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You should drive a BMW Isetta sometime

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Created on September 1, 1959

Reading time 18min

Written by:

Obering. Siegfried Rauch

Photos:

BMW AG

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Archiv

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BMW AG

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Archiv

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BMW Isetta (1957) - zum Gemüseeinkaufen

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BMW Isetta (1955) - auch für die Bergfahrt gerüstet

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BMW Isetta (1957) - das Motorcoupé als Geschäfts- und Repräsentationsfahrzeug der Illustrierte "Stern"

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BMW Isetta (1956) - Motorseite, Blinker und höhere Scheinwerfer

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BMW Isetta (1957) - Modell "Standard" im Steigfähigkeitstest

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BMW Isetta (1957) - Strandszene

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BMW Isetta (1958) - Einstieg in das Exportmodell

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BMW Isetta (1957) - Variante für beidseitig Beinamputierte, Aufpreis DM 250

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BMW Isetta (1956) - Motor mit Bing-Vergaser und Kühlgebläse

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BMW Isetta (1956) - der BMW-Propeller auf dem Motorcoupé

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BMW Isetta (1955) - das verwindungssteife Chassis mit dem 250 cm3 Motor und 12 PS

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BMW Isetta (1957) - das Fahrgestell, ausgestellt am Genfer Automobilsalon 1957

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BMW Isetta (1955) - Blick durch die Isetta

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BMW Isetta (1955) - Modell "Standard"

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BMW Isetta (1959) - das Modell "Standard" zusammen mit dem BMW 502

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BMW Isetta Export (1958) - mit Rundblick-Karosserie

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BMW Isetta (1960) - Produktion des Motorcoupés in München

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BMW Isetta (1957) - Modell "Export" mit Schlüssel als Verulkung

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BMW Isetta (1957) - einfarbig

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Der BMW 600 (1957) basiert auf der BMW Isetta

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BMW Isetta (1956) - Modell "Standard" in den Alpen

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Summary

It was in 1959 that the magazine "Das Moped und die Kleinmotorisierung" subjected the BMW Isetta to extensive endurance testing over 6000 km. And the enthusiasm was great, the Isetta was convincing in almost every respect. The Isetta scored top marks with hardly any technical breakdowns and only suffered disadvantages in very special road conditions. This article reproduces the carefully restored original text from back then and is illustrated with contemporary photographs.

This article contains the following chapters

An Italian design
BMW was not the only company interested in the Isetta
BMW seal of quality
Elaborately redesigned
Few real mobiles
A real mobile
An alternative worth considering
The technology in detail
On board the Isetta
Three quarters is usually enough
Plenty of space, but only for the passengers
As nimble as a weasel
Coming to a halt without any complaints
No Mercedes comfort
In love and convinced

Estimated reading time: 18min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Yes - we can only give this advice to anyone who is thinking of changing over. We have had so much opportunity to drive the Isetta that we can confidently make a comprehensive judgment - and that we can still describe it today with a clear conscience as the vehicle which, if a two-wheeler convert cannot or does not want to make a big leap forward (namely to a real small car), represents the logical next step as one of the few real mobiles that have ever existed. The Isetta was basically an Italian design, the ISO factories brought it out in Italy and very soon offered their unconventional creation (no one had ever seen a vehicle like this before the Isetta appeared, a wide bench seat at the front with a front door, an engine behind the seats driving two narrow rear wheels - where had this ever been seen before?), which incidentally never really caught on in Italy itself, abroad for license production.

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