BMW Isetta: features and photo

After world war II many countries began to produce compact passenger car Isetta. He enjoyed considerable demand and was very comfortable and convenient.

The Home machine is considered to be Italy, later the model was performed not only there, in Germany, France, Spain, the UK and Brazil.

Prerequisites for building

In European countries with poor economies after the end of hostilities, was particularly relevant issues related to transport. Required to organize production of fuel-efficient and cheaper cars in large quantities so that you can temporarily solve the transportation problem.

The Beginning of development and production

At the same time the Italians from the company of Iso SPA launched the production model Isetta, which was more like a scooter, not a complete vehicle. A short time later the firm took the decision to sell licenses for Isetta car-focus on the production of sports models.

BMW

Management of BMW seized for this opportunity, as the production was in full decline. Of the five refineries located in the territory of Munich, only one came under the leadership of the Western allies and was destroyed during the hostilities.

The Development and launch of the BMW 501 was able to realize only in 1951, however, the attempt failed because of the excessively high cost of production. The consequence of failure was that the group seized the opportunity of issue sidecar BMW Isetta 300, buying the company Iso SPA license and the entire production equipment. Besides, specialists of the German company made significant changes to the original design of the car.

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Exterior

Externally, the scooter does not resemble a conventional car, getting a household name "car-bubble." Its design resembled an elongated ago spherical cavity in the rear of which was the engine. The hood itself was not: his place was taken by a convex door opened along with the windshield, steering column, wiper and other controls. Passengers BMW Isetta 600 enter through it.

Distinctive features of the motorized carriages are of a sloping roof, a large area of glazing, placed in special places on either side of the door headlamp head optics, round shape and the rear wheels are hidden by the body panels.

A Large number of chrome-plated elements attract the attention of even the photo BMW Isetta and especially stand out against the compact dimensions of the car: the trunk for securing cargo, overlays on the lower line of the side Windows, wheels, seats, headlamps and other exterior elements.

Specifications

The BMW Isetta was powered by a single cylinder petrol engine capacity of 9.5 HP After a license for a compact car acquired the German company, the technical equipment of the model drastically changed. In particular, the company's engineers have installed a new power unit of his own design: the four-stroke engine capacity of 0.3 liters. With time, he constantly refined and improved, becoming more powerful and dynamic.

Bundled with it mounted manual four-speed transmission.

Drive the BMW Isetta was rear, torque transfer to the rear dual wheels.

Interior

The car's Interior is sparse and practical: inside was only a steering wheel, seats and a small speedometer. Given that the single door acted as a windshield, there was no question about the presence of any torpedo. Despite the minimal amount of space, two people could very comfortably sleep in the cabin.

Italian Iso Isetta

The Company Iso SPA that has developed a compact microcar Isetta, specialized in the production of scooters, small three-wheeled trucks and washing machines. The car was actually designed after the decision of the owner about expanding the range of products. In 1952, the public were shown a draft compact car, equipped with an engine from a scooter.

Brazil, the Romi-Isetta

The Model became the first car produced in this country. The license for the production was purchased by the Brazilians in 1955, and the Assembly started in Santa Barbara. The first model rolled off the Assembly line on 5 September 1956. The Isetta was chosen due to its efficiency, compactness and practicality.

France, VELAM Isetta

Almost simultaneously with the BMW Isetta in France, began production of a modified the same model car. The licence was acquired by the French in 1954, but the BMW at the time bought up all the productionequipment, in connection with what experts VELAM had to develop body panels.

Differences in design of the French model was that the transmission, engine and rear wheel car is attached to the frame were fixed to the body by bolts. The front part of the chassis is attached in a similar manner. The door opening was carried out by pressing a special button, and the speedometer was moved to the steering wheel.

In Paris in 1955, the French were presented as five modifications Isetta:

• Suite.
• Convertible.
• Sports.
• Standard.
• Pseudo-sport.

The Production was discontinued in 1958 due to competition from the Renault.

German BMW Isetta

As in the case with the French model, the German has also undergone significant changes. In Germany took the decision on the completion of the powertrain, not the interior and exterior. Immediately after the purchase of the equipment and license the engineers of the group set for BMW Isetta single cylinder engine with air cooling system and a volume of 0.25 L. the capacity of the new power plant has increased to 12 horsepower, which had a direct impact on the dynamism of the small weight of the car.

After a year, the market showed the BMW Isetta 300 is equipped with engine capacity of 0.3 liters and a power of 13 HP.

The UK, the Isetta

A Distinctive feature of the English model was the three-wheeled version. The reason for this design is the low taxes on motor means which pushed engineers to create a car in three-wheeled version. These models looked very good on country roads.

The Production of the Isetta in Britain was carried out from 1957 to 1962.

Electric Microlino: resurrection microcar BMW Isetta

The Swiss firm Micro Mobility Systems in 2016, said that he wanted to create a car based on the legendary German microcar Isetta. A prototype four-wheeled Isetta model was presented to the company in the same year, during the Geneva motor show, which marked its resurrection. Electric Microlino will go on sale this spring. The Assembly of the car will deal with the Italian company Tazzari. The minimum cost will be microcara 837 thousand rubles.