Goliath (Germany) - AllCarIndex

Goliath was a German automobile brand that operated from 1931 to 1963, initially established as part of Hansa-Lloyd und Goliath-Werke by Carl Borgward in Bremen. The brand's origins traced back to 1924 when Borgward began producing small three-wheeled vans. In 1931, Goliath introduced the Goliath Pionier, a three-wheeled vehicle featuring a coupé body and a 198cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine. This model was designed to accommodate two adults and two children, and it benefited from tax exemptions and licensing advantages until such concessions were revoked in the early 1930s.

Following the Pionier, Goliath expanded its offerings with the introduction of the GP700, a four-wheeled passenger car. The brand saw a revival in 1950 under Goliath-Werke GmbH, focusing initially on light commercial vehicles. The GP700 was produced in various body styles, including a cabriolet and a station wagon, and was powered by a 688cc two-cylinder two-stroke engine. By 1953, fuel injection became an option, and production figures included 36,270 units with the smaller engine and 8,071 with a larger 886cc variant introduced in 1956.

In 1957, Goliath transitioned from two-stroke to four-stroke engines, leading to a rebranding of the vehicles under the name Hansa. The new models featured a flat-four engine, and a cross-country version known as the lagdwagen was developed, although the military opted for the D.K.W. Munga instead. The decline of the Borgward empire in 1961 marked the end of Hansa production, although a small number of vehicles were assembled from existing parts until 1963. By the time production ceased, a total of 42,659 four-cylinder cars had been manufactured.