My dad had one in the 1960s. I'd love to have a Borgward Isabella Sedan.

Is that what Colombo drove...?

IIRC, Colombo drove a Peugeot 403 convertible.
Edit add, found a pix: http://digitalcartography.com/n0eq/astro/CAR-Colombo.png
Add: Borgward looks like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Borgward_Isabella.jpg
jr

So that picture with Colombo getting out, that is a Peugeot 403...?
Was it one of the 2 cycle Peugeots...?
I wonder why they gave him such a car for that show....

Seems like I remember them having a HUGE 2 cyl/2 cycle motor... But I could be wrong...

So that picture with Colombo getting out, that is a Peugeot 403...?
Was it one of the 2 cycle Peugeots...?
I wonder why they gave him such a car for that show....
1. Yep: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_403
2. Nope, 4 cylinder overhead valve about 1500 cc (hemi combustion chambers).
3. Beats me! But perhaps explained here: http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/inside.htm

jr

With all the car shows, museums, swap meets, etc. that I've been to I only remember seeing a couple of Borgwards in person.

In the late 50's and early 60's there were a lot of cars imported from Europe. Even the big three imported them. I think Borgward just got lost in the shuffle.

Best thing to do is keep checking ebay motors, Autotrader Classics, and Hemmings. I'm sure one will pop up eventually.

I've been checking eBay, etc for years!

Oh well. Someone, somewhere has one.

Over the years, many people thought Colombo drove one. There is a caveat. In one episode there was one parked BEHIND him as he stood in the street directing the police cars to the crime scene.

No, Colombo had a Poo-Joe... a 403, IIRC..My aunt in Chattanooga had a later model Peugot-Seems like the doors locked backwards-up to lock, down to open. But it was French-What else could you expect ?!?

I've been checking eBay, etc for years!

Oh well. Someone, somewhere has one.

.

Well, if you want one bad enough there is another option. You can have one shipped over from Europe. Believe it or not, shipping costs aren't too far out of line. I think just a car by itself is less than $1,000 one way. I think putting it in a container (much safer) is around $2,000. US military personnel do it all the time, so might check around.

Me, I've always had a STRANGE yen for a pre-'65 Citroen 2CV... Grey paint, front suicide doors, 9 BHP motor.. Wonder if I could strike up a friendship w/some like-minded Frog, & swap him my '69 Lincoln ?!? 460 CID, 365 BHP, that's about an "Arondissment"'s worth of power for a whole NEIGHBORHOOD of cars..

How about one in LA?
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/borgward/isabella/1579645.html
no affiliation,
jr

The last one I saw was about 5 years ago before I moved further North. Really ruff, not sure what the guy was going to do with it. It was an Isabella couple, pretty cool looking though and not something you see everyday in rural Central Minnesota.

How about one in LA?
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/borgward/isabella/1579645.html
no affiliation,
jr

That was a barn find. It sold on ebay last year. Since it is so far away, I would hate to buy sight unseen. Thanks for looking for it though.

I saw one at a wrecking yard in California a few years ago. It was in a separate fenced-off area full of older and collectible cars. It's still there as far as I know as it and all the other cars in that area were the yard owner's personal collection and were not for sale.

There were some Saabs in the 1960's with three-cylinder two-stroke engines.

Most DKWs were two stroke:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DKW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DKW_3%3D6
jr

I drove a 1960 dauphine in high school, my cousine had a Simca both toilets.

Where would you get parts for an old Borgward?

The car with a big 2 cyl engine was probably a Panhard. id love to have a PL24. a borward ould be cool too. Or a VW type 3 ghia. i like rear engine cars best.

I had a 1959 DKW sports coup in 1968. I had to put a 1/2 quart of oil in the gas tank everytime I filled it up since it was 2 cyl engine. It was a pain carrying a half empty can of oil in the back seat all the time. 1968 was half way between glass oil pumps dissapearing at gas stations and plastic oil bottles you could put the lid back on. The car was fun driving and I would always have people ask if it was a modified T-Bird. I broke the cone shaped taillights and 1957 Ford taillights were a perfect fit. My dad sold it while I was away in the Air Force in 1969.
A picture of one like the DKW I had:
http://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/auto_union/au_1000_sp/au_1000_sp/1959.html

I saw a Tesla for the first time this weekend driving on the freeway.

The car with a big 2 cyl engine was probably a Panhard. id love to have a PL24. a borward ould be cool too. Or a VW type 3 ghia. i like rear engine cars best.

I've owned a couple of Type 34 Ghias. I had a 64 and a 65 a few years ago. Very cool. The body style reminds me a little of the later model (65-69) Corvairs.

Where would you get parts for an old Borgward?

Believe it or not, there is a Borgward owners club.

I had a 1959 DKW sports coup in 1968. I had to put a 1/2 quart of oil in the gas tank everytime I filled it up since it was 2 cyl engine. It was a pain carrying a half empty can of oil in the back seat all the time. 1968 was half way between glass oil pumps dissapearing at gas stations and plastic oil bottles you could put the lid back on. The car was fun driving and I would always have people ask if it was a modified T-Bird. I broke the cone shaped taillights and 1957 Ford taillights were a perfect fit. My dad sold it while I was away in the Air Force in 1969.
A picture of one like the DKW I had:
http://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/auto_union/au_1000_sp/au_1000_sp/1959.html

I saw a Tesla for the first time this weekend driving on the freeway.

Kewl car !

My uncle had a yellow and orange 55 or 56 borgward station wagon. Got to take a lot of trips in it. He even gave it to me after the engine popped in about 95. Pity, the folks wouldnt let me drag it home after we found out how tough it was to get any parts for it. I miss uncle Ray, wish i could have had his wagon.

I wish I could have Uncle Ray's wagon too jbivy!

There were some Saabs in the 1960's with three-cylinder two-stroke engines.

Almost all Saabs were two strokes until they came out with a 4 stroke V-4 in the early 60's. Actually they got the rights to build them from Ford Germany, I believe.

I'm thinking Sandy might be thinking of Panhard, maybe. They had a sedan with a big 2 stroke, 2 cylinder, engine.

Panhard had a big oposed twin, i believe it was a 4 stroke. Something like 800-900cc