RUMCars Forum

General Category => Unusual Microcar Discussion => Topic started by: richard on May 30, 2014, 05:42:35 PM

Title: hapsburg - new one on me !
Post by: richard on May 30, 2014, 05:42:35 PM
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1960-Hapsburg-Goggomobil-Dart-650-Magazine-Article-Microcar-Australia-wt7508-/370952204278?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item565e796ff6#ht_4937wt_1275
Title: Re: hapsburg - new one on me !
Post by: Rusty Chrome (Malcolm Parker) on May 30, 2014, 06:59:35 PM
Likewise!
Title: Re: hapsburg - new one on me !
Post by: Big Al on May 31, 2014, 08:46:21 AM
I wonder if that is really European. There was an effort to make Darts in South Africa and the name was registered there before Dodge. It will be noted that the engine has become the flat twin, a powerful, but ultimately troubled, engine. Goggomobil themselves used this engine in a modified Goggo Coupe and made 5 front engined cars. That project went no further but a new shell was designed from, and for, the Goggomobil using the flat engine. This loosely became the DAF. So there was much jockeying for position using existing assemblies and modified assemblies to make more attractive cars.
Hans Glass continued to develop larger cars and ultimately realized that his company's base was to small to support the R and D needed to be a successful future manufacturer. Hence the joining up with BMW in '66, I think. Interestingly the South African Glas/BMW was in all probability a the Borgward Isobella replacement powered by a Glas engine, styled by Frua - a common designer with Borgward. The end of Borgward is a shrouded in mystery and looks very suspicious. The prototype replacement car being seen by only two people whole, it vanished in the shuffle. BMW later employed many of Borgwards engineering force, so it would be no surprise that Borgwards best ideas become BMW ideas. 
Quite where the Hapsburg fits in here, I do not know, but remember there was a group of German specialist builders like Weinsburg and Necker who were using other companies heavy assemblies in there own bodies already. These smaller companies along with the microcar manufacturers mostly got picked off in the '60's, leaving the fewer, bigger, manufactures.
Title: Re: hapsburg - new one on me !
Post by: richard on May 31, 2014, 10:39:53 AM
al at his best - thanks  ;)