Highlights

Splendid Havana Beige paint Two-door saloon
Purchased from museum

The Appeal

German automobile manufacturer Borgward introduced the superbly styled Isabella in 1954 and thanks to its smartly placed pricing and the enthusiastic reception it received, it became the best-selling model before the unfortunate demise of the brand in 1961.

As production only lasted 8 years, good examples of Isabella are becoming increasingly rare, this saloon variant has survived the test of time thanks to spending a vast amount of its life in a German museum.

Its spectacular styling appears to adopt elements from both German luxury with a hint of American flair, resulting in a beautiful car inside and out.

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The History and Paperwork

V5C
MOT to March 2025
Purchased & Imported 2007
English workshop manual
Miscellaneous books and manuals
Original German registration booklet
Serviced March 2024
Purchased from German Museum which was closing down

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The Interior

Brown/tan trim
Great condition overall
Repaired tear in rear of front passenger seat
Blaupunkt radio
Added seatbelts

Inside the Isabella, you’re greeted with a pleasant environment built off of splendour and luxury.

The brown trim is in great order overall, with only a few blemishes present which have been photographed. The colour scheme of brown, ivory and gold adds a deluxe feel to the car, with the styling of the dash almost what you would expect in an upper market American car.

The multiple aftermarket floor mats cover the otherwise bare floor, but there's no sign of anything under toward. In summary, the interior is brilliant, stylish and enjoyable. Easy to see why the car became such a hit in the short time it was produced

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The Exterior

Havana Beige Paint
Gorgeous styling
Great condition

The highlight of this car for us is the paint colour, the Havana Beige is gorgeous, a light coffee colour and super accompaniment to the interior. The additional brightwork styling is beautiful, with details on the bonnet and sides adding the prestigious look Bogward was aiming for.

Overall, this is a fantastic-looking car in great condition. We wouldn't be surprised to learn if this is one of the best on the market at this moment in time.

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The Mechanics

1493cc straight-4 engine
Serviced March 2024
MOT until March 2025
Only 6000km covered since 2007
6v electrics

During our visit, the car was started and manoeuvred multiple times each time the 1493cc engine sprung into action calmly and without dramatics.

The soft rumble of the straight-4 provided a pleasing, vintage note, operating sweetly as the car was moved around. A recent oil and filter service was carried out, plus a new battery and MOT earlier in the year.

Post import, the brake lights were replaced with UK legal versions plus replacement tyres all round. The car is reported to be in great mechanical condition, with no known areas of concern.

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Summary

The short-lived Isabella is a fantastic and attractive car and becoming increasingly rare due to the short production run. In its time it put Borgward at the top of the German market and planted the name in history as one of the great forgotten brands.

It is reluctantly being put up for sale for the first time since it left the German museum and arrived here in the UK, only being sold due to the vendors relocating.

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.

✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.

✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.

✓Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection

or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]