Carl F. W. Borgward facts for kids
Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Borgward (born November 10, 1890, in Altona, Hamburg – died July 28, 1963, in Bremen) was a German engineer and designer. He is famous for creating the Borgward group, a car company based in Bremen.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Carl Borgward came from a humble background. He was one of thirteen children born to Wilhelm Borgward, a coal seller. He studied mechanical engineering and earned his engineering degree from Hannover Technical University in 1913.
Starting His Business
After being wounded in World War I, Carl Borgward became a partner in a company called Bremer Reifenindustrie in 1919. This company later changed its name to Bremer Kühlerfabrik Borgward & Co. in 1920.
In the mid-1920s, his company began making small, three-wheeled trucks. These were called Blitzkarren (meaning "lightning carts") and Goliath. In 1928, he teamed up with Wilhelm Tecklenborg to create Goliath-Werke Borgward & Co.
Building the Borgward Group
In 1931, Carl Borgward and his partner took over another company called Hansa-Lloyd-Werke. This led to the creation of the larger Borgward Group.
By 1938, a new factory for Carl F. W. Borgward Automobil- und Motorenwerke opened near Bremen. At this time, the company had grown to employ 22,000 people. During the war years, Borgward's factories mainly produced vehicles for military use.
Post-War Comeback
The factory was heavily damaged by bombs in 1944. After the war, Carl Borgward was held for a few years until 1948. Just one year after being freed, he was back as a member of Bremen's Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In 1949, Borgward designed and produced the first Lloyd LP 300. This small car was nicknamed the Leukoplastbomber (Band-aid Bomber) in Germany. It had a wooden chassis and a two-stroke engine. It was an affordable car, even cheaper than the Volkswagen Beetle, and stayed popular for over ten years.
Also in 1949, Borgward introduced the large Hansa sedan. This was the first European car to feature a "pontoon body," a design where the fenders are smoothly integrated into the car's main body. Carl Borgward got ideas for this design from American magazines he read while he was held after the war.
The Isabella Success
Borgward's biggest success came in 1954 with the Borgward Isabella. This car was very popular because it had a stylish American look with chrome details, but it was also compact, which was perfect for European roads. Carl Borgward was very involved in designing all his car models.
Company Challenges and End
Towards the end of the 1950s, the company faced tough competition. They also made many different car models, which was expensive and not very efficient. These issues, along with some poor business decisions, led the company into trouble. A new model, the Borgward-Lloyd Arabella, was meant to help, but it had quality problems.
In 1961, the Borgward company went through a very public bankruptcy in Germany. The company was taken over by the state of Bremen and then sold off. Years later, it was found that the bankruptcy might not have been necessary, as all the company's debts were eventually paid.
Carl Borgward passed away from a heart attack on July 28, 1963, at the age of 72.
Legacy
Even after his death, Carl Borgward's work continues. Fifty years after the company closed, his grandson, Christian Borgward, along with his partner Karlheinz L. Knöss and help from Chinese investors, revealed a new car. This car, the BX7, was shown at the 2015 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, marking the company's first new car in over 40 years.
See also
In Spanish: Carl F. W. Borgward para niños
