About what is it? Quiz #477: 1937 Hansa 1100

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Answers on the quiz came from all over the world in multiple languages. However, all of them had one thing in common. Every single one of them included one way or another the correct answer to last week’s quiz.

The measurements we gave of the pre-war car match exactly with the 1937 Hansa 1100 we saw and see in the photograph. Which amongst many others Martin Starek, Valery Patrakov and Richard McKenna answered correctly.

Rein van der Mast did not even had to look at the hinds we gave. He recognised the car right away! And also told us, that it could definitely not be the slightly bigger 1700, "because it has four instead of five ventilation flaps in the bonnet." Gerd Klioba also noticed that; "the car showing a wrong rear wheel."

Steve Bousfield commented about the 1937 Hansa that the car was; "introduced in 1934 and in production until 1940. It was built in Bremen where Hansa had been established since 1905, the company first merged with Lloyd and then, around 1930 was taken over by Borgward." Fritz Hegemann added to this; "the prototypes were presented at the Berlin Motor Show." And Anders Svenfelt explained; "the German Hansa 1100, Carl F. W. Borgward's first four-cylinder and -wheel family car was." But Roderick Renfrew could also tell us why he decided to build a larger car; "in April 1933 the tax rules which were favouring small cars such as the Hansa 400 were abolished. Borgward decided to produce the new Hansa 1100 four-cylinder two-door all-steel Sedan." And that; "in the Second World War, the Bremen factory was completely destroyed." 

Christoph Röhrs mentioned a fun fact; "due to the strong inclination of the b-pillar, even with the lower offset hinge, the door did not fall back into the lock when it was opened, but on the contrary, when it was not held, it opened completely with considerable momentum and was then only braked by the door catch strap. However, this meant considerable stress for the wooden construction of door and body. And since the door also folded down, there was always the danger that it would land on the curb, similar to early TR2s with their long doors."

And Thomas Ulrich told us more about what is under the bonnet of this Hansa 1100; "a 4 cyl.engine had a capacity of 1088 cc and power output was 27,5 HP Solex carburettor." To which Fritz Hegemann added; "all wheels had hydraulic brakes." And that the Hansa was; "available with steel bodies as a convertible sedan (as here), 2-door sedan and as a convertible." Fried Stol said more about the coachwork; "which was all steel at a price of RM 2850,= which was expensive." But Till Jauernig commented that the total "price of the of the car 2750RM (Reichsmark) was." So who is correct?

Eduard Macepura could tell us where and when the photograph was taken; "in the Czech Republic after the war." Polde Slovenija commented; "to je avto Hansa 1100 eden tak se prodaja je za obnovit.” And Josef Kubišta told us the car was likely registered in Prague, registration starting with „A“.

E. Beekman told exactly where we can find the photograph; "the picture has been taken in 1971 in Prague by Patrick van der Stricht and is from the book Pozor 2 from Narwal Publishers, in this book you will find many pictures taken in Czechoslovakia in the late sixties and early seventies, when you could still see there many prewar cars." The reason he knew this is because he has also taken some of the photographs for the book.

Thank you Michael Schlenger for adding this lovely photograph.

It was difficult to choose a winner. But we decided that Josef Kubišta gave the most complete answer. Congratulations Josef! You can add the full 5 points to your account!

The top 3 in the six-month competition, sponsored by Hans Compter Rare Cars:

1st place: Gerd Klioba

2nd place: Fried Stol

3rd place: Frits Hegemann

Have a good weekend everyone! If you are at the Beaulieu autojumble this weekend, come and see us at stall R706 / 707.

Words by the editor. Photograph courtesy Pozor, volume 2 taken by Patrick van der Stricht.

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