Article about the day

“What was the best part of the weekend for you?” “The whole weekend!” That answer from a Borgward driver’s wife sums up the jubilant feeling of the first Australian all-Borgward event in many years. For those in south-eastern Australia, at least, there was at last a meet just for Borgward enthusiasts, and as well as that it was also a memorable weekend of sight-seeing, visiting attractions, socialising and of course car talk in the historic paddle-steamer town of Echuca on the famous Murray River in the state of Victoria. 

Participants drove their lovely cars as much as a thousand kilometres to be part of the event. A rare Lloyd Alexander TS and an even rarer Goliath GP900 (according to a German source, there are no more than a dozen Goliaths with two-stroke motors in drivable condition in the whole world!) joined company with five Isabella Coupés, three Isabella sedans and one Isabella Combi, the latter still with its original purchaser. The proud owner bought it in Melbourne in 1959 and today is a regular attender at all old car meets in his part of the country. 

There were also several Borgward owners whose cars weren’t ready for the run and came in other vehicles, as well as our Club Secretary and Editor Ian, who flew in from the distant city of Perth. A new member also joined the Borgward Club during the weekend – we welcome you, Fred! 

The very hospitable Echuca Historic Car and Motorcycle Club had organised a first class midday meal and a tour of some of Echuca’s attractions for us, including an auto museum, a private restoration workshop  (much admired and envied!) and a beer-can museum(!) (which had many attractions beside beer-cans!)

In the evening we enjoyed a good meal in the stylish Golf Club, where we also had a business meeting (Something that, due  to the size of our land and the wide distribution of our members, we otherwise can only do by telephone and e-mail). Nearly everyone was saying later on, “It’s really great to meet everyone face to face at last!”

On Sunday morning we ate breakfast in one of the many good establishments in the historic Wharf area, and then we were able to display our cars in the pedestrian precinct just near the wharf itself. The cars from Bremen were a big attraction for the many tourists who were crowding the area. There were some German-born people who recognised the cars at once, there were motor enthusiasts who knew what they were and of their outstanding reputation. Many people had their photos taken beside the cars. Many were delighted to see out-of-the-ordinary cars on display. We, on the other hand, were absorbed in car talk, though most found time to go shopping in the wharf area or take a ride on a horse-drawn coach or a paddle-steamer. (Recommended!)

We ate together one last time that evening in a restaurant, and on the following morning happy but with a certain tinge of regret , drove off in various directions to our homes. We were all certain that we want to hold similar events in future!

The cars, the people and where they came from:
Lloyd Alexander TS Allen & Rod SA
Goliath GP900 Phil & Robyn Vic
Isabella TS Roger & James Vic
Isabella TS Bob & Michael NSW
Isabella TS Marius SA
Isabella Combi Graham & Rosemary Vic
Isabella Coupé Michael & Anka NSW
Isabella Coupé Ray Vic
Isabella Coupé Steve & Camilla NSW
Isabella Coupé Anthony & Mardi Vic
Isabella Coupé Rex & Heather NSW
NSU Ro80 Hermann (Isabella TS & Coupé) ACT
Mercedes Benz Roy & Tom (Isabella Coupé) NSW
Morris Minor 1000 Fred (Isabella Coupé & TS) NSW
Nissan Bo & Inga (Hansa Sport, 1937) SA
Airbus A-320 Ian (Isabella TS & Coupé, Lloyd TS) WA
(ACT = Australian Capital Territory, NSW = New South Wales, SA = South Australia, Vic = Victoria, WA = Western Autralia)