BMW Isetta: specifications and photos

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

After the Second World War, the Isetta compact passenger car began to be produced in many countries. It was in great demand and proved to be very comfortable and convenient.

Italy is considered the birthplace of the car, later the model began to be produced not only there - in Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain and Brazil.

Prerequisites for creation

In European countries with undermined economies after the end of hostilities, issues related to transport were especially relevant. It was necessary to establish the production of economical and cheap cars in large quantities so that the transport problem could be temporarily solved.

Begin development and release

At the same time, the Italians from the company Iso SPA launched the production of the Isetta model, which looked more like a motorized stroller than a full-fledged vehicle. After a short time, the company decided to sell the license for the Isetta car in order to concentrate on the production of sports models.

BMW Concern

The leadership of the BMW concern seizedprecisely for this opportunity, since production was in complete decline. Of the five factories located on the territory of Munich, only one fell under the control of the Western Allies and was destroyed during the hostilities.

The development and launch of the BMW 501 was only possible in 1951, but the attempt failed due to the excessively high cost of production. The result of the failure was that the concern seized the opportunity to produce the BMW Isetta 300 motorized stroller, buying out the license and all production equipment from Iso SPA. In addition, the specialists of the German company made significant changes to the original design of the car.

During the Suez crisis, the popularity of the miniature novelty increased dramatically: the economical Isetta against the backdrop of increased fuel prices turned out to be just in time.

Exterior

Outwardly, the motorized carriage practically did not resemble an ordinary car, having received the household name of a "bubble car". Its design was more like a spherical cavity extended backwards, in the back of which was the engine. There was no hood as such: its place was taken by a convex door that opened along with the windshield, steering column, windshield wiper and other controls. The passengers of the BMW Isetta 600 got inside through it.

Distinctive features of the motorized carriage are a sloping roof, a large area of glazing, placed in special places on the sides of the door, round-shaped headlights and rear wheels hidden by body panels.

A large number of chrome elements attract attention even in the photo of the BMW Isetta and stand out against the background of the compact dimensions of the car: a trunk for securing cargo, lining along the bottom line of the side windows, rims, headlight mounting points and other exterior elements.

Specifications

BMW Isetta was equipped with a single-cylinder gasoline engine with a capacity of 9.5 liters. With. After the license for a compact car was acquired by a German concern, the technical equipment of the model has changed dramatically. In particular, the company's engineers installed a new power unit of their own design: a four-stroke engine with a volume of 0.3 liters. Over time, it has been constantly refined and improved, becoming more powerful and dynamic.

It came with a four-speed manual transmission.

The BMW Isetta was rear-wheel drive, with power being sent to the rear twin wheels.

Interior

The interior of the car is sparse and practical: inside there were only a steering wheel, seats and a small speedometer. Given that the only door acted as a windshield, there was no question of the presence of any dashboard. Despite the minimum amount of free space, two people could comfortably fit in the cabin.

Italian Iso Isetta

Iso SPA, which developed the Isetta compact stroller, specialized in the productionscooters, small three-wheeled trucks and washing machines. The car, in fact, was developed after the decision of the owner to expand the product range. In 1952, a project of a compact car equipped with a scooter engine was demonstrated to the public.

Brazil, Romi-Isetta

The model was the very first car produced in this country. The production license was acquired by the Brazilians in 1955, and the assembly started in Santa Barbara. The first model rolled off the assembly line on September 5, 1956. The Isetta was chosen for its economy, compactness and practicality.

France, VELAM Isetta

Almost simultaneously with the BMW Isetta in France, the production of a modified similar car model began. The license was acquired by the French in 1954, but the BMW concern at that time bought up all the production equipment, and therefore VELAM specialists had to independently develop body panels.

The design differences of the French model were that the transmission, engine and rear wheels of the car were attached to the frame, which was fixed to the body with bolts. The front part of the chassis was attached in a similar way. The door was opened by pressing a special button, and the speedometer was moved to the steering wheel.

In Paris in 1955, the French presented five modifications of Isetta at once:

• Lux.
• Cabriolet.
• Sport.
• Standard.
• Pseudo-sport.

Productionwas discontinued in 1958 due to competition from Renault.

German BMW Isetta

As in the case of the French model, the German one has also undergone significant changes. In Germany, they decided to finalize the power units, and not the interior and exterior. Immediately after acquiring the equipment and license, the engineers of the concern installed a single-cylinder engine with an air cooling system and a volume of 0.25 liters on the BMW Isetta. The power of the new power unit has increased to 12 horsepower, which immediately affected the dynamism of a small car.

A year later, the BMW Isetta 300 appeared on the markets, equipped with a 0.3 liter engine and 13 horsepower.

UK, Isetta

A distinctive feature of the English model was the tricycle design. The reason for this design was the low taxes on motorcycle vehicles, which prompted engineers to create a car in a three-wheeled version. Such models performed very well on country roads.

The Isetta was produced in Britain from 1957 to 1962.

Electric Microlino: the resurrection of the BMW Isetta microcar

Swiss firm Micro Mobility Systems announced back in 2016 that it wanted to create a car based on the legendary German Isetta microcar. A prototype of the four-wheeled Isetta was unveiled by the company during the same year at the Geneva Motor Show, marking its resurrection. The electric Microlino will go on sale this spring. car assemblywill be handled by the Italian company Tazzari. The minimum cost of a microcar will be 837 thousand rubles.