Vehicle Description
Cruisin Classics is proud to present this simply awesome 1959 BMW
Isetta! Here at Cruisin Classics we see incredible muscle cars roll
through the door every day, but once in a while something out of
the ordinary comes in and grabs everyone's attention - and this
little car certainly has us all walking around it with big grins on
our faces. First though, a little history about this cool
micro-car...In the early 1950's an Italian company called Iso SpA
who built refrigerators, motor scooters, and 3-wheel trucks
designed and built a 3-wheel "bubble car" they named the Isetta.
They took the car to the Turin Auto Show in 1953 and it was a huge
hit. Iso began licensing the car for manufacture to auto-makers
across Europe as well as Brazil. At the same time, BMW was
experiencing a difficult financial period and really needed a new
car that they could get to market quickly to get them out of the
slump. BMW executives not only purchased licensing for the Isetta
from Iso but also bought the production equipment to make the cars.
This gave BMW the ability to get the car to market fast and in 1955
BMW began manufacturing the Isetta. Sales were brisk and by 1962
when they stopped making them, 161,728 cars had come off the
assembly line. It's no surprise why the Isetta was so popular - it
got over 70 mpg (at a time when gas was rather expensive in
Europe), it's only 7 � ft. long and 4 � ft. wide (perfect for easy
parking on tight city streets), and they only cost just over
$1,000. Fast-forward to today and we're standing in front of a very
well-restored 1959 Isetta dressed in stunning red paint and
gleaming chrome. The paint is very bright and glossy, obviously a
professional respray. Both the light sheet metal bumpers on the
body and the chrome extended pipe bumpers (nerf bars) are in
excellent condition. The chrome luggage rack affixed to the rear is
in the same great shape and is topped with a wicker suitcase for
additional storage. The BMW Isetta 300 badging on the door looks
crisp and new. 7" sealed beam headlights are attached to both sides
of the car and bullet-style marker lights flank the front. The
Isetta sits atop 10" steel wheels with BMW "ralley-style" chrome
hubcaps. Setting off the wheels are a newer set of BF Goodrich
Silvertown white-wall tires that enhance the vintage style. The
roof of the car features a grey retractable canvas roof that
provides fresh air, sunlight, and an escape hatch in the event that
the single door of the car were to be damaged in an accident.
Single door? That's right, this car has just one door and it is in
the front of the car! When the door swings open to reveal the small
but comfortable cockpit, you'll notice that the steering wheel and
column stay attached to the door and swing out with it to provide
easy entrance to the car. There is a chrome handle inside the door
to the left to help with entry and exit as well. The rather spartan
interior is dressed in red and grey with new black carpet. The red
and grey vinyl bench seat is comfortable for 2 adults of average
build and appears to have been recently recovered. The light grey
side panels, parcel shelf, and door panel are all in very good
condition. The front door panel has a small pouch for storage. If
you fold down the seat back you'll find a spare tire located behind
the driver under the parcel shelf. The driver has a small shifter
to their left to control the 4-speed manual transmission, as well
as controls for a manual choke and heater, and an emergency brake.
Just behind the white 3-spoke steering wheel is the only gauge on
the car - a reverse-sweep 60 mph VDO speedometer with 10,209 actual
miles showing. The driver is also treated to sliding pillarless
windows, a side mirror, a single windshield wiper, and a small
sun-visor. Behind the seat in the center is a fuel lever that
allows you to choose between on, off, and reserve. The gas tank is
only 3.2 gal with an extra .8 gal reserve, but that will go a long
way with the fuel economy the Isetta offers. The engine that powers
this 770 lb. bubble-car is a 298cc single cylinder motor rated at
13hp with a top speed of 53mph. The engine features a Bing
carburetor and a unique Dynastart system that incorporates a
compact starter and generator into the same unit. Hydraulic drum
brakes on both front and right rear provide adequate stopping
power. Also included with this beautiful little BMW are several
restoration repair manuals that will surely prove helpful to the
new owner. It's not every day that you see an Isetta, let alone one
restored to this level. This is a unique opportunity to own a rare
micro-car that is as practical with today's gas prices as it was 60
years ago. One thing is for certain when you drive this Isetta,
you'll get bewildered stares and thumbs-up's wherever you go!
Engine
298cc Single Cylinder (13hp, 7.0:1 Compression)
Bing Carburetor
Dynastart System
Transmission
4-Speed Manual
Brakes
Hydraulic Drums on Both Front and Right Rear
Suspension
Coil Springs and Friction-Type Shock Absorbers in Front
Leaf Springs and Telescopic Shocks in the Rear
Exterior
Slick Red Paint
Excellent Chrome Bumpers
7" Sealed-Beam Headlights
Bullet-Style Marker Lights
Retractable Canvass Top
10" Steel Wheels with BMW "Ralley-Style" Hubcaps
BF Goodrich Silvertown White Wall Tires
Single Windshield Wiper
Drivers Side Mirror
Chrome Luggage Rack with Wicker Suitcase
Single Front Door
Interior
Newer Grey and Red Vinyl Bench Seat
Entry/Exit Handle
Sliding Pillarless Windows
Swing-Away Steering Column Attached to the Door
Reverse-Sweep 60mph VDO Speedometer
Heater
Manual Choke
Parcel Shelf
Spare Tire
Driver's Visor
New Black Carpet
Restoration Manuals
If you have any additional questions, please call one of our
friendly sales staff. We will be glad to help in any way with
questions on financing, shipping the vehicle, or perhaps an
interest in our sell-your-car brokerage program. We've been in
business since 1996 and have sold cars all over the world and we
insist on giving the best personal service in the industry.
The sale is subject to the following conditions and
representations. This vehicle is being sold as-is, where-is with no
warranty in connection therewith. The seller shall not be
responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness,
or defects herein, and make no warranty in connection therewith. No
allowances or set aside will be made on account of any
incorrectness, imperfection, defect, or damage. Any descriptions or
representations are for identification purposes only and are not to
be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of
the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle and to have
satisfied oneself as to the condition and value based upon that
judgment solely. The seller assumes no responsibility for any
repairs regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle.
Thank you from all of us at Cruisin Classics.
