HEARTS OF GLAS

These pretty coupés bridge the gap between independence and BMW ownership for the tiny Dingolfing concern founded by Hans Glas

- MARTIN BUCKLEY

As a poster child for misplaced optimism, it would be hard to better the Glas 2600 V8. Estimates vary as to how many of these Pietro Fruastyled coupés were built between its pre-emptive 1965 Frankfurt launch and spring '68 demise we'll settle for 657 production cars, split 264:393 in favour of the 3-litre version built after BMW gobbled up the Dingolfing-based company in 1967. Suitably modernised, the Bavarian plant would be the home of the 5 Series post-1972. But as well as increased production capacity and manpower-BMW captured fresh technical talent in the form of gifted Glas chief engineer Karl Dompert, and some valuable patents: the great claim to fame of this now almost-forgotten independent German manufacturer is the invention of the toothed nylon timing belt.

What BMW didn't want to do was to keep making Glas cars. When it took over, only the faithful little Goggomobil was making money, and it was the last of the range to get the chop.

Hans Glas GmbH had been a family affair, with 4000 employees. It had ridden the wave of the post-war German economic miracle but ended up building too many different models while lacking the capital to scale up production and pose a real threat to more established makes.