Borgward’s most successful and now legendary car stirred up the German luxury class from 1954, initially as the Hansa 1500. As an inexpensive and modern alternative to the small Mercedes, the elegant Bremen found over 200,000 companions in seven years. In 1955, the station wagon and the 75 hp TS version appeared. The deadly chic Isabella Coupé was added in 1957, which like the sedan was also available as an exclusive convertible. The abrupt Borgward collapse in 1961 also ended Isabella’s career.

The Borgward Isabella is a passenger car of the middle class, which the Carl F. W. Borgward G.m.b.H. in Bremen-Sebaldsbrück built from 1954 to 1961. The car, which was offered exclusively as a two-door model or as a three-door station wagon, was the most successful model of the Borgward Group. From June 10, 1954, it was initially produced under the name “Hansa 1500”.

The later name “Isabella” was not the result of market research, but a spontaneous inspiration of Carl F. W. Borgward himself. Asked what to write on the still top-secret pre-production models when they went on test drives in public traffic, Borgward is said to have replied, “I don’t care; write Isabella on it for all I care.” From 1957, the original camouflage name could be read in the Borgward rhombus of the radiator grille. The U.S. company BorgWarner objected in early 1958 that the tip of the rhombus – Borgward’s trademark – separated the company name on the hood into Borg and ward and could cause confusion with its name. It therefore threatened legal action, whereupon the rhombus was reduced in size on Isabella models from mid-1958 onwards, thus avoiding the visual separation of the company name.

The modern concept and pleasing appearance of the Hansa 1500 (Isabella) were greeted enthusiastically when it was unveiled in 1954. The car met the public’s taste and was a sales success from day one. After a development period of only ten months, the model was initially afflicted with numerous minor defects, but these were gradually remedied.

When in 1956 the sales of the Isabella had decreased by almost one third compared to 1955, Carl Borgward decided to build a “nice car” with a shortened roof. As a result, the Borgward Isabella Coupé was created, of which initially four prototypes were released to the public and aroused the interest of the press. Borgward gave one of these handmade prototypes to his wife Elisabeth for Christmas 1956, who drove it until the 1980s. The serial production of the Coupé (with the TS engine), of which about 9500 to a maximum of 10,000 were built, began in January 1957. Due to the short roof structure and the 12 centimeters lower height, the car appeared long and elegant, although it was with 4.40 m not longer than the sedan. The engine, which accelerated the coupe from 25 km/h in fourth gear to a top speed of 150 km/h, was found to be elastic and smooth-running in car tests.