Hi Guscha
If what's written in this Borgward overview of the corporate troubles at the time is true, their qualities to compete in the American market are moot.
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/11/13/bremens-best-a-brief-history-of-the-borgward-automobile/ At $3,750 U.S. for the 1960 Isabella coupe put it in an extremely disadvantageous position relative to other cars of its type here. The major one would be the Corvair Monza which base priced at about $2,200, would take considerable optioning up to arrive at the Isabella entry price.
Shortly, the compact segment would be flooded with choices sporting four speed sticks, bucket seats, V6 and V8 engines, even turbocharging, squeezing out import competitors. As far as dealer coverage, 500 plus was less than what Studebaker had at the time, spread thinly over this vast country. Studebaker sales were hampered by that lack of dealer representation as well, in addition to all the other problems they faced.
Steve
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