Stored 40 Years: 1961 Hansa 1100 Sport Coupe
The Hansa 1100 (aka Goliath 1100) was a small automobile built from 1957 to 1961 by a division of the German automaker, Borgward. That included a Luxus version which came with twin carburetors for its inline-4 engine, as is the case with the seller’s vehicle. Off the road for 40 years, this interesting import will need a complete restoration. It’s located in Pasadena, California, and is available here on craigslist where the seller is asking $5,500 but also fielding offers. Another unusual tip brought to us by barn finder numskal!
Three versions of the small 1100 were offered as a 2-door sedan, a 3-door van, and (later) a 2-door sport coupe. As a nod to the company’s heritage, it was known as the Goliath through 1959 and then the Hansa 1100 thereafter. With front-wheel drive, the 1100 used a “boxer” style water-cooled powerplant. Single-carbureted versions of the 1094cc engine had an output of 40 hp, while the twins bumped that number to 55. That also increased the top speed from 78 to 84 mph. In addition to production in Bremen, Germany, they were also built in Argentina for a time.
This Hansa has been in mothballs for four decades. The seller also refers to it as a 1959 model, but either way, the cars may be little different. We’re told the body and its various panels are solid, but rust has done a number on the area where the spare tire would be mounted in the trunk. The windshield is busted out, which has helped Mother Nature encroach into the passenger compartment.
We’re told the engine, carburetors, and transaxle are intact, but non-running (of course). If any of these parts will need replacing, finding new ones may require an extensive hunt for pieces that go to cars that haven’t been built in more than 60 years and are seldom found in the U.S. The seller indicates he/she can provide delivery, suggesting that the car still sits atop the trailer where most of the photos were taken. This could be a neat car once restored, but is it a challenge most would undertake?
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Comments
Looks like it was a cool looking car but that’s a lot of work ahead for whoever takes on this project.
I believe that the Goliath engine design was sold to Subaru and was the foundation for their design.
No…but, as everybody knows, the Japanese like copying…MichailKnoller
Haha…. just like everyone knows the Germans all wear little mustaches…
Very funny indeed. Laughing my socks off. The Japanese copied complete motocycles like the D.K.W RT 125 and sometimes, the copies were even better than the original. Like the Hino – Renault 4 CV. ( Although Fernand Picard did not like the idea that his 4 C.V. should be produced in Japan.) They produced far more ” copied ” parts than they should – according to the Renault – licence…
I remember the Japanese with their little cameras in the factories, photographing almost everything…
I think the Subaru engine was “inspired” by the Lancia Flavia engine, the early Legacy engine certainly looks like my Lancia engine.
This appears to have been a well kept secret within Subaru USA. During a conversation with an engineer at the Subaru plant in Indiana some ten years ago, I asked what changes, if any, had been made to the design of the Goliath boxer engine and drivetrain since its’ purchase by Fuji Heavy Industries (parent company of Subaru). The engineer’s response was a surprised look. I mentioned that Road & Track had a write-up about the sale in one their issues in the early 1960’s. He checked with his counterparts in Japan and got a confirmation of the acquisition. Apparently, its not something that Subaru wants to advertise.
FWIW, in 1963, the design and tooling for the Borgward Isabella and P100 models were sold to a Mexican firm that produced the cars in Monterrey from 1967-1970 and ended with the company’s bankruptcy.
Restoring this vehicle looks like quite a hansa full for the next owner…
The Borgward Isabella Coupe from the mid 50s is a stunning coupe and a rare collectors item these days. I’ve read they were very well built and surely this fine car is worthy of restoration.
The car was considered at a level with Volvo in terms of sturdiness and reliability.
Are you joking ? By whom ? Certainly not by owners….
Good luck to find spares. There are none. Nothing. Nada. Whatever you need – you will not get it.
This Hansa may be a Coupe – but it is f a r overpriced, considering the difficulties of getting her back on the road. No pistons, no head – gaskets ( are the engine – blocks – both of them – intact ? Really ? If not….), no brake spares.
Attention : this gearbox needs e n g i n e oil, SAE 30. If somebody poured 80 or whatever in it – it is a write – off.
Looking for trim or windscreen ? Forget it…
500 dollars is more than enough.
Be warned….my best mate had a Hansa estate, but he worked at the Goliath – factory. I know the problems….it starts with the dynamo / waterpump unit. Spares ? Oh yes, of course – at every corner of the street.
Everybody has got the right to dream. But not for 5500 dollars.
Oh, just mentioning Argentina….NO ! The CKD – cars – 483 of them – were never unloaded of the ship. They went back to Bremen….my mate’s estate was completed in…1964. He worked on it himself. They were sold very cheaply, no customers any more. F o r g e t about the idea of finding anything in Argentina. You will not.
Yet another problem : big ends were too tiny for the 55 hp – engine – crank and big – ends are the same on the 40 hp – engine. Confidence ? Well…
No; there are n o new bearings available. And no timing – gears. If you are v e r y lucky, this one might have an aluminium one, being a 55 hp. But do you know if this is all original ? I would not bet on it….
Most likely this will end up on a VW pan with patina intact… coming to a SoCAL C&C soon.
Michail,
In 1959, my brother purchased a new Goliath Combi. IIRC, it was titled as a Goliath (make) Hansa 1100 (model). It served him well for two high mileage years prior to his getting a larger car. Maybe he was lucky as he experienced no problems, just routine maintenance. I drove the car for a short while prior to its sale. I found the column mounted shift lever awkward to use and the pedals too crowded. At turnpike speeds, the little 1100cc water cooled boxer engine sounded less like an ICE and more like a sewing machine.
You may be right about the long term reliability. Subaru may have eliminated Goliath’s dynamo/water pump problems after they got the design but, I recall a friend’s early Subaru 1300 having head gasket and other cooling problems which seemed to be common to the model.
Oh yes, no reason to doubt. But you are certainly referring to the 40 h.p. engine…my mate from Bremen did 800.000 miles in his estate, When we sat to – gether and smoked our cigars, he told me how people reacted when he told them the mileage…..” Ugh ! First engine ? ” And he answered : ” Yes. it is the first engine. But I had to recondition it 6 times. ”
He mostly did long – distance – driving and started working at the factory in 1935.
Another mate’s brother, George, has got the same car – I found it for him in 1982, for 150 dollars….but he just made it a 40 h.p. car; it is good enough….
He solved the water – pump problem by separating the unit – and putting an Arabella – pump in. I found a solution, too – mostly, the impeller has suffered and the aluminium – housing as well….I am confronted with the same problem on my Goliath GP 900 estate. So, the impeller ( right – hand thread ) will be machined on the lathe – housing as well. Since there are – of course – no new gaskets, we make one fit of…a Lada. These pumps were made by Bosch, so do not expect spares…I am doing a 12 Volt – conversion; I am getting too old for these 6 – Volt – candles when I drive during the night.
nice lines for this, Isabella.
&, No, more like MB ‘competer’ (& so they did, some say, knocked out by mercedes, in underhanded way as they did not like the (direct line) competition…
Reading the comments, it’s become clear that parts are unobtainium. The car has nice lines, IMO, so a custom job would be the way to go. Whatever can be shoehorned into the engine compartment… let your imagination run wild after that. Nothing fits? Then ugh, mount the body on stilts above a 4×4 frame with a big engine, and go mud bogging! Ugh! $5500 is high by about $5000, considering condition and lack of any parts or even parts cars.
Hmm, my comment got deleted. I wonder if Russ Dixon deleted it. Something’s not right here..