Hans Glas, of Bavaria, accomplished what the majority of 1950s microcar manufacturers could only dream of: the large-scale production of a very popular car over a very long period of time. Over 174,548 examples of his Goggomobil T250 were produced, which is a wildly successful number for a manufacturer of any one type of motorized vehicle. While the model’s evolution over the years was mostly limited to cosmetic features, a larger 400-cubic centimeter engine was eventually available in a model dubbed the T400. The T400 was most frequently delivered to the United States, and the car offered here is one of those U.S.-delivery examples, as it is believed to have been sold through Siraky’s Scooter Center, of San Francisco.

This T400, equipped with the very desirable pre-selector transmission, was acquired in excellent, complete original condition from the famed Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum. At the time, it still wore its Siraky’s Scooter Center sticker, as well as Oregon license plates, which were likely original to the car, and a registration sticker from 1966. The present owner, a well-known microcar enthusiast in his own right, restored the car to excellent original condition. This restoration was limited largely to paint, chrome, and an engine rebuild. It was refinished in its original color, and as the complete original red interior was in excellent condition, it was preserved as-is, with only cleaning. The owner notes that all of the original metal and parts were employed in the restoration.

In the short time since the restoration was completed, the Goggomobil has been shown at the Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance, where it was awarded a Palmetto Award, and its less than 9,000 miles are actual mileage since new.

As microcars continue to gain in popularity, there are few that can match the pure adorability of this charming Goggomobil, and there are fewer still that have been restored to such a high standard.