1957 BMW Isetta

Whenever automobile enthusiasts think ''Microcar,'' chances are the unforgettable BMW Isetta immediately comes to mind. Conceived by successful Italian industrialist Renzo Rivolta, who earned his fortune producing the successful Isothermos line of refrigeration equipment. Tiny, economical and easy to enter and exit with a large swing-open front door, the Isetta was perfectly suited to narrow urban streets and helped mobilize postwar Italy during the 1950s. It was soon license-built by BMW in Germany, where it was widely used by the Bundespost for mail delivery. Isettas were also exported in numbers to North America, where their diminutive proportions and cheeky presence drew national attention on several popular TV variety shows.

Two BMW-built versions were produced between 1955 and 1962, firstly the Isetta 250 with a 247-cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine (1955-62), soon joined by the slightly more-powerful Isetta 300 with 298cc power (1956-62), represented by the example offered here. Despite its unconventional design, the Isetta was an important BMW model with 74,312 examples of the Isetta 250 and 87,416 of the Isetta 300 built. Today, all surviving examples enjoy strong collector demand and never fail to attract swarms of admirers.

Sporting a rare Green exterior finish, this 1957 BMW Isetta 300 is a nicely presented example of these historically important European microcars that continues to benefit from a late-1990s refurbishment under a previous owner. Additional highlights include the Gray canvas sliding roof and White vinyl upholstery, sliding side windows and 10-inch painted steel wheels with bright hubcaps. Delivering 13 to 15 horsepower depending on the source quoted at 5,000 to 5,200 RPM, the Isetta is theoretically capable of reaching about 50 miles per hour in concert with a 4-speed manual transmission (plus reverse). We have just completed a full mechanical inspection and professional detailing. Contact us for a viewing appointment and to obtain full details today!

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