Glas

Glas is a German automobile manufacturer founded in 1899 in Hildburghausen, Thuringia, which established itself in the 1960s as a major player in the popular and compact car segment in Central Europe. Glas' history is characterized by remarkable evolution: after decades of motorcycle and commercial vehicle production, the brand launches its automobile division in 1955 with the Glas Goggomobil, a revolutionary three-wheeler achieving spectacular commercial success with over 200,000 units sold until 1969. During the 1964 to 1968 period covered by our brochure archives, the Glas range significantly enriches with the launch of emblematic models such as the Glas 1004 in 1962, Glas 1300 in 1964, and Glas 1700 GT in 1965, positioning the Glas manufacturer against direct rivals like BMW, NSU, and Audi in the compact and sports sedan segment. Glas models of the 1960s are distinguished by modern air-cooled engines, reduced dimensions ideal for the urban market, and refined design signed by Italian coachbuilder Frua for coupe and GT versions, attracting clientele seeking alternatives to French and British productions. Despite these innovations and production concentrated in Bidingen, Bavaria, Glas remains a mid-size manufacturer with estimated annual production capacity of approximately 50,000 vehicles, and experiences mounting financial difficulties resulting in its absorption by BMW in 1966, definitively integrating its Glas technical specification and engineering philosophy into the Bavarian group.