1957 BMW Isetta 300 Convertible

Description

In the early 1950s, the Italian company Iso SpA was manufacturing motor scooters and three-wheeled trucks, amongst other things, and decide that it wanted to offer a small car to be offered to the masses. In 1952, the company released a small car that ran off of a motorcycle engine that had a design unlike anyone had seen before. The car, called the Isetta, with its small body and bubble-type design, was an immediate hit with buyers. The car was engineered to have a single access point, with the entire front of the vehicle acting as a single-hinged door, which also carried the steering wheel and instrument panel with it as it opened. What the car lacked in speed, as the result of its small engine and low horsepower, it made up for it efficiency. Initial estimates of the Isetta's fuel economy were up to 50 miles per gallon, and unheard of amount for a car of its generation. In 1954, Iso SpA began pursuing licensing deals for the vehicle with other manufacturers and ultimately reached such a deal with BMW who not only purchased the licensing rights but the Isetta's complete body tooling as well.


This BMW retains the original air-cooled 4-stroke engine. It is rust-free and has had a frame-up restoration.