Description
The Glas 1700 TS was the sportiest and most powerful version of the Glas 1700 series, launched in 1965 to add excitement and performance to the otherwise conservative mid-size sedan lineup. Built on the solid foundation of the Glas 1700, the TS version was designed to compete with the more spirited models from Opel, BMW, and Alfa Romeo, giving buyers a family car with genuine sporting credentials. For a company as small as Hans Glas GmbH, the 1700 TS represented a bold statement of engineering ambition.
Visually, the 1700 TS retained the understated and angular body of the standard Glas 1700 but featured subtle touches to emphasize its more dynamic role. The car was offered primarily as a two- or four-door saloon, with the familiar clean lines, upright stance, and simple horizontal grille that characterized Glas’s mid-size cars. Chrome trim and well-proportioned details gave it a refined but not flashy presence. The TS models were often fitted with discreet badging or trim changes that hinted at their upgraded performance without resorting to flamboyance, in keeping with German design sensibilities of the time.
Inside, the 1700 TS provided a cabin similar to the standard 1700 but with improvements aimed at making it feel more upmarket and driver-focused. The dashboard included a fuller set of instruments, such as a tachometer, which highlighted the car’s sporting intent. Higher-quality upholstery and trim materials gave the interior a more sophisticated feel, while space for four to five passengers ensured it remained practical as a family car. It struck a careful balance between everyday usability and driving enjoyment.
The key to the TS’s appeal lay under the bonnet. The standard Glas 1700 used a 1.7-litre four-cylinder engine with an overhead camshaft, producing around 80 horsepower. In TS specification, the engine received twin carburettors and tuning refinements that boosted output to approximately 100 horsepower. This gave the car a top speed of about 170 km/h (106 mph), putting it firmly in competition with contemporary sports sedans. Power was delivered through a four-speed manual gearbox, and the advanced OHC design gave the engine smoothness and flexibility that many rivals with simpler pushrod engines could not match.
On the road, the Glas 1700 TS offered an engaging driving experience. Its stronger engine gave it brisk acceleration, while the car’s compact proportions and relatively light weight made it agile and responsive. Though tuned more for stability than razor-sharp handling, it was well-suited to spirited driving and long-distance touring alike. The TS badge marked it as a car for buyers who wanted the practicality of a family saloon but without sacrificing performance and driving pleasure.
Production of the 1700 TS was limited, as Glas was a small manufacturer with modest resources, and its dealer network was never as extensive as its larger rivals. Nevertheless, the model showcased the company’s ability to build cars that combined advanced engineering with performance and style. When BMW acquired Glas in 1967, the 1700 series was soon discontinued, but the TS remained one of the most memorable versions of Glas’s mid-size cars.
Today, the Glas 1700 TS is highly prized among collectors. Its rarity, innovative engineering, and spirited character make it a standout in the world of 1960s German classics. More than just a variant of the 1700, it represents the height of Glas’s ambition before the BMW takeover, embodying the company’s desire to compete with the best in the European market.