Back in the 1960s a phenomenon was taking over the car industry in Germany: the Gogomobil. This car was small, compact, cheap and easy to use, appealing to most of the German working people of that age. With all these advantages, sales were doing well and the Glas company, the one that used to make it, was looking good.
However, due to other similar cars on the market, like the Classic Mini, sales started dropping and Glas had to look for alternatives. That’s how the 1300GT became reality. Designed by Pietro Frua, one of the best Italian coach builders and car designers of the 1950s and 1960s, it had a certain allure compared to the boxy Gogomobil.
Unfortunately, the Glas company was still little and creating this car and putting into production nearly bankrupt them. That’s when BMW started looking into expanding and the Dingolfing factory Glas had looked perfect for their plans.
In 1966 BMW took over Glas and their line of products, including the 1300GT and its variations, the 1700GT and 2600GT. However, they changed the engine, the transmission and the rear axle, creating a brand new model: the 1600GT.
With a more stylish design (at least compared to the straight lines on the BMWs of the age) and a more capable engine, the 1600GT became an instant classic. It featured some BMW specific details (like the kidney grilles up front) but overall you could tell this is an Italian’s creation.
To this day, seeing a 1600GT is a rare occasion. That’s because BMW only made 1,255 units until 1968 and few of them are still intact. Fortunately for us, this one is part of BMW Classic’s own collection and it’s a stunner. Check it out!
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