Isabella Production line in Bremen

The "Carl F.W. Borgward Automobil- und Motorenwerke" opened in 1938. The following section shows Isabella production.

Offices at the factory.

On 10 June 1954 Dr Borgward had 200 journalists to witness the first Hansa 1500 rolling off the production line.

Press shop.

Clamping roof assembly in jig prior to spot welding.

Top section final welding and brazing.

Floor to inner panels welding.

Upper and lower body being set up for welding.

High quality stainless steel, alloys were tested at the factory, then cast into engine and chassis parts.

Bumper electroplating in Hall 1.

 

Trim shop door cards and seats.

Front suspension assembly and differential testing.

Gearbox and Steering wheel production Hall 3 Borgward produced his own gearbox and differential gear sets.

Isabella engine 4M1.5II assembly and test. Engines were run in for 1 hour before being passed to production.

 

 

Paint shop spraying baking and polishing.

 

The marriage of body with pre assembled engine and axles.

Final assembly

 

 

Isabella ready for final testing before delivery.

Summer 1956 Bremen.

In 1958 100,000 Isabella's had been produced and this had been doubled when production ended in 1961

The last Isabella rolls off the track, "Du warst zu gut für diese Welt" (You were too good for this World.)

When Borgward moved out in 1961 , the van-maker Henschel moved in. Then in 1971, Daimler-Benz AG acquired Hanomag-Henschel (as it had become) and in 1977, began building Mercedes T1 Transporter vans there. Finally, the plant was build a passenger car again, the W123 estate. Today the Mercedes SL, SLK, C-Class Glk, E-Class Coupé and Convertible are built in the Bremen plant.

In 2006, 32nd International Borgward Meeting Bremen included a drive around the old plant.