1959 Borgward Isabella Coupe
Developed after a significant sales dip in the mid-1950s, Carl Borgward set out to build a more visually striking companion to the Isabella sedan.
The result drew comparisons to the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia and the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, though the Borgward achieved its appearance through its own purity of line.
The coupe’s roofline sits approximately 4.7 inches lower than the sedan’s, giving it a longer, more elegant stance despite sharing roughly the same 173-inch overall length.
Commercial production began in 1957, with the coupe powered by the more potent TS version of the engine. That unit is a 1.5-liter four-cylinder producing 75 bhp at 5,200 rpm, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox, and capable of around 93 mph.
The Isabella used unitary (monocoque) construction, which during the 1950s was still becoming the norm in automotive manufacturing. Curb weight for the coupe was approximately 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg).
A total of 9,537 Isabella Coupes were produced between 1957 and 1961, and the model is widely regarded as the most collectible Borgward. Production effectively ended in 1961 ahead of the company’s insolvency proceedings in 1961, though remaining cars were titled into 1962.
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