Dr. (Eng.) Carl F.W. Borgward was the founder and owner of the Borgward group
in Bremen, West Germany. Born in 1890 in Hamburg-Altona and trained as a fitter
and turner, he later studied mechanical engineering. Wounded in World War 1, he
returned and bought a share in a small manufacturing business. This he then took over
and turned it into an automotive component manufacturer for radiators and fenders.
In 1924 he started making three-wheeler 200cc 2-stroke delivery vehicles which
became quite successful, and led to the Goliath light commercials. His business was
growing and in 1929 he also bought shares of the ailing Hansa-Lloyd company at a
discounted price, which also gave him control of the company.
In 1931 he launched the first Goliath passenger vehicle, the three-wheeled Pionier,
and some 4000 were sold. By 1934 Borgward launched the Hansa 1100 and 1700,
nice and well-enginered cars that re-established his reputation. Production of Goliath
and Hansa-Lloyd trucks continued.
Carl F. W.Borgward
10th Nov. 1890 to
28th July 1963
Aged 73
During the second World War, Borgward was forced to build military vehicles, but
most of his factories were destroyed in bombing raids. Borward had to start from
scratch after the War. His first post-war car was also the first all-new German car,
the Borgward Hansa 1500, released at the end of 1949. The modern styling of this
car was the work of Dr. Borgward himself as with all Borgward Group products.
In 1950 two new cars appeared, both with two-stroke motors and front-wheel-drive.
The tiny Lloyd with a 293 c.c. motor and the larger Goliath, with a 688 c.c. engine.
1952 the Borgward Hansa 1800 appeared and in June 1954 a totally new Hansa 1500
named Isabella, followed by the Isabella Coupé, Borgward´s most elegant design.
A total of 202‘862 Isabellas was produced.
In 1960 the big six cylinder Hansa 2400 was replaced by an all new design, the P100.
This car had a very advanced air suspension, well before Mercedes Benz followed
with the same system. Unfortunately only 2547 P100 were built before the end of
the Borgward Group.
The end of the Borgward Group is a sad story. The Government of the state of
Bremen claimed that Borgward was insolvent, and then forcefully acquired the
company and sold all the assets. All creditors were paid in full, proving that the
company had never been insolvent after all.
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