Goliath Atlas- 1934

Borgward began in 1921, when German entrepreneur Carl F.W. Borgward established the Bremer Kuhlerfabrik Borgward & Co., an automotive radiator company in Bremen, Germany. A two-horsepower, three-wheeled courier motorcycle called the Blitzkarren or “Lightning Cart” was his first design. In 1929, Borgward, along with Wilhelm Tecklenborg, acquired the Bremer Hansa Lloyd Werke, a company formed in 1905, already successfully producing light cars. This was the start of the Borgward Group. They developed small trucks and in 1932, the Goliath Pionier—a small three-wheeled passenger car—was born. They renamed the company Hansa-Lloyd und Goliath-Werke Borgward & Tecklenborg oHG. Goliath filled the need between the top-of-the-line Borgward and the entry-level Lloyd. Until 1933, owners of 3-wheeled vehicles in Germany were exempt from annual tax and from the requirement of having a driving license. These tax concessions were abolished by the socialist German government in 1933, and 3-wheeled vehicles could no longer be produced. The Goliath Atlas you see here is an early example of a 4-wheeled Goliath.

Goliath vehicles were produced from 1932 to 1935 after which Borgward introduced two four-wheeled cars, the Hansa 1100 and 1700. Both became immediate successes. The Hansa line continued through 1938 and gave serious competition to leading German automakers such as Opel, Mercedes-Benz, DKW, Ford, and Adler. But in 1939, Borgward was forced to shift production to trucks and military vehicles, and in 1944, the Bremen factory was destroyed by Allied bombs.

After the war, the company split into three divisions, building three different marques: Goliath-Werke, Lloyd and Borgward. Goliath-Werke continued until 1959.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Hansa-Lloyd and Goliath-Werke Borgward & Tecklenbur
Country of Origin: Germany
Engine: 2-stroke, 2 cylinder
Top Speed: 40 miles per hour
Years of Production: 1932-1935
Original Cost: 2450 RM