1959 Goggomobil Dart

Restored just 171 miles ago and looking absolutely splendid as a result, you’re looking at a 1959 Goggomobil Dart that’s fitted with the high-performance 400cc engine and four-speed manual gearbox, making it the GTI of the range.

It was imported to the UK in 1966 and was registered in Croydon before eventually finding itself in County Antrim in 2014. It spent, it is thought, 28 years in the same hands and has been owned by the seller since 2021.

And yes, if you’ve been following the Goggomobil market, you will have seen that ‘IG 4104’ sold only recently elsewhere. The winning bidder defaulted, which is why it’s come up for sale so soon.

The body-off restoration included a full respray in the cheeky red and white colour scheme you see here. Wonderfully cheery and perfectly judged, it captures the designer’s original aims of providing fun yet low-cost transport perfectly.

Which makes it the perfect candidate for a run to the beach or pub in the summer; something to leave at your holiday home on a trickle charger, perhaps?

The doorless open-top design might not be the last word in practicality but by heck it makes a statement, doesn’t it?

The chromework is in fine fettle too and the original badges were retained and refitted, their patina nodding to the car’s sixty-five years on the planet. We like that.

The E Type-esque headlamps are in fine fettle, as are the rest of the lamp lenses including the beautifully designed side indicators that are fitted on the rear wings.

A thick rubber strip protects the car’s perimeter, taking the place of the (expensive and heavy) bumpers more traditional cars are forced to suffer.

The 10-inch steel wheels are painted white and fitted with a lovely set of chrome hubcaps. They’re fitted with a matching set of very good 4.40-10 Trelleborg T-690 tyres that bear the (probably unnecessary) legend ‘HIGH SPEED’. Still, it’s good to know they can take it, eh?

Unnecessary or not, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

A car like the Dart blurs the lines between outside and in, which makes it all the more important that the interior is as well finished as the coachwork as it’s so visible. 

Which is why it’s pleasing to see that this one is every bit as good as the bodywork. Mirroring the white-and-red colour scheme with solid red leather seats piped in white, the recently retrimmed cabin is pretty much free of any marks at all, much less any wear and tear.

The carpets are black edged with red, a pragmatic choice that provides decent dirt-resistance while maintaining the overall theme.

The gear lever is suitably diminutive and is joined by an equally stylish, albeit full-size, steering wheel. The handbrake gaiter is made of matching red leather, while the colour of the controls on the dashboard match the white steering wheel.

The sole instrument fitted monitors speed and distance and being an Australian car, it’s right-hand drive, which will make life a little bit easier.

The floor-mounted pedals are small but perfectly formed and above them sits the (very good) spare wheel and tyre, which is small car packaging at its finest, surely?

As for jobs to keep you busy over the winter, we can only find one: the trim panel next to the driver’s seat is easing away.

Sorry.

The rear-mounted, 392cc parallel-twin engine lies under a lid that’s been painted with a warning to add two-stroke oil to the petrol. Anyone familiar with running a chainsaw will appreciate this isn’t half the faff you think it will be and it’s not like you’re going to be racking up tens of thousands of miles a year in it, are you?

The engine and engine bay is as nicely finished as everything else, which is to say it looks great and needs nothing. The major service items are easily accessible and the twin-coil ignition system is sure to draw comment at your local classic car show.

The underside is just as beautifully detailed, and we can’t see anything under there for you to do other than to continue to keep it clean. 

The Goggomobil doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and we are told that the history file includes certificates from the Goggomobil Register and The Society of Automotive Historians in Britain, along with repair manuals and historic invoices for maintenance and repair.  

Look, it’s not a car for everyone, we know that. 

And yet, it really is a charming little thing that would go down a storm with the grandkids – and big kids, like us.

Freshly restored and ready to have some fun in the sun, its condition and rarity probably mean its residuals should be good, which makes it a much more interesting place to keep your money than a building society.

As to its value, we estimate the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £17,000 and £22,000, which feels sensible to us.

Unlike the car, which is anything but, but then we could all do with a bit more frivolity in our lives, couldn’t we?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Wandsworth, London. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.