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I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today!

18020 messages,  Last post on Dec 06, 2009 at 9:17 AM

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#16686 of 18020 Re: Borgward? [martian] by fintail Jul 06, 2009 (5:29 pm)
Replying to: martian (Jul 06, 2009 4:30 pm) I think Borgward was in the US for about 5 years...with the reasonably good looking Isabella coupe, and a few other weirdos.   The firm went under in Germany in the early 60s, but was made in Mexico until around 1970. Some kind of financial shenanigans. Replies to this message: mp67riv (Jul 08, 2009 7:56 am) fintail (Jul 08, 2009 8:24 am) Mr_Shiftright (Jul 08, 2009 8:36 am)
#16687 of 18020 Re: . [andre1969] by fintail Jul 06, 2009 (5:31 pm)
Replying to: andre1969 (Jul 06, 2009 4:53 pm) I was thinking it was a homemade badge when I first saw it, as the car looked to obviously be restored, and maybe had some kind of unique modification and a unique badge to go along with. I learned something, doesn't happen every day   And about a decade later, Pontiac would bless us again with the "T" prefix with the awesome T-1000. Replies to this message: toomanyfumes (Jul 06, 2009 5:57 pm)
#16688 of 18020 Re: Borgward? [martian] by andys120 Jul 06, 2009 (5:32 pm)
Replying to: martian (Jul 06, 2009 4:30 pm) How long was this rather obscure make sold in the USA? And, what happened to the firm..was it absorbed by a larger automobile maker?   I couldn't tell you definitively but I first became aware of them ca. 1957-8 and they ceased production in 1961. The primary export to the US was the Isabella Sport Coupe, a lower priced competitor to the Mercedes 190SL.   Production machinery was sold to a Mexican according to Wikipedia where they were produced from '67-'70.
#16689 of 18020 Re: . [fintail] by toomanyfumes Jul 06, 2009 (5:57 pm)
Replying to: fintail (Jul 06, 2009 5:31 pm) I remember a friend's parents had a T-37 Lemans. I think it was pretty stripped, I rode in it a few times but all I remember is it had the two speed powerglide trans.   I passed a Mustang convertible for sale this weekend, thought the sign said $2000 so I stopped to look. It ended up being $20,000. I think it was a '73, It was one of the bloated ones. Pretty pricey for probably one of the more undesireble Mustangs.
#16690 of 18020 There's a very rough... by lemko Jul 07, 2009 (10:27 am)
....1971-72 Pontiac LeMans four-door sedan for sale in my neighborhood. I can't tell what the original color was as almost every color is on it - white, black, blue, red...
#16691 of 18020 Re: Borgward? [fintail] by mp67riv Jul 08, 2009 (7:56 am)
Replying to: fintail (Jul 06, 2009 5:29 pm) In addition to the Isabella coupe, there was a two door sedan and, I believe, a two door wagon. My understanding is that they were fairly well made cars. The Isabella coupe had similar lines to the VW Karmann Ghia coupe. Replies to this message: fintail (Jul 08, 2009 8:24 am) Mr_Shiftright (Jul 08, 2009 8:36 am)
#16692 of 18020 Re: Borgward? [martian] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Jul 08, 2009 (7:59 am)
Replying to: martian (Jul 06, 2009 4:30 pm) That's right --Borgward was sold in the USA up to about 1961 or thereabouts. The company was then liquidated, assets sold off to pay creditors, and manufacturing rights sold to someone in Mexico. Apparently some Isabellas and some sedans were made in Mexico in the late 60s but I never saw one. The company died for good soon after that.   Mr. Borgward made some interesting cars, even a racer. But he was apparently a very eccentric, egomaniacal type, and drove his company in a wrong direction.   He could have been a contendah....he could have been somebody... Replies to this message: bumpy (Jul 08, 2009 10:34 am) Mr_Shiftright (Jul 08, 2009 11:22 am) bumpy (Jul 08, 2009 5:03 pm) fintail (Jul 08, 2009 12:31 pm)
#16693 of 18020 Re: Borgward? [mp67riv] by fintail Jul 08, 2009 (8:24 am)
Replying to: mp67riv (Jul 08, 2009 7:56 am) Yep, I think those were both sold in NA, and IIRC, they also had the Isabella name.   The cars have a decent following in Europe, and quite a few seem to have survived, so they were probably solid. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 08, 2009 8:36 am)
#16694 of 18020 Re: Borgward? [fintail] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Jul 08, 2009 (8:36 am)
Replying to: fintail (Jul 08, 2009 8:24 am) I've driven them, even worked on a couple of them. They were very well-made cars.
#16695 of 18020 Re: Borgward? [Mr_Shiftright] by bumpy Jul 08, 2009 (10:34 am)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 08, 2009 7:59 am) I read some website which alleged that Borgward (the company) went under when a German bank called in its loans at the behest of some friends-of-friends over at M-B who didn't like the prospect of competition for the fintail. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 08, 2009 11:22 am) bumpy (Jul 08, 2009 5:03 pm) fintail (Jul 08, 2009 12:31 pm)

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