Description
The Glas Goggomobil TS 300 Coupé was part of the stylish TS series introduced by Hans Glas GmbH in 1957, a line designed to offer a sportier and more elegant alternative to the firm’s utilitarian Goggomobil sedans and vans. While the standard Goggomobil models were practical microcars intended for economical transport in postwar Europe, the TS coupés gave drivers a taste of sports car styling in a compact, affordable package. The TS 300 sat between the smaller TS 250 and the slightly larger TS 400, providing a balance of efficiency and improved performance.
From the outside, the TS 300 Coupé shared the same attractive bodywork as the rest of the TS line, with its rounded front end, oval headlights, and flowing fender lines. The car’s proportions were compact, yet its two-door coupé silhouette echoed the look of larger Italian and German sports cars of the late 1950s, giving it a strong aspirational appeal. Chrome bumpers, delicate trim, and optional two-tone paint schemes added sophistication, making the TS 300 a fashionable choice for city drivers who wanted something with more flair than a basic bubble car.
The cabin of the TS 300 Coupé was simple but stylish. Designed primarily as a two-seater, it provided supportive front seats, a neatly arranged dashboard, and small rear space suitable for luggage or children. The instrument panel was minimal, typically including only the essentials such as a speedometer and fuel gauge, though Glas offered trim options that made the interior more upscale than its practical sedan counterparts. With bright interior colors and compact proportions, the coupé had a cheerful and personable atmosphere that matched its playful exterior.
Powering the TS 300 was a 293 cc air-cooled, two-cylinder, two-stroke engine that produced around 15 horsepower. While modest, this represented a useful step up from the TS 250, giving the car slightly stronger performance and a top speed of about 95 km/h (59 mph). The engine was paired with a four-speed manual transmission, which helped drivers make the most of the small power output. As with other Goggomobils, the lightweight fiberglass-reinforced plastic body and small dimensions made the TS 300 lively in city driving and surprisingly agile on narrow European roads.
Though not designed for racing, the TS 300 carried an undeniable sporting character. Its light weight and sharp styling made it popular among younger buyers who wanted the look of a sports coupé but couldn’t afford cars from marques like Porsche or Alfa Romeo. The balance of efficiency, low running costs, and style gave it a unique niche in the late 1950s and early 1960s market.
Production of the TS series ran from 1957 through the mid-1960s, with the TS 300 being one of the more popular versions thanks to its balance of usable power and economy. Exact numbers vary, but thousands were built, though many were eventually scrapped as microcars fell out of fashion in the later 1960s when buyers shifted to more powerful small cars like the Volkswagen Beetle and Mini.
Today, the Glas Goggomobil TS 300 Coupé is a charming collectible. Its rarity, combined with its distinctive design and historical significance as part of the microcar boom, makes it a prized possession among enthusiasts. Surviving examples are celebrated at classic car shows, where their cheerful styling and diminutive scale never fail to attract attention. More than just a practical runabout, the TS 300 was a stylish statement of its time, and it remains an enduring symbol of the optimism and ingenuity of the 1950s microcar era.