For $9,900, What The Truck?!

The children's program, Davey and Goliath was the Evangelical Lutheran Church's attempt to bring God to Claymation. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Goliath Express 1100 appears rust-free and is hence not holier than thou, but its price may just make it seem a false idol.

Almost as reverential a national icon as the Church of England, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. has been languidly producing cars for decades. The pace of production picked up once Ford took ownership, leading with the DB7, which in its life nearly doubled the number of Astons on the road. That was a fact that not lost on many of you, nor was yesterday's 2002 V12 Vantage's odd alligator interior. Despite all that however, the black beauty's inherent hair-shirted Aston Martin-ness was just too overwhelming, and the car walked away with a solid 64% Nice Price win. God save the Queen.

Goliath Werke, which was part of Carl. F. W. Borgward GmbH., produced cars and trucks up through the end of the 1950s. Their products were post-war get-the-economy-moving machines, tiny things similar to the Isettas and Glas Goggomobiles of the era. Borgward was like the German General Motors back then, holding not just his namesake brand and Goliath, but Lloyd Werke and Hansa Werke as well. Also much like GM, these brands felt significant financial pressures, Lloyd never seeing a profit and Borgward finally being liquidated and closing its doors in 1961. Carl Borgward himself succumbed to heart failure two years later.

Unlike Carl and Goliath's efforts at being ongoing enterprises, this Express 1100 pickup has managed to stand the test of time. The seller – actually the seller's son, per the ad – this Express was originally imported by a Mercedes Benz exec for his private collection where it stayed until he was recalled to das vaterland. The current owner then took possession of the truck and as stated in the forum ad, none of its caretakers over its 53-year life has seem to modify it beyond a set of hazard flashers.

Keeping it stock means that its front wheels are turned by a water-cooled 1,094-cc flat four of approximately 50-bhp. That drives a 4-speed manual (check out the cool roman numeral shift pattern in the 'third gauge' on the dash) that takes its orders from a column-mounted shift lever. The rear wheels are just along for the ride, serving only to keep the commodious bed with its fold-down sides from dragging on the ground. Overall the truck's condition is spectacularly original, with a not insignificant patina of wear only creating a more endearing character. Also its bolt of electricity Express badge is worthy of a art exhibit on its own merits.

This Goliath is made extremely rare not just by the Lorax-esque population of the model these days, but also by its condition. Few vehicles of this age have survived in such original, unmolested shape. On the downside, parts are going to be harder to find than someone to buy Tuesday's Caprice, and the fact that, with only 50 ponies, it's not going to be as exciting a ride as say, Scarlett Johansson. In fact, who would buy a vehicle with such unique properties? Perhaps a rustic cheese monger, to cart his wheels of fromage. The Goliath would be sufficiently sluggish that his inventory could increase in value just on the trip to market. Or perhaps a maker of single malt whiskies, considering that 10-year old could easy turn to 12-year old between the still and BevMo.

Regardless of who would buy it, we do know how much it would cost to do so, as this son of a seller is asking $9,900 to take it off his father's hands. He does mention in the ad that his dad also has another Express, as well as a bunch of Goliath parts, but he doesn't indicate that any of that would be included in the purchase of this pickup without additional remuneration. Still, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Davey and Goliath, the somewhat creepy TV show, used a deeply religious boy and his Eeyore-like talking dog to teach moral lessons about the importance of distrusting those lacking faith. This Goliath demonstrates what can be achieved – and preserved – by keeping the faith, the faith in a long dead brand in its case. But do you have enough of that faith to recommend someone pay $9,900 to continue that preservation? Or, is this a Goliath brought down not by a future king of Israel, but by its own high price?

You decide!

Antique Automobile Club of America forums or go here if the ad disappears.

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