An unmistakable diamond: the Borgward "Windspiel" 1937

From 1929 to 1961, Borgward was a traditional German car manufacturer based in Bremen. Four brands were produced: the "Lloyd" small car, the "Hansa" cars of the lower middle class and the "Goliath" delivery van, as well as legendary mid- and luxury-class cars, land speed record and racing sports cars, and Borgward trucks and buses.  Tractors, tanks and helicopters were made on a smaller scale.

Borgward was the fourth-largest German car manufacturer of its time. At the end of the 1950s, almost 23,000 people worked in the Bremen plants. The best-known and most successful Borgward car was the famous "Isabella" with over 200,000 sold. Other outstanding models were the "Dream" car of 1954 and the "Goliath" record car of 1951. The last car, the Borgward "P100", was produced in 1961.

One of Borgward's first aerodynamic milestones was the "Windspiel" four-door sedan. This was developed in 1936 by Borgward's chief designer Herbert Scarisbrick and factory manager Friedich Kynast in the Bremen "Hastedter" plant, and presented in 1937 at the International Motor Show. With its streamlined bodywork and the patented four-piece windshield (Reichspatent 669255C from 1938), the Borgward "Windspiel" attracted considerable attention.

The "Windspiel" achieved a top speed of 130 km/h with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine, rear-wheel drive and an output of 40 hp (29 kW). The knowledge of aerodynamic experts Paul Jaray and Reinhard Koenig-Fachsenfeld must have contributed to the conception of the "Windspiel". Whether it was tested in a wind tunnel at the time is unknown. Mathematically, however, its excellent streamlining (according to Helmut Hütten's approximation formula) is clearly evident.

With the "Windspiel", Carl F. W. Borgward demonstrated how innovative his company was. Unfortunately, no orders for the car were received, so the Borgward "Windspiel" remained an one-off. An attempt was made to market a slightly modified car called the Hansa "Windspiel", but this failed, too. However, various elements of the "Windspiel" later were incorporated into the "Hansa 2000" (1938 - 39). Unfortunately, nothing is known about the whereabouts either the Borgward "Windspiel" or the Hansa "Windspiel".

In short, the technicians and designers were too advanced and could not convince the audience that this was the most progressive car of its time.