Throttle House Reviews a Classic BMW Isetta from the 1950's

[stein_325i]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

[BMWCCA1]

They attributed way too much credit to the Isetta for saving BMW from bankruptcy when actually it was the 700 that generated enough income for BMW to go into production on the Neue Klasse cars and eventually the 2002. But, as the owner of three Isetta's (including one real convertible, not just a sunroof coupe) it was fun to watch.

[///M TOWN]

So Tiny

Very cool to watch

I'd never be caught dead in one

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

They attributed way too much credit to the Isetta for saving BMW from bankruptcy when actually it was the 700 that generated enough income for BMW to go into production on the Neue Klasse cars and eventually the 2002. But, as the owner of three Isetta's (including one real convertible, not just a sunroof coupe) it was fun to watch.

Pictures please ‼️

[Lady Jane]

I'm waiting for the ///M model or Kith version...hi hi hi

( Please don't shoot me )

[JayFar]

I would love one of these

[msej449]

My then future father-in-law (who's now 96) had one of these for the journey from home to/from the local rail station, for which it was perfect. With a 70-minute train ride into the city, he needed to keep smart and dry and this meant my in-laws could locate a bit further from the station without having to get a 2nd car. In some ways, I see it as the precursor of the 'last mile' automated personal transit vehicles they're talking about now - where you do the last couple of miles of your journey in a driverless, albeit quite slow, small, personal electric vehicle that's summoned by App. Yes, it wasn't as safe as a 'proper' car, but still a lot safer, more comfortable and practical than cycling such a journey. Just wait 'till Tesla or equivalent come up with something similar and it'll be all the rage for local urban trips.

[rwemersonrw]

Originally Posted by jstein55

Haha remember Steve Urkel? Check this out 🤣

[Staszek]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

They attributed way too much credit to the Isetta for saving BMW from bankruptcy when actually it was the 700 that generated enough income for BMW to go into production on the Neue Klasse cars and eventually the 2002. But, as the owner of three Isetta's (including one real convertible, not just a sunroof coupe) it was fun to watch.

Did you watch the end? They specifically stated that the Isetta while a hit did not save BMW from Bankruptcy and that if it wasn't an investment from a wealthy family that helped them build the Neue Klasse they would have went under.

And I second pics of your Isetta, please!!

[AR_Motorwerkz]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

They attributed way too much credit to the Isetta for saving BMW from bankruptcy when actually it was the 700 that generated enough income for BMW to go into production on the Neue Klasse cars and eventually the 2002. But, as the owner of three Isetta's (including one real convertible, not just a sunroof coupe) it was fun to watch.

Would love to see pics! Very interesting collection.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by Staszek

Did you watch the end? They specifically stated that the Isetta while a hit did not save BMW from Bankruptcy and that if it wasn't an investment from a wealthy family that helped them build the Neue Klasse they would have went under.

The wealthy benefactor was Herbert Quandt whose family today still owns a near-majority share of BMW. And it was the 700 that he "felt" with his hands (as his vision was severely impaired) before he agreed to buy BMW out of the hands of Mercedes. It was a sound business decision based on pre-sold 700 units after being told the entire cost for the 700 launch was being taken as a one-year expense to cook to books and hasten the demise of BMW by the board. It was Quandt's money and the success of the 700 that saved BMW and gave them a revenue source that allowed them to develop the Neue Range cars.

I've spent many years without proper storage for nearly 20 BMWs and only now am I beginning to correct those wrongs with the new home and garage we built. But I'm still working a 50-hour-per-week job without much time to work on my own cars. One 1600 Cabrio is on jack stands in the main garage next to three motorcycles having a new braking system installed. The best 700 convertible is safely packed in another off-site one-car garage with four more motorcycles. All three Isettas are under a car port.

Nothing photogenic for you at this time! But this one is from when I had my own shop back in the last century:



And this from the Carlisle meet back in 2007: