GLAS 1204 - 63

The Glas 1004 is a small two-door, four-seater automobile

produced by Hans Glas GmbH at Dingolfing. It was first

exhibited in public, in coupé form, at the Frankfurt Motor

Show in September 1961.

Volume   production   of   the   1004   coupé   started   in   May   1962,   and   in   January   1963   saloon/sedan and   cabriolet   versions   joined   the   range   along   with   the   more   powerful   Glas   1204.   September 1965    saw    a    yet    more    powerful    variant,    the    Glas    1304.    In    September    1966,    a    fastback Kombilimousine   (estate)   was   added.   The   04s   were   produced   at   least   until   December   1967,   and new cars were listed for sale through much of 1968.

Origins

In   1960   the   company’s   research   workshop   came   up   with   an   engine   that   used   an   unconventional camshaft   drive.   Product   developer   Leonhard   Ischinger,   who   had   joined   Glas   from   BMW,   had produced   a   four-cylinder   OHC   engine   with   valve   gear   driven   using   a   toothed   rubber   cam-belt, which   at   that   time   was   a   novel   idea.   The   992   cc   engine   provided   a   maximum   output   of   31   kW (42   PS)   at   5,000   rpm.   During   1961   the   company   added   a   modern   coupé   body   using   the   chassis   of the   Glas   Isar   which   for   this   application   had   been   lengthened   by   10   cm.   The   result   was   the   1004 prototype which appeared at the Motor Show in September of that year.

S 1004

Volume   production   began   in   May   1962   and   the   first   cars   were   delivered   in   August.   The   car retained   the   water   cooled   992   cc   engine   of   the   prototype   which   at   this   stage   still   delivered   a claimed   31   kW   (42   PS)   of   maximum   power   at   5,000   rpm.   Drive   was   to   the   rear   wheels   via   a   four- speed    manual    transmission    incorporating    –    still    slightly    unusually    for    this    size    of    car    – synchromesh on all four forward speeds. The   S   1004   came   with   a   steel   monocoque   steel   body   strengthened,   from   the   start   on   this   model, by   reinforcing   box   sections   under   the   floor.   Commentators   noted   the   contrast   between   the   car’s relatively   short   2,100   mm   wheelbase   and   the   overall   3,835   mm   length   of   the   car,   which   may,   by later   standards,   have   compromised   the   handling   but   did   permit   the   use   of   a   relatively   short drive-shaft. Front   suspension   used   trailing   arms   and   independent   springs   in   combination,   while   at   the   back   a rigid   “swing”   axle   was   supported   by   leaf   springs.   Both   at   the   front   and   at   the   back   the suspension was enhanced with “rubber air-filled hollow springs”. The   hydraulically   controlled   drum   brakes   operated   on   all   four   wheels   while   the   hand   brake operated   via   a   cable   linkage   to   the   rear   wheels.   Steering   was   of   the   then   common   worm   and roller type. The   2+2   coupé,   commended   in   the   manufacturer’s   publicity   for   its   “convincingly   simple   lines” was   advertised   at   5,595   DM,   a   price   which   increased   to   5,865   DM   in   November   1963.   From January   1963   the   cabriolet   was   also   offered,   priced   at   a   recommended   6,500   DM.   The   Glas   1004 had   the   smallest   engine   in   the   range,   and   this   was   offered   in   combination   with   the   full   four seater   sedan/saloon   only   from   September   1965.   A   still   unusual   optional   extra   from   August   1963 was disc brakes on the front wheels, fitted for an extra 195 DM. Press   comment   in   a   country   where   technical   innovation   generates   enthusiasm   was   very   positive in   respect   of   the   car’s   status   as   the   world’s   first   production   car   to   be   fitted   with   a   belt   driven camshaft,   but   criticised   the   unresponsiveness   of   the   standard   drum   brakes   and   the   heavy   clutch. The   car’s   tendency   to   pitch   under   acceleration   or   sharp   braking   which   was   attributed   to   its   short wheel   base   also   drew   criticism   as   did   the   “back   to   front”   gear   box   which,   as   on   the   existing   Isar, had   originally   been   intended   for   a   (never   produced   except   as   a   prototype)   front-wheel   drive small   car   and   accordingly   positioned   first   and   third   gears   nearest   to   the   driver,   with   second   and fourth nearest the front of the car.

1204/S 1204

The   full   four   seater   arrived   in   January   with   the   1204   which   had   its   cylinder   stroke   extended from   61   mm   to   73   mm,   to   give   an   engine   capacity   of   1,189   cc   and   claimed   maximum   power   of 39   kW   (53   PS)   at   5,100   rpm.   The   larger   engined   car   was   also   offered   as   a   coupé   and   as   a cabriolet.

1004 TS/1204 TS

In   November   1963   Glas   added   twin   carburettor   versions   of   both   the   992   cc   and   1,189   cc   engined cars    which    were    branded    as    the    Glas    1004    TS    and    the    Glas    1204    TS.    Claimed    maximum horsepower   output   on   these   twin   carburettor   powered   cars   were   46   kW   (63   PS)   at   6,000   rpm   and 51   kW   (70   PS)   at   5,750   rpm   respectively. The   faster   1204 TS   now   came   with   a   reported   top   speed of   160   km/h   which   matched   the   100   mph   barrier   in   the   US,   and   put   this   relatively   light-weight car    on    terms    with    several    Porsche    and   Alfa    Romeo    sports    cars    in    terms    of    straight    line performance.   The   1204   TS   also   managed   acceleration   from   0   to   100   km/h   (63   mph)   in   11.9 seconds,   although   the   car   with   this   engine   no   longer   offered   “small   car”   levels   of   fuel   economy. The   TS   powered   versionsof   the   car   came   with   front   disc   brakes   included   in   the   price   which provided,   according   to   a   contemporary   report,   “good   stopping   power   with   little   effort”.   With the   1204   TS,   in   May   1964   Glas   were   offering   for   6,980   DM   a   sporting   and   well   appointed   car   that in many respects matched competitor vehicles priced at 10,000 DM or more. In   1964   the   Glas   1204   TS   also   enjoyed   competition   success. A   1204   TS   driven   by   Gerhard   Bodmer finished   in   eighth   position   of   the   86   cars   that   started   in   the   500   km   Nürburgring   race,   achieving a   class   win   in   the   process.   The   Bodmer/Schmidt   partnership   were   equally   successful   in   the   Spa- Francorchamps   24   hour   race,   finishing   eighth   overall   and   achieving   a   class   win   ahead   of   their team-mates Lambrechts and Mombaerts in another 1204 TS.

1963

Engine 1189 cc 4 cylinders 53 hp. Top speed 160 km/h Lenght/width 3,83 m/1,50 m Weight 750 kg