The Goggomobil turns 50!

The first local Goggo produced was the sedan, powered by a small twin cylinder two-stroke engine - the equivalent of joining two lawn mower engines together. The selling price of _652 - the then equivalent of $1,304 - made it the cheapest car on the market at the time, almost half the price of a Holden sedan. More a 2+2 than a true sedan, the Goggo could seat two adults with two children in the back. The diminutive Dart sports car, with a fibreglass body designed and built by Buckle, joined the range in 1959. The Dart today is regarded worldwide as a collectors' car, but unfortunately only 700 were made and demand far outstrips the supply of remaining vehicles. The Goggomobil Coupe, the Coupe convertible (Cabriolet) and finally the Carry All Van, completed the Australian range, all of which shared a common chassis, running gear and two-stroke 392cc engine. The arrival of the Morris Mini Minor at the start of the 1960s decimated Goggomobil sales, along with those of other small European economy cars such as Messerschmitt, Lloyd-Hartnett and Goliath.

Manufacture of Goggomobils ceased in 1962. In total, around 5,000 Goggo-mobils of all five models were made in Buckle's Punchbowl, NSW factory. The cars remained underappreciated curiosities for many years until actor Tommy Dysart appeared in a 1990s Yellow Pages television advertisement, where he played the role of a Scot repairing "Fritz", his small Goggomobil sedan. On the phone trying to find a spare part, he uttered the now-iconic words: "G-O-G-G-O. No,no - it's not the Dart!" For many, it was the first time they'd even heard of a Goggomobil, let alone seen one! In 2002, Shannons purchased a Dart in Dubbo, NSW (that, legend has it, was for sale in JUST CARS!) and repainted it 'shannons Green' just in time for Dysart to record Shannons' first television commercials just two weeks later. Dysart and the Dart have since become inseparably linked with Shannons across all their TV and press advertising. Shannons' stable of Darts has increased to three over the years, with a second Dart purchased locally for the company's Sydney office in 2004, while the third was acquired later the same year and now resides in Perth. To look its best for the nation-wide Anniversary celebrations, the original Melbourne Dart was recently given a comprehensive 'birthday'.

It now shines brighter than ever with a new Shannons Green paint job by noted Melbourne body repairer Phil Munday of Phil Munday's Panel Works (see last month's Brock FX racer feature), while its interior received a full makeover by top Motor Trimmer Mick Stevens of "Mick'z Motor Trimming and now features tan seats with green piping, complemented by chocolate carpet and floor mats. A new snug-fitting black tonneau cover has also been fitted. The 50th anniversary of the manufacture of the tiny Goggomobil in Australia was celebrated with a display and a parade at the Shannons Eastern Creek Classic historic race meeting on August 24. Around 25 Goggomobils, representing the five different models sold in Australia, headed for Eastern Creek, with enthusiasts from as far away as Germany and the USA making the pilgrimage. Sydney's Bill Buckle, who manufactured Goggomobils in Australia and also designed the iconic Dart sports car and lesser-known Carry All Van, was in attendance as guest of honour with two of his own beautifully restored Darts.