Description
PRICE REDUCTION! In 1954 Borgward presented the Isabella. Initially the 2-door saloon was to be called the Hansa 1500, but strong support from employees and the press swayed the company to use the test vehicle name of Isabella. The Hansa 1500 still persisted to be used in the first few years. In 1957 Borgward decided to produce a slimmer 2+2 coupé. Many Borgward enthusiasts believe it is the prettiest the brand ever made.
The Borgward is no cheap car, being considerably more expensive than its Ford and Opel competitors but not quite as expensive as a Mercedes-Benz. The monocoque bodywork is unusual for its time and the press was full of praise. Under the bonnet we find a 1, 493 cc four-cylinder engine producing 75 hp.
This Isabella was initially supplied in June 1957, the first production year of the Coupé, making this early vehicle even more desirable. In 1961 the car arrived in the Netherlands before finally officially being registered in 1963. The best bit we can report on is the fact the one and only Dutch owner kept the car until 2023, an amazing 60 years! We can truly claim this special car has a unique provenance. That sole Dutch owner kept all documentation in tidy order with invoices going back to the 60’s. Other information has also been preserved featuring photos of the car’s restoration, original booklets, the Borgward register book with lot of stickers covering many years of active participation as well as other unique items normally lost in time.
The car is an older restoration and the photos show it was taken back to bare metal. Following its restoration the car was only ever used recreationally. That has left us with a particularly fine vehicle. As the car was restored some years ago it gives the impression of the car being in original condition rather than being recently over-restored. That does not take away from the impression you get that this is a beautifully looking Borgward.
The internal quality matches the exterior, not just the finish but also the absence of any damage and broken items. It gives one the feeling of being in a time-capsule. The Isabella is of course a fine place to be in with its swanky art-deco style dashboard. The seats have been tastefully upholstered in tow-tone finish and are very comfortable.
The Borgward’s ride is tremendous. The comfortable seats, the easy to use gearstick navigates nicely through its four gears. The engine feels lively adding to your overall driving pleasure. The Isabella’s brakes and steering are all in great order thanks to the fine braking system and well-maintained suspension.
If you are looking for a stylish classic, fully ready to tackle many a mile, then this coupé is an unusual but very good choice.
