The Leukoplast bomber: How the Lloyd 300 shaped the economic miracle

The Leukoplast bomber: How the Lloyd 300 shaped the economic miracle

Hastedt, Deutschland - On June 22, 2025, we look back on a significant milestone in the history of the German automotive industry. Exactly 75 years ago, on June 22, 1950, the Lloyd celebrated 300 premiere in Bremen and Hude. This small vehicle, which is the first new building of a small car in the Federal Republic after the Second World War, was produced in the Lloyd engines works, which were part of the Borgward Group. The Lloyd 300, often also referred to as "Leukoplastbomber", surprised with innovative, but inexpensive construction, because the body was made of plywood and with synthetic leather (sumit), a decision that was due to the high steel prices of this time.

like the ndr , the goal of the makers was to create a cheap car for the broader shifts of the population. With its compact dimensions (3.20 m in length and 1.30 m wide), the Lloyd 300 offered space for four people. It weighed only 480 kg and was equipped with an air-cooled two-cylinder two-stroke engine, which made 10 hp. His simple technique, which included a simple speedometer, crowd shifting and foldable windows, made it particularly attractive for buyers who were looking for a practical and above all affordable vehicle.

first model and market acceptance

The Lloyd 300 came on the market with a price of 3,334 D-Mark, which made it cheaper than the popular VW Beetle. This pricing ensured that the model quickly gained foot and was particularly popular because of the low acquisition costs, as well as the favorable operating costs and inexpensive spare parts. In 1951, production rose to daily 17 cars, and due to the high demand, a new work was opened.

In order to continue to cover the car requirement, Borgward expanded the model range with different variants: In addition to the Lloyd 300 as a sedan, the Lloyd LC300 appeared as a coupé and the Lloyd LS300 as a station wagon. The Panelvan version (Lloyd panel van) in particular was also very well received by traders. The popularity of the Lloyd 300 grew, and more than 18,000 units had already been sold by this model by 1952

The successor models and the legacy of Borgward

The story continues: with the following model Lloyd 400, which came onto the market at the end of 1953, and the Lloyd 600, which was exported from 1955, strengthened Borgward in the automotive industry. In 1954, over 34,100 new registrations were recorded, which made Borgward the fifth largest car producer in the Federal Republic. There were also other models such as the Lloyd Alexander and his sporty branch, the Alexander Ts.

Although Borgward held 300 on the Lloyd until his bankruptcy in 1961 - since it was considered financially profitable - only 10 to 15 copies of the original model are still on the roads, which, depending on the condition, change owners for around 10,000 euros. The vehicle brand Borgward, which was originally founded in 1919 by Carl F. W. Borgward, not only shaped the German automotive industry with its numerous models, but also experiences numerous ups and downs, of which the name Borgward testifies to the bankruptcy in 2022.

The Lloyd 300 remains alive as a piece of history, which not only becomes a symbol of the economic upswing for its time, but also embodies the innovative strength and creativity of German automotive development. The nau.ch not only emphasizes the individual stations of the Borgward history, but also shows the progress that has been made in automotive construction since then.