Borgward P 100

Borgward
Big Borgward (P 100)
Production period:	1959-1962
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engine : 2.3 liters (74 kW)
Length:	4715 mm
Width:	1738 mm
Height:	1420 mm
Wheelbase :	2650 mm
Empty weight :	1275 kg
Previous model	Borgward Hansa 2400

A P100 from England at the Borgward meeting 2005 in Andernach

Borgward P 100 was the internal designation for an upper middle class passenger car from Carl FW Borgward GmbH in Bremen-Sebaldsbrück. From 1959 to 1962, 2591 of the car officially known as the Großer Borgward were produced (number of the Association of the Automotive Industry : 2587). From the beginning of 1960, the P 100 was the first German automobile to be offered with air suspension . From 1961, Mercedes-Benz also used such a system in its top model 300 SE from the W 112 series .

predecessor

The previous model presented in September 1952 and known internally as " Hansa Twenty-Four Hundred " was offered with an automatic transmission developed by Borgward itself, which turned out to be very prone to failure.

Up until March 1953, the Hansa 2400 was only available with a hatchback body that took some getting used to at the time , and which was discontinued in 1955.

From 1955 only with had notchback body available and kg with automatic transmission 1,615 cars a brake system with servo assistance , which improved the hitherto insufficient braking effect. Because of the front doors hinged at the back (“ suicide door ”), entry was easy if there was enough space, but difficult to enter in parking spaces or garages due to the lower corner of the door protruding far forward. From 1952 to 1958 only 1399 Hansa 2400 of all versions were produced.

Development and technology of the P 100

The P 100 presented at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 1959 had front hinged front doors, a 12-volt system and, on request, could be equipped with a "Hansamatic" automatic transmission from Hobbs Transmission Ltd., England . which was much more reliable than the automatic three-speed transmission of the Hansa 2400. The P 100, which was slightly shorter than the Hansa 2400 II Pullman , had a 17 cm shorter wheelbase and a smaller turning circle of 11.4 meters (Hansa 2400: 12 meters). Due to the 300 kg lighter weight, the car was more economical with the same engine as in the last Hansa 2400 and with the same engine power (100 hp) and was 5 km / h faster with a top speed of 160 km / h. It accelerated from zero to 100 km / h in 16 seconds.

From January 1960, the P 100 was the first German series vehicle to be available with an optional air suspension system developed by Borgward. On each wheel there was an air spring, which was filled by a compressor in the engine compartment via a storage container. These air bellows not only cushion the vehicle, but also counteract the side inclination when cornering or the front "dipping" when braking, so that the vehicle body always remained horizontal. The corresponding valves were opened or closed via a linkage from the wheel suspensions.

The braking system of the P 100 had an ATE T 50/24 brake booster, which was installed under the right front fender. Cooling fins on the brake drums caused good heat dissipation.

The initially only 46 liter tank was enlarged to 60 liters at the beginning of 1961, so that with a standard consumption of 12 liters per 100 km, the car had a range of almost 500 kilometers.

Production got off to a slow start: in addition to the six P 100s manufactured by the end of 1959, 35 cars were added in the first half of 1960, and by the end of 1960 there were a total of 869 vehicles. The numbers remained low after the liquidity problems of the Borgward group that had become apparent in January 1961 . In the whole of 1961, 1680 "Große Borgward" were produced until the subsequent bankruptcy proceedings in September 1961. Under the direction of the bankruptcy administrator , there were still 38 vehicles in 1962.

The production facilities for the P 100 were sold to Impulsora Mexicana Automotriz SA in Mexico in 1963, but the project collapsed in 1964 due to a lack of capital. In 1966, a newly founded group of companies FANASA ( Fabrica Nacional de Automoviles SA) started a new attempt and produced a total of 2,267 vehicles by mid-1970, which were named "230" (without tail fins and rear panoramic window) or "230 GL Pullman" ( 10 cm longer version with tail fins and panoramic rear window) were offered. All vehicles there were built without air suspension. A variant "230 RS" with 125 hp was also planned. However, financial problems also ended production at FANASA.

Technical specifications

A big Borgward at the 2014 Borgward meeting in Bad Neuenahr

Parameters	Borgward P 100 (1959–1962)
engine	6-cylinder four-stroke in- line engine , installed lengthways
Displacement	2240 cc
Bore × stroke	75 × 84.5 mm
power	73.6 kW (100 PS) at 5000 rpm
Max. Torque	158 Nm at 2200 rpm
compression	8.7: 1
Valve control	: side camshaft driven by a pair of spur gears , tappets , push rods and rocker arms , overhead valves
Mixture preparation	1 downdraft - carburetor type Solex 32 Pajta
cooling	Water cooling with pump
Electrical system	12 V / 240 W.
transmission	Single-disc dry clutch , fully synchronized 4-speed gearbox, steering wheel gearshift; Rear wheel drive
body	self-supporting all - steel body, four-door
Front suspension	Double wishbones
Rear suspension	Pendulum axle with push struts
suspension	Coil springs or air suspension ; Telescopic shock absorbers
steering	ZF - roller steering
Brakes	hydraulically operated drum brakes , brake lining area 850 cm²
Track width front / rear:	1360/1370 mm
wheelbase	2650 mm
wheel size	6.40–13 ″, from January 1961: 7.00–13 ″
Dimensions L × W × H	4715 × 1738 × 1420 mm
Empty weight (without driver)	1275 kg
maximum weight allowed	1650 kg
Top speed	160 km / h
Consumption per 100 km	approx. 12 liters (super)
Tank capacity	46 liters, from January 1961 additional tank with 14 liters
price	12,350.00 DM (surcharge for automatic transmission: 980.00 DM)

The price of the Großer Borgward without automatic transmission, adjusted for purchasing power, corresponds to 28,100 euros in current currency.

Sources and further information

literature

• Peter Kurz: Borgward Typenkunde Delius Klasing Verlag, Bielefeld, 1st edition, ISBN 978-3-7688-2599-3 .
• Martin-Paul Roland: Borgward 1949–1961 Schrader-Verlag, Stuttgart, 1st edition, ISBN 978-3-613-87215-8 .

Web links

• The forgotten milestone on Autobild.de
• From Bremen to Mexico on garage2cv.de

Individual evidence

1. ^ Peter Kurz: Strictly speaking - Borgward P 100 . Verlag Peter Kurz, ISBN 978-3-927485-71-6 .
2. ↑ The total was based on the template: Inflation was determined, has been rounded to a full 100 euros and relates to last January.