The unexpected often happens
10/08/2025
At breakfast in the morning, my better half casually asked me if I knew that there were two Hansa cars on display in an old mill in the neighboring village. I had to say no, but when I heard the word "Hansa", I spontaneously remembered the 1100 coupé of a master painter who did work for my parents in the early 1960s.
And then I also remembered that my paternal grandfather, who lived in an old Hanseatic city, must have owned a Hansa limousine in the thirties. Now my curiosity was aroused. So off we went to the East Frisian town of Varel!
Since 1847, there has been a stately, almost 30-metre-high windmill (the so-called "Galerieholländer"), which has been used as a local history museum since 1974. It is well worth a visit and furnished with great attention to detail. Numerous exhibits are used to explain traditional trades such as baking, shoemaking and brick-making, as well as coastal protection, agriculture, livestock farming and fishing. You can also familiarize yourself with the Frisian sport of bowling.
But first we head straight for the coach house where the two Hansa cars are located. You should know that the Hansa car company was founded in Varel in 1905 and was renamed Hansa-Lloyd in 1914. The car factory was the largest employer in the town, at times employing 1200 people and producing over 10,000 vehicles. However, production ended in 1929 when the former supplier Borgward took over the Hansa factory and relocated production to Bremen.
Today, 15 cars of the original Hansa brand are said to still exist, two of which have been restored and are on display at the Varel Mill. Although "standing" is not quite correct, as both are roadworthy and are occasionally driven.
On the left is a yellow, open Hansa P8 from 1924. We are told by one of the museum's volunteers that the car is exciting to drive, if only because it is braked by the cardan shaft. This is supposedly the first car model with left-hand drive. However, I have also heard this before in the Horch Museum. Perhaps one of the readers knows more about this. To the right is a Hansa-Lloyd L6/20PS from 1919, a limousine with green/black paintwork.
But these are not the only vehicles in the museum. In addition to a Lanz Bulldog from 1938, which was used in the region, there is also a "Motoporter". This is a small truck that was also built in Varel between 1985 and 1988 and was extensively tested on the Grossglockner, among other places. The vehicle was intended for export to Eastern Europe and developing countries, but the pre-series of twelve units was discontinued. It's nice that at least one example has found its place in the local museum.
To come back to the headline: After visiting the mill and enjoying the beautiful view from its gallery, a visit to the former factory building not far from the windmill was obvious, almost obligatory. An eyesore or a "lost place" awaited us - depending on your point of view. The multi-storey building with an area of 2200 square meters was used to manufacture Hansa cars from 1910 to 1930. After that, the property was used for various purposes, most recently by the military, which housed a clothing store, among other things.
The building has been empty since 1996; unfortunately, there was an arson there at Easter 2024. It is regrettable that no suitable use has been found in almost three decades - especially as an automobile museum. Who knows? Maybe something will work out. In any case, I'll have a rummage through old family photos to see if there's still a picture of my grandfather's Hansa.
