Spotted the smallest BMW, ever! - The BMW Isetta - Team-BHP

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)
Name: bmw_isetta.jpg
Views: 380
Size: 49.6 KB

Name: bmw_isetta.jpg
Views: 380
Size: 49.6 KB

Name: isetta_ad1.jpg
Views: 376
Size: 11.8 KB

Name: isetta_ad2.jpg
Views: 377
Size: 12.6 KB

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 (BMW may bring back Isetta)

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.

Name: 126-1.jpg
Views: 221
Size: 101.6 KB

Name: 126-1.jpg
Views: 221
Size: 101.6 KB

Name: 126-2.jpg
Views: 219
Size: 80.7 KB

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

26th March 2008, 12:07	#1 (permalink)
clevermax BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore, Kollam Posts: 146 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 Images __________________ 127.0.0.1 - That's where I belong!

26th March 2008, 12:39	#2 (permalink)
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapuram Posts: 5,144 View My Garage	Another sticker job? __________________ "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."

26th March 2008, 12:44	#3 (permalink)
RPMPKDMFF BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sharjah Posts: 305	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) __________________ Live. Love. Learn. Last edited by RPMPKDMFF : 26th March 2008 at 12:47.

26th March 2008, 12:44	#4 (permalink)
jesal Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,782 View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (4)	no i think this is for real have seen it on top gear ages ago there is one in india too same color __________________ Јєşåł Åŕỳā Modifying Gone Mental

26th March 2008, 12:48	#5 (permalink)
bIte tHe bulLet BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: new delhi Posts: 167	papa like... can papa have? "pleeeease"* i promise to be good!!* __________________ my wife and i were happy for 20 years....THEN we met each other!!! safari 2.2 lx (mar 08) palio 1.2 sport (oct 02)

26th March 2008, 12:48	#6 (permalink)
VooDoo Newbie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kolkata/ UK Posts: 11	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. __________________ Regards, VooDoo

26th March 2008, 13:07	#7 (permalink)
iraghava Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 7,019 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 __________________ A good compromise leaves everyone mad.

26th March 2008, 15:20	#10 (permalink)
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapuram Posts: 5,144 View My Garage	http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/intern...ck-isetta.html (BMW may bring back Isetta) __________________ "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."

26th March 2008, 15:22	#11 (permalink)
sukiwa BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: pune Posts: 91	This small BMW was showcased in some auto show on TV as well.

26th March 2008, 15:23	#12 (permalink)
condor Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: BLR Posts: 1,523 View My Garage	Anybody notice the ingenious positioning of the steering wheel ? __________________ Life is Analog. Digital is an approximation.

26th March 2008, 15:54	#14 (permalink)
vasudeva BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 997 View My Garage	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 __________________ For one who sees Me in all beings and sees all beings in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.

26th March 2008, 18:34	#15 (permalink)
clevermax BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore, Kollam Posts: 146 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) __________________ 127.0.0.1 - That's where I belong!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
BMW may bring back Isetta	khanak	The International Automotive Scene	9	8th February 2008 19:16
Spotted the new BMW X5	hanmust	Super-Cars & Imports in India	45	31st August 2007 00:54
BMW mini spotted	jassi	Super-Cars & Imports in India	38	16th August 2007 04:32
Spotted BMW M6	pdev29	Super-Cars & Imports in India	22	27th May 2006 07:50
Bmw M5 E 60 Spotted In Chennai	HOTROD	Super-Cars & Imports in India	13	21st April 2006 15:25