1960 Borgward Isabella Coupe

1960 Borgward Isabella Coupe. I purchased this beautiful car from the original owner, in 2001. She said she purchased the car from the 1960 Frankfurt Auto Show while stationed in Germany. She drove the car throughout Europe, including a trip to the Cote d'Azur then had the car shipped to the United States. She used her Borgward as daily transport until 1982 when it was placed on jack stands and covered with a tarp.

When I purchased the car, the engine was seized, the brakes locked and the paint flaking. I set out to recommission the car and contacted the USA Borgward club and was encouraged to contact master-mechanic Hans Bruckler for repairs and servicing. An engine was sourced through eBay and the car was made to run and drive very well. Shortly thereafter, the car was road-worthy.

In 2002, the Coupe participated in her first Borgward USA club meet. Around that time, the car received an extremely rare and period-correct Blaupunkt Am/Fm Stereo radio with ivory colored buttons. Then a extremely rare 6V transistor-type VDO tachometer was installed. As per a promise to Ms. Shoemaker, the Coupe was repainted in its original color of Aero Blue. The seats were recovered with a fabric covers that imitate the factory design. At that years Borgward club meet, Ms. Monica Borgward (Carl's daughter) signed the right hand sun visor. Her signature is eerily similar to the fender scripts on the car.

I used the Coupe as my daily driver while working at Art Center College of Design from 2003 to 2007 racking up 35,000 carefree miles without missing a beat. A career change relegated the Coupe to pleasure drives and club meets. I installed a C-Tek trickle charger to keep her battery up and "on the button." The coupe is always garaged and covered when not in use. This car draws crowds and is always a conversation piece.

Since obtaining the car, I have tried to accumulate as many Borgward parts as possible. Included with the sale of the Coupe are: A complete front end cross-member, a rebuildable TS engine and transmission, rear windshield and side glass, re-chromeable bumpers with the original "towel racks," and miscellaneous engine and body parts including some trim pieces.