Description
The Glas 1300 GT (85 PS) Cabriolet was the open-top version of one of Glas’s most admired cars, combining Italian styling flair with advanced German engineering. Introduced in the mid-1960s, the cabriolet was developed alongside the coupé and carried the same design by Pietro Frua, whose sharp and elegant lines gave the compact GT a presence far beyond its modest size. For the small Dingolfing-based manufacturer, the 1300 GT Cabriolet represented both prestige and ambition, showing that Glas could produce a car that competed in looks and refinement with far larger and wealthier marques.
From the outside, the 1300 GT Cabriolet was graceful and well-proportioned. Its long bonnet, crisp beltline, and flowing rear gave it a classic grand tourer shape, while the folding fabric roof was neatly integrated, maintaining its elegance whether raised or lowered. With the top down, the design revealed its full beauty, emphasizing its Italian character. Chrome accents, a wide grille, and carefully detailed lights enhanced the impression of quality. In many ways, it looked closer to a Maserati or Alfa Romeo than a product of a small German carmaker.
The interior of the cabriolet was equally stylish, though still practical and compact. Seating was arranged for two adults in the front with occasional small rear seats, making it best suited as a 2+2. The driver was greeted by a clear and comprehensive instrument cluster, with a tachometer included in the TS and higher-output versions. Upholstery was of good quality, and Glas ensured that trim and fittings gave the car a refined feel, setting it apart from its more utilitarian models like the Isar or 1700 saloons. With the roof down, the cabin felt bright and inviting, delivering the romantic experience of open-air motoring.
The “85 PS” version of the 1300 GT was the most powerful of the 1.3-litre variants. Its 1,290 cc four-cylinder overhead camshaft engine, driven by Glas’s pioneering toothed timing belt, produced 85 horsepower, up from the 60 and 75 hp versions offered in the coupé. This gave the car a top speed of around 175 km/h (109 mph), impressive for a compact GT of the era, and made it feel lively and spirited. The engine was paired with a four-speed manual transmission, and thanks to the car’s relatively low weight, acceleration and responsiveness were among its strong points.
On the road, the Glas 1300 GT Cabriolet (85 PS) was engaging and enjoyable to drive. Its OHC engine was smooth and flexible, encouraging spirited use of the rev range, while the compact chassis provided nimble and predictable handling. Though not as fast or as polished as some Italian contemporaries, it delivered genuine sports car enjoyment in a smaller, more affordable package. The open-top body amplified the sense of driving pleasure, making the cabriolet particularly appealing to buyers who valued style and leisure as much as practicality.
Production of the Glas 1300 GT Cabriolet was limited, as Glas was a small company with constrained resources, and building convertibles was always more costly than producing saloons or coupés. This scarcity makes surviving examples extremely desirable today. After BMW acquired Glas in 1967, the model continued briefly under the BMW-Glas badge before being phased out, adding another layer of rarity to the cabriolet versions.
Today, the Glas 1300 GT Cabriolet (85 PS) is a prized collector’s item, admired for its Frua styling, pioneering engineering, and rarity. It stands as one of the finest examples of Glas’s ambition during its final years of independence and highlights the unique blend of German innovation and Italian elegance that defined the GT series. For enthusiasts of 1960s European sports cars, it remains one of the most charming and significant compact convertibles of its era.