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Temperamental lady from Bremen - Borgward Isabella TS in the (historic) test

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Created on January 1, 1960

Reading time 14min

Written by:

Heinz Kranz

Photos:

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Borgward Isabella TS (1958) - als zweitürige Limousine

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Borgward Isabella (1958) - als dunkle zweitürige Limousine in Normalausführung

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Borgward Isabella TS (1959) - zweitürige Limousine

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Borgward Isabella (1958) - als zweitürige Limousine

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Als TS-Version 15 PS stärker: Die Isabella von Borgward

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Borgward Isabella TS de Luxe (1958) - komfortablel ausgestattete zweitürige Limousine

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Borgward Isabella TS de Luxe (1959) - als zweitürige Limousine mit Luxus-Anspruch

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Borgward Isabella (1959) - Normalausführung mit Faltdach

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In dieser Hinsicht ist noch Raum für Verbesserungen vorhanden. Ein paar Modifikationen an Sitzen und Armaturenbrett wären dem Verkauf sicherlich nicht abträglich.

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Borgward Isabella (1959) - Blick ins Interieur

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Borgward Isabella (1958) - mit LIegesitzen

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Borgward Isabella (1958) - Blick in den Heckbereich der Limousine

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Borgward Isabelle (1958) - Vorderradschemel, gesehen am Genfer Autosalon 1958

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Mit einem Verbrauch um 9 Liter pro hundert Kilometer macht sich die hübsche Limousine nicht zu Mutter Naturs Hauptfeind. Dieser Buche war das einerlei...

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Von der hübschen Hanseatin gibt es auch eine überaus elegante Coupé-Version, hier gezeigt am Genfer Autosalon 1957.

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Borgward Isabella Cabriolet (1957) - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1957 - Seite, links-vorne

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Borgward Isabella (1955) - als zweisitziges Cabriolet mit Notsitzen - Genfer Automobilsalon 1955

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Verglichen mit den beiden Brütsch Zwerg wirkt auch die Isabella wie eine Riesin.

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Vereint viele Funktionen in seiner Person: Firmen-Patron sowie Schöpfer und Namensgeber der Isabella, Carl F. W. Borgward

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Die Isabella bietet neben sehr ansprechenden Fahrleistungen Eleganz, Komfort und ein Blechkleid, das man immer wieder gerne in Augenschein nimmt.

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Borgward Isabella (1959) - Werbung aus dem Jahre 1959 -

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Die Werbung meint es einen Hauch zu gut. Zuweilen gab sich sich die Isabella nicht hundertprozentig trittsicher, als unberechenbares Fahrzeug kann sie aber trotzdem keineswegs gelten.

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Es gibt deutlich schlechtere automobile Geldanlagen als die vielseitige und preiswerte Borgward Isabella.

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Zeitungsinserat, in dem die A. P. Glättli ihr neues Gebäude für den Schweiz-Import der Fahrezuge ankündigte

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Summary

Still plagued by design flaws at the beginning of its production, the Isabella had developed into a solid automobile by the beginning of the 1960s at the latest. With its unrivaled TS engine, the still attractive bodywork and the spacious interior, it impressed the test drivers, who also noted a few strange peculiarities of the Borgward sedan. This article quotes the original driving report from 1960 and shows the Isabella in extensive historical photos and sales material.

This article contains the following chapters

The best first
Well-mannered consumption
Nice and fast
Cornering behavior that takes some getting used to and cobblestone allergy
Impeccable brakes with additional function
Plenty of space inside and a few trifles
Climate control
From the female perspective
Technical data, measurements and prices

Estimated reading time: 14min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Today, the name Isabella has almost as much "intrinsic weight" as the Borgward family name. This is a good sign, as it proves that this model enjoys a good reputation and is known far and wide. In her early youth, the Isabella was merely beautiful, but her qualities quickly grew over the years. She has hardly changed externally in these six years, as her figure has always been impeccable: she did not need any annual touch-ups. The engine of the TS version, which is the subject of our test, is clearly Germany's most powerful one-and-a-half-liter. At 50 hp/l, its performance level is still around 10 hp higher than that of the latest engine designs from the 1960 vintage of utility cars. So even today, six years after its "birth", it is still an ultra-modern car in terms of its engine. Whether it is on the outside is a matter for everyone to decide for themselves, because as we all know, there is no arguing about taste, at least not with any prospect of agreement.

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