The extinct Borgward Dream Car

It's GONE Have you ever knew of Borgward, a German' classic car brand? If you don't know about it, this brand was first founded by Carl F. W. Borgward back in 1919. And during the 1950s to early of 1960s, this Bremen-based automaker had produced several car such as Bogward Hansa 1500, Borgward P100 and the famous ones named Borgward Isabella before being declared bankrupt in 1961 (even its modern interpretation model ever built back in the 2017).

Here is the Traumwagen which is a very vivid picture of how Carl F. W. Borgward envisioned about the car of the future in 1955. (Picture from: Auto.Sina.cn)

Now we will discuss the Borgward' dream car was made shortly after the war was over around the 1950s. As we all know at that time, the world's automotive trends oriented towards car designs made by American manufacturers, which were in craze passionate of jets and outer space designs.

The first version of the Borgward Traumwagen was primarily be used to test new boxer engines. (Picture from: ClassicAndRecreationSportscar)

Well, at the time Carl Borgward wanted to develop such a vehicle in order to point the way forward in terms of style, and also to demonstrate the technological capabilities of its brand. so he challenged its engineers and designers to start with a clean sheet of paper, as the result was the rocket-styled Traumwagen (mean 'Dream Car' in German).

The original version of the Borgward Traumwagen would highlight Borgward's engineering capabilities, while establishing the brand as a leader in design among German manufacturers. (Picture from: ModelCarForum)

It understandably, by making such a vehicle would highlight Borgward's engineering capabilities, while establishing the brand as a leader in design among German manufacturers. Besides that, this concept car will also provide a test ground to try out new materials, new engines and new body designs for Borgward' engineers including former Tatra designer Erich Uebelecker.

The first version of the Borgward Traumwagen featured with aluminum body parts, front-wheel drive, large fins, and disc brakes showed the car to be technically advanced. (Picture from: ClassicAndRecreationSportscar)

Since the beginning, Borgward' dream car was designed with a light alloy bodywork under streamlined shape, allowing the use of a relatively small engine to produce the desired performance numbers. On the other hand, Borgward also used nylon and nylon 6 (Perlon) in the cabin (which could be partially lowered), as well as in other parts of car' interior. Besides that the Traumwagen was also intended to serve as a test mule for a new family of magnesium alloy, horizontally opposed engines with capacities ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 litres.

The Borgward Traumwagen Version I and Version II (both was 1:43 scaled car models of Premium ClassiXXs). (Picture from: ModelCarForum)

Given the company's financial condition at that time did not allow the design to develop further, but thanks to Uebelacker who while at Tatra had recognized the advantages of the boxer engine, and also added from bench testing, the 2.0 liter boxer engine proved capable of producing 100 horsepower, while the 2.5 liter engine was reportedly capable of 130 horsepower, by using a pair of carburetors instead of the smaller engine’s manifold fuel injection system.

The Borgward Traumwagen version II was built shortly after the original version had an accident caused by a failure of its disc brake system so that the car's body suffered badly damage. (Picture from: The Kingdom of Ironfest)

As quoted from Hemmings, the Traumwagen' construction began in 1954, and by March of 1955 the vehicle had also used for engine development and testing. This Borgward' futuristic concept car is powered by the larger 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer drivetrain, and routinely took to the roads around the company’s headquarters, with most testing taking place after dark when the roads were less crowded (and presumably to avoid the curious onlookers).

The Borgward Traumwagen version II has slightly smaller body with shorter fins (in pictured was 1:43 scaled car model of Premium ClassiXXs). (Picture from: Pixels)

As the result, the car featured with a lightweight aluminum body, front-wheel drive and disc brakes showed the car to be technically advanced with the (plexi) glass domes were folded up at the sides. In August 1955, shortly before the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, West Germany (at that time), the Traumwagen had an accident caused by a failure of its disc brake system so that the car's body suffered badly damage.

This Borgward' futuristic concept car (in pictured was the Traumwagen 2nd version) is powered by the larger 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer drivetrain. (Picture from: Hemmings)

Due to time constraints, repairs could not be completed before the expo, so Borgward missed the opportunity to show its Traumwagen future concept car to European consumers. The Traumwagen was later rebuilt, appearing slightly smaller with shorter fins, coupled with a flip-top bubble that allowed easier entry.

The Borgward Traumwagen version II featured with a flip-top bubble that allowed easier entry (Picture from: Pinterest)

However, it's proved too late, when Borgward attempted to sell the one-of-a-kind vehicle in 1962, in the midst of its bankruptcy proceedings, the Dream Car was nowhere to be found, and reports said it had been scrapped by "overzealous company workers."

Nevertheless, the few photos of the Traumwagen that still exist offer a very vivid picture of how Carl F. W. Borgward envisioned the future of the automobile back in 1955. Well, in this form, the Traumwagen would still existed today stand as a symbol of outstanding innovation in automotive design even though the automaker company is no longer there.

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Monday, April 10, 2023

The extinct Borgward Dream Car