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WATCH: Something vintage - the Legendary Borgward Isabella is still a SA-loved classic

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Image: DW
Image: DW

We review a lovely old car with a lovely name: the Borgward Isabella. Built in 1954, it was the brainchild of engineer Carl F. W. Borgward. 

In the 1950s, the German sports sedan was a cut above the competition.

The Borgward Isabella might sound like a fictional car from a Harry Potter movie, but it's not. The vehicle was manufactured by the Bremen-based auto-manufacturer Carl F. W. Borgward GmbH from 1954 to 1962 in Germany.

READ: Incredible classic car collection - 12 rare, historic Jaguars to go under the hammer

Initially, the Isabella would have been known as the Borgward Hansa 1500 but according to the automaker's history, the Isabella name was used on test vehicles and proved popular with engineering staff and media. 

The production car was subsequently renamed and only the first few hundred examples were built without Isabella badging.

The Borgward Isabella even made its way to South Africa. When production of the vehicle ceased in Bremen during 1961, a small group of enthusiasts in Cape Town decided to come together to "create friendship and to ensure preservation of the brand".

The little club grew much favour and expanded nationally, even gaining club members from Namibia and Zimbabwe. 

The local website is currently still active online and the club is still participating in local events. Although few and far between, there are still a few Borgwards around being given the utmost care by its owners.   



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