Microcar my ass!
09/02/2018
The Smart was famously marketed as a microcar or compact car. And compared to SUVs or saloons, it is certainly compact in today's road traffic. However, vehicles with a much better use of space and similar dimensions were built much earlier.
The Goggomobil looks really dainty next to a Smart. But appearances are deceptive, the Goggmobil was actually 2.9 meters long, making it longer than the Smart.
The first Smart was still only 2.5 meters long and 1.51 meters wide.
The second generation was 2.695 meters long and 1.559 meters wide, while the third was 2.74 meters long and up to 1.663 meters wide.
In terms of width, not visible in the photo, however, the Goggomobil clearly beat the Smart. Around 1.3 meters was enough to accommodate two people side by side. And with a height of less than 1.3 meters, the "Goggo" was also significantly smaller than the Smart.
At the same time, the smallest vehicle, which was produced by Glas in a wide variety of versions between 1955 and 1969, was able to carry four people plus some luggage. The transport capacity of the Smart is much more modest in comparison. No more than two people could get in and the luggage compartment was not big enough for a long vacation.
The fact that the Goggomobil looks much more delicate in the picture than a second-generation Smart is of course also due to the small wheels and the many small details.
Incidentally, we saw the two cars, normally parked at the roadside, in Schwetzingen. We will report on the Concours later.
