Spotted the smallest BMW, ever! - The BMW Isetta

clevermax · 26th March 2008, 12:07

I've seen this tiny car with a BMW badge on it, last week in Germany.... It is tinier than a Smart, a Reva and a Fiat 126!

jkdas · 26th March 2008, 12:39

Another sticker job?

RPMPKDMFF · 26th March 2008, 12:44

This isn't a sticker job. This is the BMW Isetta, was introduced in April of 1955. BMW used a one-cylinder, four-stroke, 247 cc motorcycle engine to give the Isetta all of 13hp. It got the nickname rolling egg, has a 4-speed tranny and top-speed is 53mph and averages 63mpg. The cost of the Isetta in 1958 was US$ 1093.

The design was from Italy originally and manufacturers in other countries caught, the most popular being this BMW version. Thus came the microcars.

Here are some more pictures of the Isetta (from around the net)

Spotted the smallest BMW, ever! - The BMW Isetta-bmw_isetta.jpg

Spotted the smallest BMW, ever! - The BMW Isetta-isetta_ad1.jpg

Spotted the smallest BMW, ever! - The BMW Isetta-isetta_ad2.jpg

jesal · 26th March 2008, 12:44

no i think this is for real have seen it on top gear ages ago there is one in india too same color

bIte tHe bulLet · 26th March 2008, 12:48

papa like...

can papa have? "pleeeease" i promise to be good!!

VooDoo · 26th March 2008, 12:48

It is indeed a BMW. Should be part of the classic cars by now. Have seen similar one in a Tokyo vintage car museum. it is called some kind of calm shell model. The beauty of this car is, the entree is from the front. The entire front opens along with the steering. Never managed to get into it so, no idea how it worked.

iraghava · 26th March 2008, 13:07

There are two of these in India, one in Delhi & another in Mumbai that I know of. Pictures can be found here:
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vinta...red-india.html

karlosdeville · 26th March 2008, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

There are two of these in India, one in Delhi & another in Mumbai that I know of. Pictures can be found here:
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vinta...red-india.html

Actually theres one in Goa being restored as well. I think pics were on the forum I cant find them at the moment.

n_aditya · 26th March 2008, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesal

have seen it on top gear ages ago

and it probably was one of his most sedate test drives on screen. Imagine JC trying some tricks on this car.

Cute lil thing though. Would solve our traffic problem greatly.

jkdas · 26th March 2008, 15:20

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/intern...ck-isetta.html

sukiwa · 26th March 2008, 15:22

This small BMW was showcased in some auto show on TV as well.

condor · 26th March 2008, 15:23

Anybody notice the ingenious positioning of the steering wheel ?

Spitfire · 26th March 2008, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Actually theres one in Goa being restored as well. I think pics were on the forum I cant find them at the moment.

Here it is getting restored:

vasudeva · 26th March 2008, 15:54

BMW has recently announced plans for a new city vehicle which will be developed under the Project i tag, and which could eventually be launched under a new sub-brand. BMW says that Project i will be brought to market in the first half of the next decade.

Read it here:
Global Insight // Same-Day Analysis

clevermax · 26th March 2008, 18:34

BMW Isetta... Hmm nice to know....! Thanks guys.
BTW, I have another picture of a tiny car, as mentioned in the very first post of this thread, and it is the Fiat 126. That too spotted in Germany.

Spotted the smallest BMW, ever! - The BMW Isetta-1261.jpg

Spotted the smallest BMW, ever! - The BMW Isetta-1262.jpg

Ain't that tiny! (Compare the size of the steering wheel with the whole car)

26th March 2008, 12:07	#1
clevermax Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tvm/Amsterdam Posts: 2,112 Thanked: 2,897 Times View My Garage	Spotted the smallest BMW, ever! - The BMW Isetta I've seen this tiny car with a BMW badge on it, last week in Germany.... It is tinier than a Smart, a Reva and a Fiat 126! Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 12:39	#2
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,496 Times View My Garage	Another sticker job?
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 12:44	#3
RPMPKDMFF BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sharjah Posts: 169 Thanked: 29 Times	BMW Isetta This isn't a sticker job. This is the BMW Isetta, was introduced in April of 1955. BMW used a one-cylinder, four-stroke, 247 cc motorcycle engine to give the Isetta all of 13hp. It got the nickname rolling egg, has a 4-speed tranny and top-speed is 53mph and averages 63mpg. The cost of the Isetta in 1958 was US$ 1093. The design was from Italy originally and manufacturers in other countries caught, the most popular being this BMW version. Thus came the microcars. Here are some more pictures of the Isetta (from around the net) Last edited by RPMPKDMFF : 26th March 2008 at 12:47.
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 12:44	#4
jesal BANNED Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 17 Times View My Garage	no i think this is for real have seen it on top gear ages ago there is one in india too same color
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 12:48	#5
bIte tHe bulLet BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 441 Thanked: 281 Times View My Garage	papa like... can papa have? "pleeeease"* i promise to be good!!*
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 12:48	#6
VooDoo BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: CA, US Posts: 59 Thanked: 0 Times	It is indeed a BMW. Should be part of the classic cars by now. Have seen similar one in a Tokyo vintage car museum. it is called some kind of calm shell model. The beauty of this car is, the entree is from the front. The entire front opens along with the steering. Never managed to get into it so, no idea how it worked.
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 13:07	#7
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 7,997 Thanked: 281 Times View My Garage	There are two of these in India, one in Delhi & another in Mumbai that I know of. Pictures can be found here: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vinta...red-india.html
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 15:20	#10
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,496 Times View My Garage	http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/intern...ck-isetta.html
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 15:22	#11
sukiwa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: pune Posts: 2,397 Thanked: 2,735 Times	This small BMW was showcased in some auto show on TV as well.
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 15:23	#12
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 16,243 Thanked: 16,859 Times View My Garage	Anybody notice the ingenious positioning of the steering wheel ?
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 15:54	#14
vasudeva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 2,221 Thanked: 212 Times	BMW has recently announced plans for a new city vehicle which will be developed under the Project i tag, and which could eventually be launched under a new sub-brand. BMW says that Project i will be brought to market in the first half of the next decade. Read it here: Global Insight // Same-Day Analysis
	() Thanks

26th March 2008, 18:34	#15
clevermax Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tvm/Amsterdam Posts: 2,112 Thanked: 2,897 Times View My Garage	One more.. BMW Isetta... Hmm nice to know....! Thanks guys. BTW, I have another picture of a tiny car, as mentioned in the very first post of this thread, and it is the Fiat 126. That too spotted in Germany. Ain't that tiny! (Compare the size of the steering wheel with the whole car)
	() Thanks