Goliath GP700
Encyclopedia
The Goliath GP700 is a small two-door saloon that was manufactured by the Bremen
, Germany
–based Borgward
subsidiary Goliath-Werke Borgward & Co
from 1950 to 1957. In 1955, the GP700 was joined by the larger-engined Goliath GP900 E. From 1951 to 1953, a coupé version, the Goliath GP700 Sport was also offered. The Goliath was a revolutionary design, which in several important respects pointed the way for automobile development in the second half of the 20th century.
in partnership with Wilhelm Tecklenburg. During the 1930s, Goliath had specialised in producing small three wheeled vans and passenger cars. The plant had been bombed to destruction during the war
, but in 1949 Goliath managed to introduce a small three wheeled delivery vehicle. The announcement, in 1950, of a four-wheel passenger car represented something of a break with the company’s past.
During the life of the model, it benefited from various modifications and upgrades. Among the more significant of these was the introduction in 1955 of the 886 cc-engined GP 900 E model: with a 38% increase in claimed power output, the new model offered a useful performance advantage over the modestly powered GP700 which nevertheless continued in production.
The body and equipment levels also changed progressively during the car’s model life. In 1952, the car acquired a heater and the size of the back window was increased.
The Goliath 1100
– introduced in 1957 – is a substantially restyled continuation of the GP700 model, but it also represents a significant move upmarket with a larger four-stroke four-cylinder engine, anticipating by nearly a decade the switch away from two-stroke power plants by other
members
of the two-stroke club.
The GP700’s Ponton
, three-box
design reflected the silhouette of Borgward’s Hansa 1500
introduced the year before. Ten years later, the ponton format automobile had become mainstream, but in 1950, while Opel
and Mercedes Benz
were still selling cars with designs dating back to the 1930s, the Goliath’s design was bold and innovative. The wings were fully integrated into the bodywork, and the passenger cabin filled the full width of the car. Volkswagen would follow suit only in 1961
.
Another aspect of the car in respect of which the full significance became obvious only when adopted by other manufacturers
was its front-mounted engine, installed transversely along with the gearbox, which drove the front wheels. It was thereby possible to advertise the car as a five-seater even though the wheelbase was of only 2.3 metres (90.6 in).
The GP700 Sport appeared in 1952 with a Bosch fuel injection system. The Sport model was produced only in very limited numbers, but shortly afterwards fuel injection also became available on the GP700 saloon (designated GP700 E: E stood for “Einspritzung”) as an alternative to the carburetor-equipped version. When the larger-engined GP900 E appeared, it was available only with the Bosch fuel injection. This is a Goliath feature that would be taken up across the auto industry during the balance of the twentieth century: however, the fuel-injected GP700 E appeared five years before the fuel-injected Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.
Yet another innovation, available from 1952 on the GP700 and which subsequently became mainstream was the all-synchromesh, four-speed gearbox.
two-stroke engine of 688 cc. The carburettor version with which the car was launched had a claimed maximum output of 25 bhp, which increased to 29 bhp where fuel injection was specified. Claimed maximum speed when the car was launched was 102 km/h (63.4 mph). Subsequently, the installation of more powerful engines delivered more performance: the bored out 886 cc-engined GP900 E, introduced in 1955, managed a maximum speed of 120 km/h (74.6 mph) courtesy of an advertised maximum output of 50 bhp. The very rare lightweight GP700 sport, offered from 1951 to 1953, its fuel-injected engine enlarged to 845 cc, managed a claimed maximum speed of 125 km/h (77.7 mph) on the basis of 32 bhp.
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
–based Borgward
Borgward
Borgward was a German automobile manufacturer founded by Carl F. W. Borgward . The company was based in Bremen...
subsidiary Goliath-Werke Borgward & Co
Goliath (car)
Goliath was a German car brand started in 1928 and which was part of the Borgward group. Goliath was based in Bremen and specialized in three-wheeler cars and trucks and medium-sized cars.-Early history:...
from 1950 to 1957. In 1955, the GP700 was joined by the larger-engined Goliath GP900 E. From 1951 to 1953, a coupé version, the Goliath GP700 Sport was also offered. The Goliath was a revolutionary design, which in several important respects pointed the way for automobile development in the second half of the 20th century.
Goliath and Borgward
The Goliath business had been established in 1928 by the entrepreneurial engineer Carl BorgwardCarl F. W. Borgward
Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Borgward was a German engineer and designer and the creator of the Borgward group, based in Bremen. -Biography:...
in partnership with Wilhelm Tecklenburg. During the 1930s, Goliath had specialised in producing small three wheeled vans and passenger cars. The plant had been bombed to destruction during the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but in 1949 Goliath managed to introduce a small three wheeled delivery vehicle. The announcement, in 1950, of a four-wheel passenger car represented something of a break with the company’s past.
