The bubble car that saved BMW from bankruptcy. BMW licensed the Iso Isetta design from Italy and adapted it with their own motorcycle engine. 161,728 sold, providing the revenue that kept BMW alive long enough to develop the Neue Klasse sedans that established the modern company.
History
In the mid-1950s, BMW was on the verge of collapse. The company's large sedans and V8 models were too expensive, and its motorcycles faced declining demand. A takeover by Daimler-Benz seemed inevitable.
BMW licensed the Isetta microcar design from Iso in Italy, replacing the original Iso engine with a BMW motorcycle single-cylinder producing 13 PS. The front-opening door (the entire front of the car swung forward, including the steering column) allowed entry in the tightest parking spaces.
The Isetta was cheap, economical, and perfectly suited to post-war European conditions. At 350 kg and 85 km/h top speed, it offered basic mobility at a fraction of a real car's cost. 161,728 were sold.
The Isetta's profits kept BMW solvent during the critical years before the 700 and the 1500 Neue Klasse arrived. Without the Isetta, BMW would almost certainly have been absorbed by Mercedes-Benz.
Clean Isettas command EUR 30,000 to EUR 60,000. The car that saved BMW is now a beloved collector's item.
Production & Heritage
Value estimates are editorial assessments based on recent auction results and market trends.
Technical Specifications
Engine Details
Performance
Tags
Designed by Iso / BMW Design
