1961 Borgward Isabella

The Borgward automobile (Carl F. W. Borgward GmbH) was revered in Bremen, Germany, where it was produced from 1929 until 1961, with the Isabella being produced from June 1954 through 1962. Carl Borgward was a German engineer and designer who progressed from general engineering to the manufacture of three-wheeled trucks under the Blitzkarren and Goliath names in the mid-1920s. Hansa-Lloyd was taken over by the Borgward group in 1931, but it was not until 1939 that the Borgward name first appeared on a motor car.

At one point, Borgward was Germany's second-largest automobile manufacturer, and they also produced commercial vehicles along with other manufactured products.

After World War II, production resumed with the Lloyd LP300, a small saloon built initially with timber and fabric bodywork, and then in 1952, Borgward introduced Germany's first all-new design of the post-war era, the Hansa 1800. It had a backbone chassis, a fully independent suspension, and an all-synchromesh gearbox.

Badged as the 'Hansa 1500' until 1957, the Isabella (its factory code name) would become the most successful Borgward ever, thanks in part to its modern, unitary construction body/chassis and elegant American-influenced styling. More powerful (75bhp) Cabriolet and Coupé versions joined the range and were excellent performers, with a 153km/h maximum speed and exemplary road manners.

The Isabella range was sold in a Plethora of guises, including a coupe, two-door saloon, cabriolet, and estate (Combi). The estate wagon was introduced in 1955, followed by a two-door cabriolet and then by the more powerful 75 hp engine. A more sporting two-door coupe equipped with this motor and a slightly shorter greenhouse was developed, including four prototypes with one going to Carl Borgward's wife, Elizabeth, who continued to drive it well into the 1980s. Commercial production of the largely hand-built Borgward Isabelle Coupe began in 1957. A total of 9,537 examples of the Isabella Coupe were made in total.

The Trans-Atlantic styling featured plenty of chrome, and was a handsome alternative to Opel and Ford, neatly bridging the gap to more expensive offerings from Mercedes-Benz. Each example wore a Borgward Rhombus, a diamond-shaped emblem with the word 'Isabella' in the center, on the front area.

The compact four-cylinder 1,493cc engine was mated to a four-speed, all-synchromesh gearbox via a hydraulic clutch, using a column-change lever typical for cars of the period. In standard guise, the overhead valve four-cylinder engine produced 60 horsepower, while the more potent 75 horsepower 'TS' unit with two Solex twin-choke carburetors was used in the cabriolet and later in the saloon. With independent suspension via coil springs and using a swing axle at the rear, the Isabella handled well and proved a willing performer with excellent road manners.

The well-appointed bespoke cabin of the TS Saloon offered space for four adults to travel in comfort and style. Typical Germanic interior features included the padded dashboard and large steering. It had a wide cabin, a large glass area, a clock, and a row of electrical switches on the dash which were ivory in color. The eight switches (a full octave) were in the shape of 'ivories' of a piano keyboard.

Production of the Borgward Isabella continued until 1962, when the company entered receivership (due to a controversial bankruptcy), and thus, no replacement followed. During its eight-year production lifespan, Borgward produced 202,862 examples of the Isabella. A recession had left the company short of cash, and neither the Bremen City Senate nor the national government in Bonn would provide the needed bridge loan. Carl Borgward was forced to turn his company over to the City Senate, and they filed for bankruptcy. The final Borgward rolled off the assembly line in 1962.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2022