THE FLAG SHIP
THE GLAS V8

GLAS 2600 V 8 Water-cooled, 160 cubic inch, 8 cylinder in V configuration motor up front, 4 to 5 passenger coupe, 140 HP, disk brakes all around, 175 HR-14 tires, top speed 120 MPH, designed by Pietro Frua in Turin, Italy.

Now GLAS is "reaching for the stars" proclaimed many visitors of the 1965 IAA when they saw at the stand of the "Dingolfinger" this completely new automobile. An exclusive 4 to 5-passenger sport coupe, reaching for customers who were looking for a sporty automobile with a lot of curb appeal, was here on display. With this car, which was geared up in a few short years for production, Glas wanted to penetrate the exclusive circle of super cars. The body, again designed by the Italian Pietro Frua, certainly made this car very attractive. Its similarity to Maserati earned the Glas V8 the nickname "Glaserati".
The heart of the vehicle was the V8-motor with its 2,600 cc (160 cubic inch) displacement and 140 HP, which catapulted the car to a top speed of 120 MPH. Development costs of the engine could be kept low, because utilizing the GLAS parts bin principle, many proven parts from the 1300 cc motor could be used. The chassis had a wheelbase of 2.50 meter and a track of 1.42 meter. The front axle used double wishbones. Of special interest was the rear axle design. Here one could find a DeDion axle with a Panhard stabilizer link and an automatic ride height adjustment using Boge-Hydromat struts. The layout of the interior was also beautiful. The dashboard with the seven round-faced instruments reminded one of a clock makers shop. Interior furnishings and presentation was exclusive and sporty at the same time. On the outside, stretched design features, a low belt line, large glass areas and the discreet use of chrome provided the car with the flair of distinction. The comments from the press of, "Shark in a fish pond", "The rocket from Dingolfing", and "The highest member of the aristocracy", were examples how this sleek car was praised. Production of this car started in July of 1966. The performance was upgraded to 150 HP at 5,600 RPM. With the enlarged displacement of 3,000 cc, performance went to 160 HP once BMW took over. From July 1966 until May of 1968 718 cars were built, 300 with a 2.6 liter motor and 418 with the 3.0 liter motor. The first 2.6 liter models were offered for US$4,500 and towards the end BMW offered them for US$6,250. BMW also managed to address many of the teething problems associated with a new design before the decision was made to halt production. All that was left to roll off the production lines now were the Goggomobils, the very same cars that started the promising and successful Glas Automobile era.