Chronology
The small Goliath first appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1950. By the time of the Frankfurt Motor Show in April 1951, it had acquired the name under which it would subsequently be marketed, and a light-weight two-door coupé sibling. The next year a cabriolet version of the saloon and a small estate version completed the range.During the life of the model, it benefited from various modifications and upgrades. Among the more significant of these was the introduction in 1955 of the 886 cc-engined GP 900 E model: with a 38% increase in claimed power output, the new model offered a useful performance advantage over the modestly powered GP700 which nevertheless continued in production.
The body and equipment levels also changed progressively during the car’s model life. In 1952, the car acquired a heater and the size of the back window was increased.
The Goliath 1100
Goliath 1100
The Goliath 1100 is a small two-door saloon that was manufactured by the Bremen based Borgward subsidiary Goliath-Werke Borgward & Co from 1957-1961. A three-door kombi version was also available from launch and a two-door coupe was offered a year later...
– introduced in 1957 – is a substantially restyled continuation of the GP700 model, but it also represents a significant move upmarket with a larger four-stroke four-cylinder engine, anticipating by nearly a decade the switch away from two-stroke power plants by other
DKW Junior
The DKW Junior was a small front wheel drive saloon manufactured by Auto Union AG. The car received a positive reaction when first exhibited, initially badged as the DKW 600, at the Frankfurt Motor Show in March 1957...
members
Saab 96
For the modern car, see Saab 9-6The Saab 96 is an automobile made by Saab. It was introduced in 1960 and was produced until January 1980, a run of 20 years. Like the 93 it replaced, the 96 was a development from the old Saab 92 chassis and, on account of its improvements and modernisation, it...
of the two-stroke club.
Revolutionary
Ponton (automobile)
Ponton or Pontoon styling refers to a 1930s-1960s design genre — ultimately the precursor of modern automotive styling. The trend emerged as distinct running boards and fully articulated fenders became less common and bodywork began to enclose the full width and uninterrupted length of a car...
, three-box
Three-box styling
Three-box design is a broad automotive styling term describing a coupé, sedan, notchback or hatchback where — when viewed in profile — principal volumes are articulated into three separate compartments or boxes: engine, passenger and cargo....
design reflected the silhouette of Borgward’s Hansa 1500
Borgward Hansa 1500
The Hansa 1500 is a medium sized saloon that was manufactured by the Bremen based auto-manufacturer Carl F. W. Borgward GmbH. The strikingly modern car was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1949...
introduced the year before. Ten years later, the ponton format automobile had become mainstream, but in 1950, while Opel
Opel Olympia
The Opel Olympia is a small family car produced by the German automaker Opel from 1935 to 1940, from 1947 to 1953 and again from 1967 to 1970.The 1935 Olympia was Germany's first mass-produced car with an all-steel unitized body . This revolutionary technology reduced the weight of the car by 180...
and Mercedes Benz
Mercedes-Benz W136
The Mercedes-Benz W136 was Mercedes-Benz's line of four-cylinder automobiles from the mid-1930s into the 1950s. It became the foundation on which the company rebuilt after World War II because the tooling had survived Allied bombing....
were still selling cars with designs dating back to the 1930s, the Goliath’s design was bold and innovative. The wings were fully integrated into the bodywork, and the passenger cabin filled the full width of the car. Volkswagen would follow suit only in 1961
Volkswagen Type 3
The Volkswagen Type 3 was a range of small cars from German manufacturer Volkswagen , introduced at the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show, Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung ....
.
Another aspect of the car in respect of which the full significance became obvious only when adopted by other manufacturers
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
was its front-mounted engine, installed transversely along with the gearbox, which drove the front wheels. It was thereby possible to advertise the car as a five-seater even though the wheelbase was of only 2.3 metres (90.6 in).
The GP700 Sport appeared in 1952 with a Bosch fuel injection system. The Sport model was produced only in very limited numbers, but shortly afterwards fuel injection also became available on the GP700 saloon (designated GP700 E: E stood for “Einspritzung”) as an alternative to the carburetor-equipped version. When the larger-engined GP900 E appeared, it was available only with the Bosch fuel injection. This is a Goliath feature that would be taken up across the auto industry during the balance of the twentieth century: however, the fuel-injected GP700 E appeared five years before the fuel-injected Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.
Yet another innovation, available from 1952 on the GP700 and which subsequently became mainstream was the all-synchromesh, four-speed gearbox.
The Engine
The GP700 was propelled by a two-cylinderStraight-two
A straight-two engine, is a two-cylinder piston engine that has its cylinders arranged side by side....
two-stroke engine of 688 cc. The carburettor version with which the car was launched had a claimed maximum output of 25 bhp, which increased to 29 bhp where fuel injection was specified. Claimed maximum speed when the car was launched was 102 km/h (63.4 mph). Subsequently, the installation of more powerful engines delivered more performance: the bored out 886 cc-engined GP900 E, introduced in 1955, managed a maximum speed of 120 km/h (74.6 mph) courtesy of an advertised maximum output of 50 bhp. The very rare lightweight GP700 sport, offered from 1951 to 1953, its fuel-injected engine enlarged to 845 cc, managed a claimed maximum speed of 125 km/h (77.7 mph) on the basis of 32 bhp.