1958 BMW Other

Coupe

300 cc

Manual

A11915

Clear

Gasoline

This is a nicely restored, British built Canadian Isetta 300. There were almost 33,000 of these tiny cars built at the Brighton, England plant under license from BMW.1,000 of those 33,000 were built specifically for Canada, so that makes my little car 1 of 1,000. There are several subtle differences between this car and the 160,000 built by BMW in Stuttgart. Among the differences are Lucas electrics, the switches for the turn signals and the high beam switch are totally different, the handbrake is different, the placement of the rear running lights is higher up the body, it doesn't even have a fuse box, just an inline fuse. The speedo is different, it didn't come with a bumper, the stop light is mixed with the license plate light . These are just a few of the differences that make this car more desirable as a collector car. The engine was totally rebuilt including all new piston/rings and a replaced connecting rod(replaced with a steel one). All new brakes and a realignment kit for the drive shaft. It comes with the correct spare and jack. Everything works, the lights, horn,etc Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Great Collector Car, full restoration The BMW Isetta was designed to be an efficient and affordable form of motorized transportation following World War II. BMW was primarily building large motor cars that were not selling well as there was a fuel shortage following the war. Some historians even claim that the Isetta kept the company alive during this time of scarce fuel. The Isetta remains one of the most memorable "microcars" that helped to mobilize a shattered postwar Europe. The BMW Isetta debuted in 1955 at the Frankfurt Auto Show alongside a giant BMW 505 Pullman Limousine, which must have created quite a scene at the BMW stand. While the Isetta sold quite poorly in Italy, the timing for BMW was perfect, as these little cars quickly became a fashion statement, and the Bundespost used them extensively as well. The Isetta quickly achieved cult status in the United States as well, where it was featured on a number of variety shows. BMW cranked out 160,000 cars from 1955 to 1964, and famous Isetta owners include Cary Grant and Elvis Presley. Weighing merely 770 pounds, the Isetta was powered by a four-stroke, single-cylinder 298 cc air-cooled engine borrowed from BMWs motorcycle line. Nonetheless, it was capable of propelling the car to speeds exceeding 50 mph, achieving fuel consumption of 40 to 45 mpg. A contemporary road test by Road & Track also noted the Isettas low operating costs, mechanical robustness and ease of maintenance. Isettas are only seven feet, nine inches long, including their chrome plated nerf-bar bumpers, and only four and a half feet wide in all, they are barely larger than a standard sheet of plywood. Isetta owners were never at a loss for a parking space, contributing to their strong popularity among city dwellers. The delightful BMW also received a complete mechanical and electrical rebuild as well as a cosmetic freshening. It runs and drives very well. More than merely an idiosyncratic addition to any automotive collection, the Isettas historical significance cannot be underestimated, as it saved BMW from being bought by Mercedes in the late 1950s. To this day, it remains one of the most popular and recognizable mini-cars, of which this Isetta 300 is a particularly well-restored and show quality example If you have any further questions please ask me.