To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION
Estimate:
$25,000 - $35,000
- Capable 298-cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine
- Enjoyable four-speed manual gearbox
- Equipped with luggage rack and bumper guards
- Well-maintained restoration
- Please note this lot will need to be collected from St. Louis,
MO
If it were not for the cheeky little Isetta, BMW, as we know it
today, may not exist. It took the Bavarian firm considerable
resources to rebuild its devastated factories after the war. As the
company entered the 1950s, its catalog of costly, baroque-style
sedans had limited appeal - particularly when fuel and raw
materials were in critically short supply. Salvation for BMW came
via an unlikely source: Italian industrialist Renzo Rivolta offered
the production rights to his single-cylinder Iso Isetta
bubble-car.
BMW acquired the rights to produce the car for its home market,
modifying the design to accommodate their in-house motorcycle
engines and gearboxes. The inexpensive, fuel-efficient runabout was
precisely what many buyers needed during those austere times. With
the economy of a motorcycle, but the all-weather protection of an
automobile, the Isetta offered a clever, space-efficient package.
BMW sold more than 160,000 Isettas, earning Mr. Rivolta a
considerable return, and shoring up BMW's finances to allow the
development of the 600, 700, and the definitive Neu Klasse.
Offered is a charming example of BMW's iconic microcar. This 1957
Isetta 300 wears a well-maintained older restoration, presented in
an attractive, factory-offered two-tone livery of Pastellblau and
Bayerische Blau. It is pleasingly well-finished and detailed
throughout, featuring an array of period-correct fittings,
including front and rear bumper guards and a luggage rack. Gray
upholstery covers the front bench seat and slim interior panels
that make the best of the available space inside the surprisingly
airy cabin. The car sports correct cream-colored 10-inch steel
wheels, shod with black wall tires, and brushed alloy hubcaps.
With an ample 13 horsepower available from the 298-cc single, every
drive in an Isetta is an adventure. It is nearly impossible not to
smile while stirring the four-speed gearbox as the plucky
single-cylinder buzzes along. Despite its humble roots and
diminutive size, the Isetta casts an outsized shadow over the
history of the German motoring industry, saving BMW from certain
takeover, and providing the storied firm its opportunity to
continue to greatness.To view this car and others currently
consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/0120.
