1960 Lloyd 600

Lloyd was the brand name of Norddeutsche Automobile und Motoren GmbH of Bremen - owned by the Norddeutsche Lloyd shipping line - and was founded in 1908. In 1950, with a name change, Lloyd Motren Werke began mass-production. Competing head-on with Volkswagen and Opel, a Lloyd was a viable inexpensive, small car that somehow never really gained a foothold in the market.

By 1963 the car company was bankrupt. The 596cc twin-cylinder 4-stroke motor would push the van to 53 mph. LT600s were popular passenger and freight carriers at airports, hence the PanAm livery. It is believed that only 17 examples of the Microvan were created. The interior of this example features four seats plus some additional room for cargo. The front doors open suicide-style while the single rear door opens wide, allowing large luggage and packages. The 59cc 2-cylinder 4-stroke engine is mated to a four-speed transmission.

The Lloyd Company, founded by Carl Borgward, introduced their first car in 1950, named the LP 300. Since steel was in short supply, the LP 300 was given a wood and fabric body, which led to the well-known phrase 'Wer den Tod nicht scheut, fahrt Lloyd' - which means 'He who is not afraid of death drives a Lloyd.'

Sales were rather strong in the United States market. In its home market, it ranked in third place, behind Volkswagen and Opel.

By 1954, the Lloyd vehicles continued to utilize a wood frame but were given full steel bodies. Also in 1954, they introduced the multi-purpose van called the LT500. This became the LT600 in 1960. Power was supplied by a 596cc two-cylinder, four-stroke engine, which offered around 20 horsepower and gave the vehicle a top speed of just over 50 mph.

Between 1954 and 1963, Lloyd produced 24,668 examples of the LT500/600.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2016