1959 BMW Isetta

BMW Isetta 250/300

The BMW Isetta was a one-door two-seater rear engine RWD "bubble car" that was available as a saloon, cabriolet or a light commercial. It was made from 1955 to 1964 and it success is believed to have been instrumental in keeping the company afloat during the 1950s.

The BMW Isetta was launched in April 1955 after the Munich firm had acquired a licence to build the bubble car from Iso of Milan. The resulting "Moto Coupe" looked similar to its Italian parent model but had no parts in common; BMW also re-engineered their version to cope with four-stroke power from their R-25 motorcycle. The body sat atop a steel tube chassis with front swing arm and rear leaf spring suspension while there were drum brakes and the steering was via worm and nut. A sunroof was a standard fitting and options included an external luggage rack, an ashtray and a locking fuel cap. One famous Isetta owner was Elvis Presley.

Following a change in German law concerning the driving of light vehicles with a motorcycle licence the Isetta received an enlarged engine in February 1956. Eight months later the De Luxe model featured sliding side windows. In the spring of 1957 UK production commenced at a former locomotive plant in Brighton that was now operated by Isetta of Great Britain Ltd. The operations subsequently moved to a factory in Portslade. British-market models had a front door hinged for RHD traffic and in 1958 a three wheeled version increased local sales. The Sussex operations also made four wheel versions for export.

The Isetta was also available as full convertible or as a pick-up truck miniature pick-up truck.

German production of the BMW Isetta ceased in May 1962 with the British operation coming to an end in 1964.

Power for the Isetta was from either a 249cc S1 OHV or a 298cc S1 OHV engine with a four-speed non-synchromesh transmission. Smith's "Selectoshift" two-pedal transmission was an extra.

Any BMW Isetta is a vehicle of industrial levels of charm and charisma, although the days when one could be had for a song are long distant. The convertible and the pick-up are both exceedingly rare, some purists opt for the early 250 with the "bubble" windows while others find the 300 highly agreeable with its 65 mph top speed. And of course, all models are very easy to park.

For the potential buyer, some parts- such as the side panes on the early 250s - may be very hard to come by and there are components that are not interchangeable; the De Luxe's vertical spring coils cannot be used on the older cars for example. Check that the Isetta has not been rolled over in the past - a poorly fitting door is often evidence of this having occurred - and virtually everywhere for corrosion.

Rivals to the BMW Isetta include the Heinkel Kabine, the Vespa 400, the Fiat 500, the Zündapp Janus, the Messerschmitt KR200 and the Fuldamobil Type S.