My friend and I have a new project. It's a 1957 Borgward Isabella Coupe. Never saw or heard of these before. We are going to swap the 4 cylinder for a 6, replace the old 4spd trans on the column for a new one, and replace the rear end with a new one. The powertrain has been sitting from old dealer stock since 1966.

 

That's a cool lookin car!! I hope the project goes smoothly.

Eric

 

Very cool Eric. Where in the world do these come from?
I have never heard of or seen one either.

 

looked up borgward. interesting read. german car,cool different.

 

Yeah, it is a cool car. In order to put the 6 in we have to notch the firewall back 4 inches, relocate the battery to the trunk. It is not like our American cars where they make up the difference in length of the engines in the front. I've scoured the internet to see if this mod has been done before with no joy. This project is going to be interesting as all the books and drawings are in German.

 

car looks to be an original with engine... why would you hack at the firewall to put a 6cyl engine in it

 

Not my idea, its what the vehicle owner wants...

 

What kind of 6 cylinder? Would be lots easier to put a turbo on the 4 banger that is if the lower end could take it, same transmission and rear end. No need to smog and fun horse power. Just a thought. Kinda a shame to cut up such a different style car but what the hay, taint mine. Keep us posted on the build... Tedd

 

I agree about the turbo. The engine that's going in is a Borgward 6 cylinder, although I believe this was never done from the factory. I think it'll be a fun project.

 

The stock engine is a 1500 cc, 4 cylinder rated as 75 bhp at 5200 rpm. The 6 is either a 2300 or 2400cc rated as 100bhp at 5000 rpm. The carb is mounted on the top of the valve cover by 4 bolts and an Oring seal and the intake manifold is actually under the valve cover for both the 4 and 6 cylinder.

 

rhd..very cool....weird body style..pretty cool...id use the weird 6 too...cuz thats the way i roll..and its cool too

start looking that thing over and you see airplane influences everywhere...old air plane stuff...i really like it..

that thing must be where the Kharman Ghia came from..its all over it..love it..thanks for sharing...

 

When do you ever see something like this??? So interesting. Certainly will generate a lot of curiosity.

 

That looks like a cool car and an interesting project.

 

Nice car, good condition.

I'd feel bad hacking it up.

- Eric

 

Spent the afternoon yesterday pulling the 4 cyl, wasn't too bad. Next to pull interior and protect things for the firewall and trans tunnel mods.

 

Lots of years ago, early 60s, I had a 1957 Borgward Isabella TS (2-dr sedan) same engine and transmission as yours but kinda clunky compared to the coupes. I was working at a used car lot detailing and fixing up trade-in cars so the odd stuff that came in wasn't highly valued and I got it for a couple of hundred dollars (1960s dollars). It was actually a heck of a car with full belly pan, a great and peppy 4 cylinder and the four speed with shifter on the column. It handled pretty well as I recall. I used to drag race a friend who had a 54 Chevy and the little Borgward would edge him out every time. It really frustrated him to be beaten by the German "Wart" as he called it. Alas, it got T-boned in a parking lot one night and turned on its side. Turned it right side up and pushed it out of the way. Wrecker came. Car totaled by insurance co. Thanks for bringing back memories.
Jerry

 

Anything unique on the engine that you've never seen before? Is he going to keep it or sell it?

 

I got nothing other than that looks like one tiny little engine bay ! Looks like the size of a shoe box!

Neat project. Good luck!

 

It is a tiny engine bay. Definitely won't take a V8 without major mods.

Got the interior out of the front today. The owner put dynomat all over this thing, its going to be fun getting it off so we can cut the floor and firewall.

 

Got the hole cut in the tunnel and firewall. Engine and trans installed for first fit.

 

You're MAD. Mad, I say! Mad!

- Eric

 

whatta ya gonna do about that exhaust outlet pointing at the frame rail? pretty tight looking from this angle...

 

The exhaust should work, I know a guy... Its not as bad as it looks.

 

(wrings hands), insert sinister laugh here____________...

 

Great project ! Even if I would prefer keeping it in original shape, but as always, question of taste.
Borgward was a small manufacturer of cars in nothern Germany (but no connection to Karmann) for only ~20 years from the late 30´s.
The brand is reestablished since this year (under chinese flag...) and a new Borgward will be in the market soon.
Whenever you might need some translation help I am at your service.

 

Fortunately the owner speaks German and has been able to translate as needed. We don't have much as far as a chassis service manual. The owner provided what he had as far as literature for us to replace and reassemble the rear end gear box, some trans break down, brake, and engine specs. We have some docs from someone who had done this swap previously, but it was on a LH drive car. So basically we are winging it because this setup had never made it into a production car. All Isabella Coupes were manufactured with a 4 banger. The engine, trans, and rear gear box that we are installing are NOS, never used new parts that have been sitting around since 1961.

 

Man what a bunch of work for 25 HP gain.Keep up the good work I'd like to see this thing on the road again.... Tedd

 

Yeah, but the original engine WAS 25hp, wasn't it?

- Eric

 

The original 4 cyl engine was 75hp, the 6 is rated at 100.

 

What's the displacement of that 6? With dual carbs and exhausts you should be able to get more than that out of it.

- Eric

 

There is no changing the intake as it is under/inside the valve cover with the carb mounted on top of the engine. Don't have access to a dual carb manifold.

 

You're doing all of that stuff and you can't fabricate a better manifold?

C'mon. That's where it starts getting fun.

- Eric

 

Sounds easy, but its not... Note manifold on top of head.

 

Small nitrous shot?

 

Nutty.
While we're always trying to cool the intake with air-gaps, x-over plugs, etc... Borgward decides to enclose the intake with hot oil splashing on it !

 

Atleast pushrods aint restricting the intake port size n shape...

 

sweet

 

I bet a Miata 4 banger would fit better then add a turbo with just a mild amount of boost and 200 rear wheel HP could be achieved. Of course there would be a large amount of uniqueness and class lost in the process... Tedd

 

Roots blower.

Just needs a little hole in the hood...

- Eric

 

Well..... Aftermarket manifolds were available for UK Vauxhall Viva engines which had a similar layout. Having said that the cars haven't been made for 50+ years, and I don't think there were too many aftermarket hop up parts for Borgward cars. Just sayin'.

Roger.