I found one for sale and I don't know too much info on one, so what is the rareity of one and how hard is it to find parts for this kind of car that they only made for 7 years? Thanks, Brandyn.
I knew a guy who had about 4 or 5 of them. But he passed away and his collection was sold off. ( apart from some '50s Nash's there wasn't much I was interested in.) The Borgies went back to Germany...
you can find some info from the Arcane Auto Society (they have a yahoo groups page). There are a couple people in the group that know the marque pretty well, and if they dont have the info you need they can point you in the right direction. I think Nads was looking for one of these... so if you dont want it, you might let him know about it.
I think I might stay with this find because it is such a interesting car and I havent seen one before.
Here is the German owners club page. Probably your best bet if you do get stuck for anything. I can help translate if you get stuck. http://www.borgward-ig.de/cms/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&Itemid=67
I believe it was GM who sold them as some GM dealerships in the 50s-60s. including a dealership in Oregon. My central Oregon neighbor in high school had an Isebella coupe parked out in their driveway...didn't run so my buddy snagged the bucket seats for his 40 chevy sedan. I own the Isabella's little brother, the Lloyd, made by Borgward. Mine's a 57 tudor sedan. They were front-drive, air cooled short-stroke engined cars. Isabellas were a more conventional design.
Whole car is assembled with screws.Thousands of them. Ok...maybe hundreds.I know a guy here in Minnesota with a few Isabellas and have seen them inside and out.If it's a rust belt car take a long look around the entire car and see if those screws show signs of rust.
Parts where us this guy located in minnesota so maybe I could ask him about the car and what I have to know about and how hard it is to find parts?
For some reason they're big here in South Africa. For the numbers they were made in they're one of the most popular classics here. They have a reputation of having been put together really well; seem to have been a lot of car for the money in their day.
There were a lot of sedans in the Wasington Valley (Oregon) when I was in High School. I drove one once it was a thrill??? I personally wouldn't bother with one if you gave it to me but to each his own I guess.
I had one , the same color even, was going to do it had it running and everything. I went to price parts I was going to need like wheel cylinders and marker lens and other items. I found they were available and plentiful in germany. I got all excited the parts weren't that expensive ....until I priced the shipping ,,,,whoa!!!!! I rethought it and sold the car to a well to do vintage grandprixer........I just wasn't that in love with it I guess. I used the cash on another project.
Scarce in the US; I've seen exactly one, and it was in an old junkyard. Probably still there, but this being NY, it would probably break in two if you moved it.
I have a friend that is currently transplanting a complete Mazda Miata drive line into one of these. It should be pretty cool considering all the race car stuff available for the Miatas He has 2 cars also for spare parts. His is the first one that I've seen (that I can recall)
As I understand, most guys over here look to Eastern Europe for parts for these kind of cars. Maybe Bluto would know of something? The former Eastern Bloc didn't have quite the turnover on cars as the West, so they still have some old stuff in storage. I own a 1936 Hansa, which is also a Borgward/Lloyd product. And it's put together with a surprisingly large amount of screws...
buy it..... hoof out the drive train and (as I was gona say but got beat to it) Mazda Miata drivetrain transplant.....even stuff in the seats... shave off the chrome (if its shit or missing parts) fabricate some rear lights and front indicators....would make a real nice little cruiser
I know a guy who has a coupe as well as a whole bunch of sedans, all unrestored and I don't think you could restore the sedans, his coupe is original but nice enough to be able to hop in and go get a road worthy certificate. Nice cars, at first they seem really rare but when you look you'l find tons of clubs, cars and parts. I love the Lloyd Rocky! Thanks Hayden
I have several tons of engine parts brought with us There are bearings, pistons, valves stuff like that to fit many brands
That's some good advice - replace the suspension too. You'll then have a cool looking car (sorta like a Karmann Ghia on steriods) and no rare parts issues. You can probably part out the original running gear on the owners club forum and reduce the cost of your project.
A friend of mine had a 1958 sedan and in it's time it was a better build but more expensive than a Mercedes and that's also the reason they went bankrupt in the 60's. Here in Holland (Rotterdam) there is a guy who sells parts for them and also there are plenty pics of Isabellas. http://www.borgward-isabella.nl/ http://www.toxopeus.com/fotos2.htm http://www.toxopeus.com/fotos3.htm http://www.toxopeus.com/fotos4.htm http://www.toxopeus.com/fotos1.htm Hennie
Im the one that owns the the car and I guess the classic dodge guy dont want it so it is still available for $2500.
Dad had the wagon model, the engine dropped out from the bottom after removing the front suspension but was easier than it sounds. Vergil
The were considered somewhat of an exclusive car in Europe in the day. The had some pretty nice body lines unlike your average Opel or German Ford. Never saw them much on the roads even 30 plus years ago. I like the Miata drivetrain idea!
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