Description
The Glas Goggomobil TL 250 Kleintransporter was the commercial variant of the popular Goggomobil microcar range, produced by Hans Glas GmbH in the late 1950s and 1960s. While the Goggomobil sedans and coupés were aimed at private motorists looking for cheap and cheerful transport, the TL (for Transporter Lieferwagen) series was designed as a practical light van and pickup for tradesmen, shopkeepers, and delivery services in postwar Germany, where compact, fuel-efficient vehicles were in great demand.
The TL 250 Kleintransporter had a distinctly utilitarian appearance but retained the friendly, rounded styling that made the Goggomobil range so recognizable. The cab featured a simple two-door layout with large windows, giving it a light and approachable look. Behind the cab sat a boxy load area, which could be configured either as a panel van with enclosed sides or as a small flatbed truck with open sides. Built on the same compact underpinnings as the passenger Goggomobil, it was narrow and maneuverable, ideally suited to the tight streets of towns and cities.
Inside, the TL 250 was extremely basic, with seating for two and a pared-down dashboard carrying only essential instruments. Comfort was minimal, as the focus was on providing affordable, practical transport. However, the forward control design—where the cab was placed over the front wheels—maximized interior space for the driver and passenger while leaving the rest of the chassis available for cargo.
Mechanically, the TL 250 was powered by the same 245 cc two-cylinder, two-stroke engine used in the passenger Goggomobil T250. Producing around 13 horsepower, the engine drove the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. With a top speed of roughly 50–55 km/h (30–34 mph), performance was modest, but sufficient for short urban journeys. Its greatest strengths were low running costs and excellent fuel economy, which made it attractive for small businesses that needed dependable transport on a budget.
Payload capacity was limited—around 250 kg, matching its engine size designation—but this was adequate for light-duty deliveries such as groceries, tools, or parcels. The vehicle’s compact size meant it could easily navigate narrow city lanes and park in small spaces, qualities that larger vans of the time struggled with.
Production of the Goggomobil TL series included variants with slightly larger engines, such as the TL 300 and TL 400, but the TL 250 was the entry-level model and one of the most common. Even so, production numbers were modest compared to passenger Goggomobils, and many were worked hard until they wore out, making survivors rare today.
The Glas Goggomobil TL 250 Kleintransporter represents an important chapter in the microcar story, showing how the principles of efficiency and compact design could be applied to commercial vehicles. Today, surviving examples are highly collectible, prized not only for their rarity but also for their quirky charm and historical significance. Restored TL 250s often appear at classic car events, where their small scale and cheerful character attract plenty of attention. Once a humble working van, it is now celebrated as one of the most endearing micro-transporters of the postwar era.