108 and Alfa Romeo Disco Steering Wheel of 1952.
It may be the result of obsession. We will not say no. Something like when you see All the women from the perspective of it. However, both the front and the surrounding trim have a lot in common with both models. There is also a piece of information in favor of our theory: These fiberglass shapes were created by a quasi-artisan workshop in Sydney: Buckle Motors.
Who can ensure that he did not look at those models and then make a synthesis with this microcar? The very image of a guy entangling papers in the antipodes at the expense of French and Italian designs has narrative power. However, the Goggomobil Dart it is interesting for many more reasons than its curious bodywork. Let's start by going to Germany ...
THE MICROCAR: THE CHEAP CHOICE TO GETTING AROUND UNDER THE ROOF
In 1954 the company Hans glas presented its new creation at the Cologne International Motorcycle and Bicycle Exhibition, the Goggomobil. A microcar that could be driven with a motorcycle license. Although nowadays these vehicles only appear piloted by a retired person with a cap - watch out for the moment when the grandson with dyed hair and spotless sports shoes catches it. during the 50s they were still a good mobility option for impoverished post-war Europe.
We know that well in Spain. In fact, many argue that our extensive relationship with motorcycles came from material shortages. And well, the truth is that as far as people was able to access 600 ... That sidecar motorcycle began to be linked more to idle bragging than to the tiring workweek. Although feeling the wind on your face will wake you up more than a coffee, the average farmer looks very comfortable in a C15.
The fact is that things were not bad at all to this microcar. Over 14 years Hans Glas manufactured almost 290.000 units through three variants designed on the same basis. The first was the model T. Equipped with a 250cc twin cylinder engine, it was capable of producing 13CV to move its almost 400 kilos. The TS and TL variants reached up to 20CV en a special edition of vans sold to the postal service.
In addition, the Goggomobil was produced in other countries under license, as was the case in Spain. According to Nacho Sáenz de Cámara told us in his day, In the newly opened Munguía (Vizcaya) factory, the company built the bodies and carried out the assembly, while the engines were produced in the Bilbao neighborhood of Deusto. And it is that Munguía Industrial belonged to the Beltrán y Casado group, a metallurgical consortium that already produced mechanical parts and gearboxes for Movesa, manufacturer in Vitoria of Peugeot motorcycles, and for Imosa, the construction company of DKW vans.
GOGGOMOBIL DART: THE SURPRISES TREASURED BY A MICROCAR
Surely now more than one is thinking "Well, what a thing". Still there. Salvador Canellas raced in 1969 with the “UFO". A Goggomobil chassis equipped with the engine of a DKW van boosted to almost 100CV. The photos of the model are worth seeing. Not to mention that one begins to imagine doing everything with a microcar.
But let's get back to our story. Between 1957 and 1961 Buckle Motors had the Goggomobil license for Australia. Mechanics mattered but built its own models, among which the Dart. During its three years in production the company made about 700 of these microcars. All with the original engine but already boosted up to 300 or 400cc according to the client's taste. Oh, and also reduced in weight to 345 kilos.
The Dart is today a rare collector's item. That is why it is rare to see this microcar in an auction like the one Lloyds held last Sunday, April 7. You may not like its design as much as we do. Or even that this microcar seems like a joke to you. But on this side of the keyboard we can narrative and the truth is that the Goggomobil Dart has history to fill pages and pages.
Almost as many as this national microcar ... Do you know what it is? ; Read more about Goggomobil in this article, and about microcars in general in this other.
