Borgward Isabella Classic Cars for Sale

Originally called the Borgward Hansa 1500, what soon became known as the Borgward Isabella was manufactured between 1954 to 1962 by Carl F.W. Borgward GmbH. The Isabella was designed with a smaller engine than the Borgward Hansa and was also slightly shorter. The first few hundred that were manufactured didn't have the Isabella badge and the vehicle was for a time known by its original name, but since the name Isabella had been used on test vehicles and proved popular with staff, the name somehow stuck.

Borgward Isabella - Enthusiastically received

It was with great enthusiasm that the Isabella Borgward hit the market place in 1954 and in that year 11,150 rolled out of the factory doors ready for sale. It was particularly praised for its wide and spacious cabin, large windows and highly effective breaking system. The inclusion of a clock and cigarette lighter was deemed a novelty at the time, too. The Isabella Borgward was priced somewhat higher than other competitor sedans such as those by Opel and Ford, but it still proved to be much cheaper option than Mercedes Benz's 180.

Construction techniques

The Isabella Borgward was constructed using the monocoque technique where the shell structurally supports the load of the body throughout without having a separate chassis, a feature which made modifications quite tricky when it came to the cabriolet in particular. The body itself was somewhat more curvy than its predecessors and came replete with a stylish chrome trim that gave it an appealing finish.

Variations on a theme

Variations of the Isabella Borgward were manufactured at intervals after the original came to market. It wasn't long before designers brought out an estate version, which was followed by a two door cabriolet. The cabriolet was contracted out to Karl Deutsch in Cologne. The cabriolet version was quite challenging to manufacture as the monocoque design had to undergo a number of modifications to make it structurally sound, all of which came with a price tag and it consequently didn't sell quite as well as was hoped. Other variations on the Isabella Borgward included the Isabella Coupe, the Isabella Combi and the Borgward Isabella TS Saloon.

Bankruptcy in 1961 saw an end to production, although manufacturing continued for a year or so at the Bremen plant. Models also continued to be made in Argentina until 1963.