Lloyd LT 600-1960

After World War II, Carl Borgward started Lloyd as a lower-priced alternative to the higher-end Borgward family of cars. Lloyd’s first car, the LP 300, was introduced in 1950. Due to the lack of steel available after the war, the LP 300 infamously had a wood and fabric body, leading to the well-known phrase “Wer den Tod nicht scheut, fährt Lloyd” (“He who is not afraid of death drives a Lloyd”). Despite this, it had strong initial sales when introduced to the US market, undercutting the similar sized VW Beetle by $300. In the home market it was in third place, trailing VW and Opel, but there was little prestige in owning a Lloyd.

By 1954, full steel-bodied (but still wood-framed) cars were introduced, as was the multi-purpose van, the LT500. This 1960 model is a later LT600, utilizing a 596cc two-cylinder, four-stroke engine, producing about 20hp and a top speed of 53 mph. The LT500/600 is considered by many to be one of the earliest iterations of a multi-purpose vehicle or mini-van. You may recognize this car from the popular History Channel TV show American Pickers, who stopped by to talk about this Lloyd van in Episode 47, Season 6, Beetle in a Haystack.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Lloyd Motoren-Werke AG, Bremen
Country of Origin: West Germany
Drivetrain Configuration: Front engine, front wheel drive
Engine: 596cc, two-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled, 20hp
Transmission: 4 speed manual
Top Speed: 53 mph
Years of Production: 1954-1963 (LT500/600)
Number Produced: 24,668
Original Cost: $3,095