Please help identify...

[GavinHuart]

A friend of mine's mother (who also had a fantastic '58 sunroof beetle, back in the day) has been going on about having had a, quote: "Gogo Mobile" (the afrikaans pronunciation of "Gogo"). It was a 900cc apparently. I've tried to google it but no luck. The dear old lady has resorted to taking a photo (with her phone) of an old photograph and MMS'd it for me to research. Anyone have any clue what this car is?
(it's a terrible photo, I know)

[MINCE]

this is where Heracio would walk into the Lab and shout out commands like:
ENHANCE!
REMOVE THE BITMAP!
ISOLATE THE ALGORYTHMS!
ZOOM INTO THE GAP BETWEEN THE BONNET AND FENDER!
ENHANCE!
THERE IT IS, THE VIN PLATE!

[GavinHuart]

Love that! I know, it's a shocker of an image but I gather just taking a pic and sending it was more enough of an achievement for her so we have to work with what we have .

[MINCE]

1st glance, it looks like a Renault. But probably isn't.
Lack of grill indicates it could be rear engined and probably air cooled. Agree?

who did air cooled cars in the past?
I am trying to find out but unsuccessful at the moment

[Goosebeak]

Looks like this?



Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goggomobil

[MINCE]

just found that

Glas Goggomobil

[MINCE]

Goggomobil was a series of microcars produced in the Bavarian town Dingolfing after World War II by Glas.

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. It had an electric pre-selective transmission built by Getrag and a manual clutch. The engine was behind the rear wheels. Suspension was independent all round using coil springs with swing axles.

214,313 sedans, 66,511 coupés, and 3,667 Transporter vans and pickups were built from 1955 to 1969.

[GavinHuart]

Fantastic! Wow! Thanks for your help guys. That's exactly it! Dunno where she got "900cc" from I'm printing the stats as we speak.

Much appreciated

[forcecooled]

The GLAS company was later bought by BMW who then used the Glas basic cars to produce models such as the BMW Cheeta 1800 and 2L in Rhodesia, the 1800 and 2000SA in South africa. They had BM 4 cyl motors and transmission, but the cars were not really very good - Lots of local content - real sanctions buster type of cars just a cut above all the RANGER type's and so on - but had a BMW badge!
Cortina's were probably better cars than these jobs!
Goggomobile's were part of a bunch of real POS vehicles that were around at that time - BMW Isetta's, Messerschmidt's, Fiat 500,and a bunch of others including a gaggle of 3 wheelers that were all totally useless in this country
-Bill

[fig]

As crap as the 50s microcars undoubtedly all were, I have a real fascination for them.

The SA Microcar Club drove a convoy of microcars from Joburg to Cape Town in about 1998, so they probably aren't all THAT bad.

You'd be amazed at how many of these bizarre miniature cars were available in the 1950s. Check out this cool site:

http://microcarmuseum.com/tourindex.html

[forcecooled]

Hi Fig,

Yes we do all sorts of wierd things from time to time.

Like you and your intercontinental adventures in that lekka striped split,

And me and my buds, as youngster, riding to durban on our 50cc bikes - Zundapps,Itoms, Garelli's, Pegaso's, DKW's, Puch's and the rest of the gaggle - and, lets not forget the Honda 50 with the forward facing cylinder and overhead valves- 4 stroke--Unheard of!

Cant remember how many made it there. - or back!

And then other bretheren on this forum that ride to durban on BICYCLES about once a year, all in the name of fun!

So I suppose a long trip in a bubble car could be a unique experience!

[GavinHuart]

Thanks for all the info guys. I too find these cartoon-like cars fascinating! My father still speaks of the Bubble Car and seeing it all too often put-putting it's way around London back in the day. They do have such character. Thanks for the link to that site Fig .

By the way, that friend of mine rang his mother last night to share what was learned from here. She then regaled him of one specific occasion with four people in her dearest Goggomobil where it blew over! Gale winds in the Cape could do that apparently .