Goggomobil Dart

Last updated

Goggomobil Dart
Goggomobile Dart.JPG
Overview
Manufacturer Buckle Motors Pty Ltd. [1]
Production1959 [2] –September 1961 [2]
Assembly Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [1]
Designer Bill Buckle
Body and chassis
Class Microcar
Body style No door roadster
Layout RR layout
Platform Goggomobil
Related Goggomobil
Powertrain
Engine Two-stroke straight-twin engine
Standard: 400 cc engine and 300 cc  cc, 14.8 PS (10.9 kW)
Optional: 392 cc, 18.5 PS (13.6 kW) [3]
Transmission 4-speed manual [3]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 1,800 mm (71 in) [3]
Length3,050 mm (120 in) [1]
Width1,370 mm (54 in) [1]
Kerb weight 380 kg (840 lb) [1] [4]

The Goggomobil Dart was a microcar which was developed in Australia by Sydney company Buckle Motors Pty Ltd. [5] and produced from 1959 to 1961.

Contents

The Dart was based on the chassis and mechanical components of the German Goggomobil microcar, which was a product of Hans Glas GmbH of Dingolfing, in Bavaria, Germany. [6] The car featured an Australian-designed fibreglass two-seater open sports car body without doors, the whole package weighing in at only 345 kg (761 lb). [2] It was powered by a rear-mounted twin-cylinder two-stroke motor available in both 300 cc and 400 cc variants, [4] and had a small luggage compartment built into the nose. [2] The Dart was designed in 1958 and went on sale the following year, [2] with around 700 examples produced up to the time that production ceased in September 1961. [7]

Production specifics

The Dart came standard with Goggomobil’s 293cc parallel twin (producing 15 hp and 20 ft.lb.), but their 392cc unit (20 hp/24 ft.lb.) soon became available as an option. Top speed was approximately 60 mph (96 km/h) for the 293cc cars, and about 65 mph (104 km/h) for those equipped with the 392cc engine. There may only by 50 of them left currently. Dimensions were 3.0m long and 1.3m wide [8]

The Goggomobil Dart is mentioned in the 1990s Yellow Pages ad in which Tommy Dysart says the famous line "G, O, G, G, O... No! No! Not the dart!"

Dysart would play off the fame of this role in future ads for Shannons, in which he plays a character who is especially interested in finding the best car insurance for his treasured Goggomobil Dart.

A documentary which was released on 8 September 2019 titled D'art is about an artist who paints paper planes (paper darts) on the Goggomobil Dart as the canvas. The movie was received with positive reviews. [9] In 2020 D'art was selected for the 'Melbourne Documentary Film Festival'

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeta (automobile)</span> Australian automobile

Zeta is a marque of automobile which was produced in Australia from 1963 to 1965 by South Australian manufacturing company Lightburn & Co.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isetta</span> Motor vehicle

The Isetta is an Italian-designed microcar built under license in a number of different countries, including Argentina, Spain, Belgium, France, Brazil, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Because of its egg shape and bubble-like windows, it became known as a bubble car, a name also given to other similar vehicles.

Pagani Automobili S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of hypercars and carbon fiber components. The company was founded in 1992 by the Argentinian Horacio Pagani and is based in San Cesario sul Panaro, near Modena, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel Tigra</span> Motor vehicle

The Opel Tigra name has been applied to two different cars engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel, both based on different iterations of the Corsa supermini, the first built in Spain, the second in France. The first Tigra was a small 2+2 coupé, produced from 1994 to 2000. The later compact hard topped convertible roadster model was introduced in May 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW M3</span> Compact executive car

The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, developed by BMW's in-house motorsport division, BMW M GmbH. M3 models have been produced for every generation of 3 Series since the E30 M3 was introduced in 1986.

The Austin Cambridge is a medium-sized motor car range produced by the Austin Motor Company, in several generations, from September 1954 through to 1971 as cars and to 1973 as light commercials. It replaced the A40 Somerset and was entirely new, with modern unibody construction. The range had two basic body styles with the A40, A50, and early A55 using a traditional rounded shape and later A55 Mark IIs and A60s using Pininfarina styling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda Z</span> Motor vehicle

The Honda Z is a two-door hatchback kei car/city car manufactured and marketed by the Honda Motor Company, from 1970 until 1974. Exports mostly ended after 1972, when the domestic market models received redesigned pillarless bodywork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glas (company)</span>

Hans Glas GmbH is a former German automotive company, which was based in Dingolfing. Originally a maker of farm machinery, Glas evolved first into a producer of motor scooters, then automobiles. It was purchased by BMW in 1966, mainly to gain access to Glas's patents; they were the first to use a timing belt with an overhead camshaft in an automotive application. Its limited model range was shortly phased out by its new parent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goggomobil</span> Motor vehicle platform

Goggomobil was a series of microcars produced by Hans Glas GmbH in the Bavarian town Dingolfing between 1955 and 1969.

