BMW

The Isetta is an Italian-designed microcar built under license in a number of different countries, including Argentina, Spain, Belgium, France, Brazil, Germany and the United Kingdom. The car originated with the Italian firm Iso. In the early 1950s the company was building refrigerators, motor scooters and small three-wheeled trucks. Iso's owner, Renzo Rivolta, decided to build a small car for mass distribution. By 1952 the engineers had designed a car that used the motorcycle engine of the Iso Moto 200 and named it Isetta. It caused a sensation when it was introduced to the motoring press in Torino in November 1953. It was unlike anything seen before: small and egg-shaped, with bubble-type windows, the entire front end of the car hinged outwards to allow entry. In the event of an accident, the driver and passenger were to exit through the canvas sunroof. The steering wheel and instrument panel swung out with the single door, simplifying access to the single bench seat. Power came from a 236 cc motorcycle engine. After its initial success, the Isetta was beginning to slip in popularity at home, mainly due to renewed competition from Fiat with its 500C model. Renzo Rivolta wanted to concentrate on his new Iso Rivolta sports car and was interested in doing licensing deals. After some 1,000 units, production of the Italian built cars ceased in 1955.

The BMW Isetta differed widely from the Iso model. While the major elements of the Italian design remained intact, BMW re-engineered much of the car – so much so that none of the parts between a BMW Isetta and an Iso Isetta are interchangeable. BMW changed the powerplant to a one-cylinder, 247 cc motorcycle engine of their own manufacture which generated 12 hp. The first BMW Isetta rolled off the line in April 1955

A change of German motor vehicle regulations encouraged BMW to revise the Isetta: in February 1956, a 298 cc engine was introduced. In October 1956, the bubble windows were replaced by longer, sliding side windows. In May 1962, three years after launching the conventionally modern-looking BMW 700, BMW ceased production of the Isetta. A total of 161,728 units had been built.