# Glas GT

The Glas GT is a sports coupé produced by Hans Glas GmbH at Dingolfing. The car was first presented as the Glas 1300 GT in September 1963 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with volume production starting in March 1964. The much rarer cabriolet version appeared in May 1965 and a larger engined 1700 GT in May 1965.

## 1300 GT

Deliveries of the Glas 1300GT began in March 1964. The body was designed by the Piedmontese firm Frua of Moncalieri. The body shells were built in Moncalieri by coach builders Maggiora, then shipped to the Glas factory at Dingolfing for final assembly. The 1,290 cc engine was a bored-out version of the modern unit that had powered the manufacturer’s 1004 model since 1962, with an overhead camshaft. Claimed power output at this point was 55 kW (75 PS) which provided a top speed of 170 km/h (106 mph).
In September 1965 maximum power was increased to 62.5 kW (85 PS). The car was fitted with larger wheels and the top speed rose to 175 km/h (109 mph).

## 1700 GT

From September 1965 the cars could be ordered with the 1,682 cc engine from the newly-introduced Glas 1700 TS sedan, which had a maximum power output of 74 kW (100 PS) and a top speed of 185 km/h (115 mph).
The longer stroke of the 1,682 cc engine made the unit slightly taller than the smaller engine fitted in the 1300 GT which necessitated a ridge along the center of the bonnet/hood. Matters were simplified by specifying the same bonnet/hood ridge for all GT models regardless of engine size from the September 1965. The 1700 GT was also homologated for sale in the US, which was then a lucrative market for European sports cars.

## BMW 1600 GT

With the BMW acquisition of the Glas business, the GT was refitted to accommodate the 1,573 cc BMW engine already fitted in the BMW 1600. The BMW “new class” models introduced in 1962 had attracted press comment concerning the fact that the engine was canted over at an angle of 30 degrees from the vertical plane, permitting a lower bonnet/hood line, and this feature was retained when the engine was fitted in the Glas GT body to create what was now branded as the BMW 1600GT. By using the BMW engine the car also acquired a further increase in power output, now up to 77 kW (105 PS). Handling was improved by applying the BMW's relatively sophisticated semi-trailing arm rear axle with coil springs in place of the more old fashioned rigid rear axle and leaf spring configuration previously employed by the Glas GT. BMW also took the opportunity to fit “new” round rear lights – being those that from 1966 also featured on the BMW 1600-2, and to reconfigure the front grill to incorporate the BMW “twin kidney” grill.

## Production

Between 1964 and 1967 Glas produced 5,376 GTs including 363 cabriolets. Between June 1967 and August 1968 a further 1,259 BMW badged cars were produced.

## Sources and further reading

* Rosellen, Hanns-Peter: Vom Goggomobil zum Glas V8, Zyklam-Verlag Frankfurt (1985)
* Jürgen Kraxenberger, Ferdinand Mader: Das grosse GLAS-Buch, ISBN 3-930648-40-7
This entry is based on information from the German Wikipedia Glas GT article.
* ↑ Oswald, Werner (2001). Deutsche Autos 1945-1990, volume 4 (in German). Motorbuch Verlag. p. 454 & 463. ISBN 3-613-02131-5.
* ↑ Oswald, Werner (2001). Deutsche Autos 1945-1990, volume 4 (in German). Motorbuch Verlag. p. 463. ISBN 3-613-02131-5.
vteGlas car timeline 1955 to 1969 :
Type
Independent (Hans Glas GmbH)
BMW
1950s
1960s
1970s
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
City car
Goggomobil T
Supermini
Isar
Compact car
1004, 1204, 1304
Family car
1700
1800 SA, 2000 SA / 1804, 2004$^{[1]}$
Coupé
Goggomobil TS
1300 GT, 1700 GT
1600 GT$^{[2]}$
2600 V8
3000 V8$^{[3]}$
Van
Goggomobil TL
Legend
     BMW-era — Notes: [1] the "BMW" (only for South Africa by Praetor Monteerders), [2] as "BMW", [3] as "BMW-Glas" :
vte« previous — BMW cars: 1940s to 1960s — next » :
Type
1940s
1950s
1960s
0123456789
0123456789
0123456789
Microcar
Isetta 250, 300
600
Supermini
LS, 700
Compact executive car (pre-3/4-series)
Sedan
02 Series
Coupé
1600GT
Executive car (pre-5/6-series)
Sedan
321321New Class sedans
Coupé
2000 C, 2000 CSE9
Luxury car (pre-7/8-series)
Sedan
326326340*
501 - 2.6 - 2600E3
335502 - 2.6Luxus, 3.2(S) - 2600L, 3200L/S
Coupé
327327*5033200 CS3000 V8
Roadster (pre-Z-series)
328507
Legend
     made in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany and East Germany by the Soviet Military Administration in Germany and Avtovelo, EMW and AWE | * changed to EMW in 1952
     developed by Iso SpA
     developed by Hans Glas GmbH :
vte« previous — BMW cars: 1960s to 1980s — next » :
Type
1960s
1970s
1980s
0123456789
0123456789
0123456789
Microcar
Isetta 250, 300
Supermini
LS, 700
Compact executive car (pre-3/4-series)
Sedan
02 Series
E21
E30
Coupé
1600GT
Executive car (pre-5/6-series)
Sedan
New Class sedans
E12
E28
E34
Coupé
2000 C, 2000 CS
E9
E24
Luxury car (pre-7/8-series)
Sedan
501, 502
E3
E23
E32
Coupé
3200 CS
3000 V8
Roadster
Z1
Sports car
E26
Legend
     developed by Iso SpA
     developed by Hans Glas GmbH
     developed by BMW Motorsport :