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The big Borgward - comfort for the gentleman driver

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Created on January 20, 2012

Reading time 8min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Balz Schreier

17

Bruno von Rotz

17

Archiv / Peter Kurze, Bremen

10

Archiv

32

Balz Schreier

17

Bruno von Rotz

17

Archiv / Peter Kurze, Bremen

10

Archiv

32

Borgward P 100 (1961) - die beiden Panorama-Scheiben prägen die Form

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Oberklassen-Limousine

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - rund 4,7 Meter lang ist der Borgward P 100

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Frontansicht

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Heckansicht

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - der Traum der gut verdienenden Geschäftsreisenden Ende der Fünfzigerjahre

Bild von Partner Porsche AMAG November Foto-Galerie 2025

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - die Länge alleine machte ihn schon zum grossen Borgward

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - die grosse Familie kann kommen, bis zu sechs Personen nimmt der Borgward auf

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Front mit dem Borgward-Rombus

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Zugstieg durch vier Türen

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Borgward sprach zwar von der 'neuen europäischen Linie', aber amerikanische Einflüsse sind nicht wegzudiskutieren

Bild von Partner Planai Classic 2025 Inline 1

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - eigenständig gestaltete Front

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - kunstvolle Leuchteinheiten hinten

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Kühlergrill und Borgward-Schriftzug

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Borgward-Schriftzug auf der Motorhaube

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Borgward-Schriftzug auf der Flanke

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Hecklampen_DSC2851

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Rundungen und Ecken keck kombiniert

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - praktische Peilkanten

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - alles unter Kontrolle

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Lenkräder mussten glänzen damals

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - fährt sich entspannt

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - dank Schiebedach auch Luft von oben

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - guter Rundumblick dank Panorama-Scheibe

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Ausblick über die grosse Motorhaube

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Funktionelles Interieur

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - auch im Innern Chrom und Glanz

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Armaturenbrett

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Borgward-Wappen in der Lenkradmitte_DSC2837

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - das Originalradio

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - schön gestaltete Schalter, moderne Piktogramme

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - wohnlich aussehendes Gestühl

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - runde Kopfstützen

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - da kann man sich auch mal chauffieren lassen

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Hansa 2400 (1952) - der mit diversen Kinderkrankheiten auf den Markt gebrachte Wagen war nicht erfolgreich - Abbildung aus dem Verkaufsprospekt

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Borgward P 100 (1959) - der grosse Borgward mit 2,3-Liter-Motor an der IAA 1959

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Borgward P 100 (1959) - Premiere war an der IAA 1959, die neue europäische Linie des P 100 - das frühe Modell erkennt man am Fehlen der Zierleisten unterhalb der Fensterlinie

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - die Sechszylinder-Limousine wird als Reisewagen angepriesen

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - Vorserienmodell vor dem siamesischen Tempel Thai-Sala in Bad Homburg im Kurpark aufgenommen

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - Armaturenbrett

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - der Sechszylinder-Motor

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - Abmessungen

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - Durchsichtszeichnung zeigt Aufhängungsfunktionsweise

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - Durchsichtszeichnung

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - Frontbereich des Produktionmodelles mit Zierleisten unterhalb der Fensterlinie

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - frühes Werksfoto der Sechszylinderlimousine

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - grosser Kofferaum für alle Fälle

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - Heckansicht

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - in ungewöhnlicher Farbwahl - aus dem Verkaufsprospekt

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - repräsentative Reiselimousine mit 2,3 Liter Hubraum und 160 kmh Spitze

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - schlichte Linienführung, aber angedeutete Heckflossen mussten sein

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - Skizze der Luftfederungs-Konstruktion

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - so standesgemäss wäre 1960 mancher gerne gereist - Vorserienmodell ohne Zierleisten unterhalb der Fensterlinie

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Borgward P 100 (1960) - standesgemäss parken

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Abendstimmung in der Pressemappe

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - für Leute von Welt - Abbildung aus dem Verkaufsprospekt

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Blick ins Interieur

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Funktionsweise der Luftfederung erklärt anhand einer Durchsichtszeichnung

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Blick durch den Motor - Durchsichtszeichnung

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Blick durch den Motor von der Stirnseite

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Eleganz der späten Fünfzigerjahre

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Portrait eines Testwagens

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Firmenbesitzer Carl F. W. Borgward lehnt sich stolz an seine Oberklassenlimousine

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Carl F. W. Borgward - ein Autobauer mit Weitblick

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Borgward P 100 (1962) - mit seinem geistigen Vater Carl F W Borgward

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - guter Einstieg in die komfortable Limousine

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Blick in den grossen Kofferraum

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Rücksitzbereich eines Testwagen

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Borgward P 100 (1962) - demontierte Türen an diesem Demonstrationsobjekt - sechs Sitzplätze

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Borgward P 100 (1962) - Funktionsweise der Hinterradaufhängung

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Borgward P 100 (1962) - standesgemäss vor dem Parkhotel

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Arbeitsumfeld des Fahrers

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Armaturenbrett des Langstreckentestwagens

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Frontansicht des Testwagens

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - gestreckte Silhouette des Langstreckentestwagens

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Heckansicht des Langstreckentestwagens

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Borgward P 100 (1961) - Blick in den Kofferraum des Langstreckentestwagens

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Borgward 230 GL (1965) - der direkte Nachfahre, der in Mexiko produziert wurde, aber auch nicht erfolgreich war

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Borgward 230 (1965) - das günstigste Modell aus Mexiko musste ohne Flossen auskommen

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Summary

With the Borgward P 100, also known as the 2.3 liter, Airswing or 'big Borgward', Carl F. W. Borgward achieved a technical masterpiece. The P 100 was the first passenger car to be available with air suspension. Thanks to proven technology and generous interior dimensions, as well as an attractive body, the big Borgward had everything it needed to be successful against the established luxury car class. However, the bankruptcy of Borgward in 1961 put an end to all dreams. This report describes the history and technology of this automotive milestone and is supplemented by original brochures, press releases and many current and historical pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Unloved ancestor Hansa 2400
Entry into the luxury class
The famous air suspension
What should it be called?
Choice of technology with rationalization in mind
Equipment for the spoiled
Enthusiasm from the trade press
Compact chauffeur-driven sedan?
An early end, or not?
Cheap to buy, expensive to restore
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Business was going well for engineer Müller in 1960, so it was time to look for a new car. It had to be innovative, elegant, comfortable and convenient, and also have a good price/performance ratio. With these criteria, a Ponton-Mercedes was too staid, a BMW 502 too expensive, an Opel Kapitän too conservative. But it was the "big Borgward" that appealed to Mr. Müller. He was enthusiastic about the "new line" and the almost sports car-like handling. He could not have foreseen that the manufacturer would close its doors just a few months after the purchase. The Borgward P 100 was not the first 'big' car that Carl F. W. Borgward brought onto the market. As early as 1952, he presented the Hansa 2400, which was not enthusiastically received by customers with its hatchback body and fault-prone self-developed automatic transmission.

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