Goggomobil Dart
| Goggomobil Dart | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Buckle Motors Pty Ltd.[1] |
| Production | 1959[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] |
| Length | 3,050 mm (120 in)[1] |
| Width | 1,370 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.
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 fiberglass 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]
Popular culture
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!"
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.[8]
-
Goggomobil Dart rear -
Interior
References
- ^ a b c d e "The Bruce Weiner Motorcar Museum - 1958 Goggomobil Dart". Microcarmuseum.com. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
- ^ a b c d e The Dart turns 50 Retrieved from www.shannons.com.au on 22 February 2010
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b Glas Goggomobile Dart Retrieved from www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au on 22 February 2010
- ^ "Company Profile". Bill Buckle Volkswagen. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
- ^ Tony Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 75
- ^ Mike McCarthy, Great Australian sports cars and specials, 1987, page 61
- ^ "D'art" – via www.imdb.com.
External links
- Article reproduced from Modern Motor 1959 about the prototype Goggomobil Dart
- Link to several photographs of a restored 1959 Goggomobil Dart
- [1]