1959 Borgward Isabella Coupe
Sold: $26,000
Specifications
| Engine | In-line four-cylinder,1493cc |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 4-speed manual |
| Body Work | Coupe |
| Colour | Silver |
| Interior | Cream/Red |
| Trim | Leather |
| Wheels | Steel |
| Brakes | Drum |
Description
One of the more elegant German cars of the 1950s was the Borgward Isabella, a high quality saloon offering exceptional performance from a smallish engine and beautifully finished coachwork. It was rumoured Dr. Carl Borgward conceived the Isabella Coupe in response to a remark by his wife indicating a certain fondness for the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.
The Isabella Coupe was powered by the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit as that employed in the saloon, using a cast iron block with an alloy cylinder head. Developing 75bhp in TS form thanks to a Solex twin-choke carburettor (all Coupes built between 1957 and 1961 came with the more powerful engine), power was delivered through an all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox and suspension was fully independent thanks to wishbones and coils up front and a swing axle at the rear.
The downside to the Isabella was the fiendishly expensive price in export markets and sales were restricted as a result, making the car very rare in Australia. The Isabella Coupe was praised for its handling abilities, superb build quality and luxuriously appointed interior and is today a well regarded piece of classic German engineering from the 1950s.