Thomas Gibson Dysart was a Scottish-born Australian actor, known for his appearances on television dramas and comedies and in character roles in films and miniseries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opperman</span> Motor vehicle

S E Opperman was a tractor manufacturer in England. After he saw the Bond Minicar he decided to build his own four-wheel microcar at a factory in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiat 850</span> Motor vehicle

The Fiat 850 is a small rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive car manufactured and marketed by Italian car manufacturer Fiat from 1964 to 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Falcon (AU)</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Falcon (AU) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1998 to 2002. It was the sixth generation Ford Falcon and also included the Ford Fairmont (AU)—the luxury-oriented model range. The AU series replaced the EL Falcon constructed on the new at the time EA169 platform, and was replaced by the updated BA series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buckle Motors</span>

Buckle Motors Pty Ltd is an Australian car dealership chain and former manufacturer that produced the famous Goggomobil Dart. Currently, under the name Bill Buckle Auto Group, the company sells Toyota, Subaru and Volkswagen vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buckle Sports Coupe</span> Motor vehicle

The Buckle Sports Coupe is a fibreglass-bodied sports car which was produced in Australia by Buckle Motors from 1957 to 1959. The 2-door coupe used a combination of Ford Zephyr Six and Ford Zephyr Mark II components, including a straight-6 engine from the Mark II. Totaling a weight of 865 kg and a top speed of 160 km/h, it also featured a box chassis frame, transverse leaf spring front suspension and a conventional Ford rear axle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glas V8</span> Motor vehicle

The Glas V8 is a V8-engined coupé produced by Hans Glas GmbH at Dingolfing. The car was first presented in September 1965 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where it became nicknamed the "Glaserati" because of its Frua design, which shared many themes with contemporary Maseratis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glas GT</span> Motor vehicle

The Glas GT is a sports coupé produced by Hans Glas GmbH at Dingolfing. The car was first presented as the Glas 1300 GT in September 1963 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with volume production starting in March 1964. The much rarer cabriolet version appeared in May 1965 and a larger engined 1700 GT in May 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glas Isar</span> Motor vehicle

The Glas Isar is a small two door four seater car produced by Hans Glas GmbH at their Dingolfing plant. The car was first presented as the Goggomobil T600 in September 1957 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with volume production starting in August 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glas 1004</span> Motor vehicle

The Glas 1004 is a small two-door, four-seater automobile produced by Hans Glas GmbH at Dingolfing. It was first exhibited in public, in coupé form, at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1961. Volume production of the 1004 coupé started in May 1962, and in January 1963 saloon/sedan and cabriolet versions joined the range along with the more powerful Glas 1204. September 1965 saw a yet more powerful variant, the Glas 1304. In September 1966, a fastback Kombilimousine (estate) was added. The 04s were produced at least until December 1967, and new cars were listed for sale through much of 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé</span> Motor vehicle

The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé is an executive car (E-segment) introduced in 2018 by Mercedes-AMG marketed as a five-door variant of the AMG GT two-door sports car.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Bruce Weiner Motorcar Museum - 1958 Goggomobil Dart". Microcarmuseum.com. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 The Dart turns 50 Retrieved from www.shannons.com.au on 22 February 2010
  3. 1 2 3 GLAS Automobil Club International e.V. - Vehicles - Goggomobil Coupé Archived July 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (the Dart was based on the Goggomobil coupé.
  4. 1 2 Glas Goggomobile Dart Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 22 February 2010
  5. "Company Profile". Bill Buckle Volkswagen. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  6. Tony Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 75
  7. Mike McCarthy, Great Australian sports cars and specials, 1987, page 61
  8. "Forgotten Cars of Australia: The Goggomobil Dart". www.carsales.com.au. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  9. "D'art" via www.imdb.com.