Blitzkarren
| Blitzkarren | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bremer Kühlerfabrik Borgward & Co. GmbH, Bremen, Germany |
| Production | Bremer Kühlerfabrik Borgward & Co. GmbH, Bremen, Germany |
| Model years | 1924–1927 |
| Designer | Carl F. W. Borgward |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | open three-wheel cart |
| Layout | MR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.6 kW 1R two-stroke engine |
| Transmission | none |
| Propulsion | V-belt |
| Dimensions | |
| Curb weight | Maximum Load: 0.25 t |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | none |
| Successor | Goliath Rapid and Goliath Standard |
The Blitzkarren (German transl. lightning cart) was a cab-less tricycle freight cart based on a motorcycle. It was produced in 1924 as the first complete production vehicle manufactured by the Bremer Kühlerfabrik Borgward & Co. GmbH.[1] The company, located in Sebaldsbrück, a settlement in Hemelingen, Bremen, Germany previously produced radiators and fenders for Hansa-Lloyd. Between 1929 and 1931 Hansa-Lloyd was acquired by Carl Borgward and his co-investor Wilhelm Tecklenborg.[2][3] Borgward also renamed his radiator manufacturing company to Goliath-Werke Borgward & Co. GmbH.[4]
In 1924, responding to a designer complaining about the material transport for radiator production between the workshops by handcart, Borgward constructed this light truck.[5] In difficult economic times before the Great Depression Borgward discovered a gap in the market. There was a great demand from traders and small business owners for affordable motorized freight carts,[6] that were legal to drive without a license.[7] A Blitzkarren cost 980 Reichsmark.[8] In 1929, a quarter of the licensed commercial vehicles were made in Bremen.[9] Carl Borgward had patented the Blitzkarren division. The patents were granted on June 20, 1925 in Germany, and on March 11, 1926 in England.[10] Previously there had been similar tricycles used as passenger transporters, usually single-seater.
Blitzkarren had neither clutch nor starter. The two-stroke motorcycle engine, under the flatbed, was coupled over a V-belt on the left rear wheel and was pushed to start, and choked to stop,[11] which was not difficult from the driver seat in the rear of a 250 kg payload vehicle on a flat road. The single front wheel was mounted in a motorcycle fork, which was controlled from the rear.
References
- ^ Jahnel, Claus. "Zu gut für diese Welt". Telepolis (in German). Retrieved 2019-06-26.
- ^ WELT (2008-01-17). "Automobile: Spektakuläre Pleite, die keine war". Retrieved 2019-06-26.
- ^ "125. Geburtstag von Carl Friedrich Borgward: Ein Visionär und Tausendsassa". Stuttgarter Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 2019-06-26.
- ^ Irene Meichsner: Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Borgward – Blitzkarren, Isabella und Leukoplastbomber, Deutschlandfunk – „Kalenderblatt“ vom 10.
- ^ "60 Jahre deutsche Wirtschaftsgeschichte: Borgward – Blitzkarren und Leukoplastbomber". www.handelsblatt.com (in German). Retrieved 2019-06-26.
- ^ "Borgward und die Isabella". RP ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2019-06-26.
- ^ "Carl F. W. Borgward: Der Wegweiser des modernen Autos feiert 125. Geburtstag". Presseportal. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
- ^ Germany. "Borgward - Vom Blitzkarren zur Arabella". SPIEGEL ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2019-06-26.
- ^ Meyer, Tobias. "Erinnerungen an einen Autopionier". WESER-KURIER (in German). Retrieved 2019-06-26.
- ^ GB 248625, Bogward, Karl, "Improvements in motor tricycle box carriers", published 1926-03-11
- ^ "Autobau: Über das Unternehmen Borgward". Stuttgarter Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2019-06-26.