[Stanher]

Originally Posted by harit

Well, the Badal was made by Sipani, Bangalore, the same guys who made the Dolphin and the the Rover Montego. It may have had a Greaves Lombardini engine. We have seen them on the road, I have even seen one as a taxi in the countryside. The body was fibreglass, so not much scrap value

There is a red one here in Hyderabad. But the owner (a dealer) told me it is fitted with a Lambretta engine!!

I wonder if it was an owner-made alteration made only to this one car?

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by harit

Hi, yes indeed it is a 300, so only three wheels. Should have looked more closely. See, learning every day something new.

Absolutely, everyday learning something new - for example being a 300 apparenly does not necessitate only 3 wheels - case in point, the Delhi car. And what a beauty she is.

[imperial.s.a]

Originally Posted by Stanher

There is a red one here in Hyderabad. But the owner (a dealer) told me it is fitted with a Lambretta engine!!

I wonder if it was an owner-made alteration made only to this one car?

hi guys actually the badal were made to replace the auto rickshaws but did not become an suckess later stages the badals were found in the copstations even roof tops of some garages

[marlinspike]

I remember seeing a Sipani in 1983 oppsite Anoor theatre Erode. I was in my primary school.
I remembered it when seeing it in some Mr.Bean episodes where the same pale blue three wheeler being pushed into a canal by mr. Bean's not much better car

[john a milne]

I having been doing some surfing to find out more about my Isetta, and came across a great site " Isetta Club of Great Britain".

This is where my car was built, under licence from BMW, with 1000 being shipped to Canada. My car had no reference to BMW on it apart from the engine.

Great story on their production facilities.

[imperial.s.a]

hi marlin mr bean was the original reliant from where the badal was done in india

[rajathv8]

great looking car there! but it is kind of scary considering that the door is in the front and thats the only thing between your knees and any obstacle in case of an accident! ouch.

@marlinspike
the car in mr.bean is a reliant robin

[girishpv]

May be it is

Read this article in Autoexpress magazine.

[sudharma]

See the below Extract from the Net:-


Illustrated:
2011 BMW Isetta to share Fiat platform
07/30/2008, 4:32 PM

By Nick Aziz







Whether it’s using a platform for riving Abarth or providing the underpinnings for the new Ford Ka, Fiat has seen no shortage of partnerships recently. If new rumors are to be believed, the Italian automaker might be partnering with BMW for a new small car platform. More specifically, the forthcoming BMW Isetta and Fiat Topolino electric city cars might be born as twins.

By sharing a platform, the Fiat and Bimmer will have similar proportions, but unique surface development and brand-specific design cues. The agreement was reportedly made as part of the same deal that will see a new Mini model share the Alfa Romeo Mi.To’s platform.
While the Topolino will be sold in Europe only, the Isetta is most certainly coming to America. The rear-engine vehicle is billed to come Stateside in 2011 or 2012, just in time to meet California’s laws that would require major car manufacturers to produce a certain amount of zero emission vehicles.
Isetta is the result of BMW’s “Project i unit,” which has been working largely independently to develop electric car technology. It’s not know if the Fiat-BMW partnership will be a two-way stream, with the Topolino sharing BMW’s electric technology. It appears Fiat has at least two regular engines planned for the car — one delivering 65 horsepower and the other 105 hp.
Both cars are likely to seat three passengers, including the driver. This should give Isetta the upper hand over Daimler’s Smart For Two.

[john a milne]

Originally Posted by rajathv8

great looking car there! but it is kind of scary considering that the door is in the front and thats the only thing between your knees and any obstacle in case of an accident! ouch.

@marlinspike
the car in mr.bean is a reliant robin

You are right on the MARK!

I used to drive it daily to work, about 12 miles mostly on the highway. I used to joke that the sun roof was my escape hatch and if I did have a head on I would save the cost of a casket and just be buried in it.

I did have a very close encounter with a big truck and decided to sell it and traded it in on a mint 1953 Studebaker coupe.

[manishalive]

Originally Posted by girishpv

May be it is

Read this article in Autoexpress magazine.

Retro seems to be the order of the day .

[iTNerd]

This little Isetta was the car that helps BMW survived and sustained the financial problem of post war Germany.

[manson]

Originally Posted by harit

There was one more BMW Isetta in the same colour scheme in Mumbai and I was told that it belonged to the Scindias. But it was in a better shape, therefore not sure if this is the same car. It was lying with Garware, moved on to a petrol pump on Peddar Road, now I do not know where she finally ended up.

Cheers harit

I think I have seen the same Isetta a couple of years back at an enthusiast's workshop in good old Pawane MIDC, Navi Mumbai. At first even I thought it was the same car in the pictures.

manson.

[Rosso Corsa]

Originally Posted by harit

There was one more BMW Isetta in the same colour scheme in Mumbai and I was told that it belonged to the Scindias. But it was in a better shape, therefore not sure if this is the same car. It was lying with Garware, moved on to a petrol pump on Peddar Road, now I do not know where she finally ended up.
Besides this, there are atleast 4 more Isetta's in India, I have seen them all, some only in pictures. The one in Delhi was even lying in a showroom.

Cheers harit

Originally Posted by manson

I think I have seen the same Isetta a couple of years back at an enthusiast's workshop in good old Pawane MIDC, Navi Mumbai. At first even I thought it was the same car in the pictures.

manson.

Is this the one that you both are talking about ? The pic was clicked in Bombay nearly 2 decades ago. Its Gujarat registered and is Red in color

[Dussey]

[quote=manishalive;1622335]The one in Delhi, does that belong to Kashyap Automobiles? The 4th one is that in Chennai?

Manish, havent heard of an Isetta in Chennai. I know of a Messerschmitt three wheeler not an Isetta. In case there is one in Chennai, more details please.