Summary
Goliath-Werke Borgward & Co. was a German car manufacturer started by Carl F. W. Borgward and Wilhelm Tecklenborg in 1928, and was part of the Borgward group. Goliath was based in Bremen and specialized in three-wheeler cars and trucks and medium-sized cars. Their vehicles were sold under the Goliath brand.
 | |
| Company type | Automobile Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1928 |
| Founder | Carl F. W. Borgward Wilhelm Tecklenborg |
| Defunct | 1961 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Vehicles Automotive parts |
| Parent | Borgward |
Early history edit
The first models were three-wheeler trucks derived from the motorcycle based Blitzkarren, Goliath Rapid, and Standard previously built by Borgward.
In 1926 appeared the Goliath K1 four-wheeler freight truck with open cab, followed by the 1929 Goliath Express, and with closed driver cab the 1932 Goliath Atlas, also sold as Hansa-Lloyd Atlas.
The first passenger car was the Goliath Pionier in 1931, which still had three wheels and a one-cylinder engine. Until 1934, 4,000 of these small cars were produced in various types of body.
In 1933, Goliath F200 and F400 three-wheeler trucks derived were derived from Goliath Pionier. The Pionier was redesigned to its successor marketed under the brand Hansa as models 400 and 500 four-wheel passenger car with a sheet metal body. In 1938 also changed to a sheet metal body were the FW200 and FW400 as successor of the F200 and F400.
After World War II edit
Personal car models edit
These were front-wheel-drive two-door sedans, station wagons and coupes.
- Goliath GP700 (1950–1957) — inline-two-cylinder, two-stroke, water-cooled, transverse engine (anticipating the Mini and many recent cars). In 1952 Goliath introduced Bosch direct fuel injection, around the same time as the Gutbrod Superior 600; they were the first two cars to use this technology.
- Goliath GP900 (1955–1957) — inline-two-cylinder, two-stroke, water-cooled, transverse engine, available Bosch direct fuel injection.
- Goliath 1100 (1957–1958) — four-cylinder opposed four-stroke water-cooled engine. Renamed "Hansa 1100" to shake the three-wheeled minitruck image.
- Goliath Empress (1953–1961)
Light trucks edit
- Goliath F400 three-wheeler (1933–1937)
- Goliath FW400 three-wheeler (1938–1939)
- Goliath GD750 three-wheeler (1949–1955)
- Goliath Goli three-wheeler (1955–1961)
- Goliath GV800 (1951–1953)
- Goliath Express (1953-1961).[1] A front engined, front wheel drive design offered in pickup, panel van and windowed van bodystyles.[1] Available with the 688cc engine from the GP700, the 886cc unit from the GP900 and, from 1957, with a new 1093cc engine.[1]
The end edit
From 1958, the Goliath 1100 models were sold under the brand Hansa; the Borgward group wanted to downplay the two-stroke engine and three-wheeler image.
Three years later, in 1961, the Borgward group collapsed.
References edit
External links edit
- Borgward-IG
- Goliath Veteranen Club
- Goliath Carworld Archived 2014-11-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Goliath on 3-wheelers.com
- Goliath Scale Models