Lloyd Arabella Coupé Frua

Vehicle Overview

The Lloyd Arabella Coupé, designed by Pietro Frua, was conceived in response to a directive issued in early 1959 by Lloyd Motoren Werke’s commercial department in Bremen, under the leadership of sales director Willi Tegtmeier. The goal was to create an elegant yet cost-effective coupé based on the Lloyd Arabella sedan, appealing to a market segment that sought both style and affordability. Frua, known for his ability to craft refined designs within budget constraints, took an innovative approach by adapting the existing Frua-designed body of the Lloyd Alexander. With subtle modifications to fit the Arabella’s mechanical components, he successfully transformed the sedan into a striking and sporty coupé. Beneath its sleek exterior, the Lloyd Arabella Coupé featured a newly developed 4-cylinder boxer engine producing 45 horsepower. This engine not only offered better performance than previous Lloyd models but also aligned with the brand’s vision of delivering compact, efficient vehicles with a touch of sophistication. Frua’s design seamlessly integrated with the Arabella’s chassis, resulting in a well-balanced coupé that was larger and more robust than the slender Alexander TS. The debut of the Lloyd Arabella Coupé at the 1959 Frankfurt Auto Show generated significant interest, positioning it as a promising new offering in Lloyd’s lineup. The model was subsequently exhibited at the 1960 Brussels Auto Show and later displayed on the Borgward Group’s stand at the 30th Geneva International Motor Show, reinforcing the company’s ambitions to expand into the premium small-car market. Despite the positive reception and enthusiasm surrounding the Arabella Coupé, only two prototypes were ever built. Financial difficulties within the Borgward Group ultimately led to the cancellation of the planned limited production, originally set to begin in the spring of 1960. Today, the Lloyd Arabella Coupé remains a rare and intriguing piece of automotive history, representing an ambitious yet unrealized vision of blending affordability with refined Italian design.