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Author Topic: 1955 Isetta  (Read 4985 times)

blob

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1955 Isetta
« on: August 25, 2011, 12:02:41 PM »
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Bob Purton

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Re: 1955 Isetta
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2011, 12:16:56 PM »
Totally agree Mike. Thats the one to have. Will you pop over to Germany and buy it for me please?! :D
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richard

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Re: 1955 Isetta
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2011, 05:41:49 PM »
thats the job  :)
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Big Al

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Re: 1955 Isetta
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2011, 07:42:42 PM »
Nearly as pretty as a Vellam but a lot more use. Nice finish too. Should pick up a bit of interest.
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Jonathan Poll

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Re: 1955 Isetta
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2011, 09:58:39 PM »
Have you seen the 1954 Isetta that was for sale?

If not, read the US microcar mag ;)

The seller says its a 1954 car, with a prototype engine, when BMW confirmed it was a 1957 car!
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Big Al

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Re: 1955 Isetta
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2011, 07:34:36 AM »
Chum bought the earliest known Isetta in the USA either in the winter or spring this year. Everyone seemed to miss it. Absolute bargain! He has another Iso type tube framed car. So before BMW were really making their own bodyshells, that's early. I believe BMW had records and could quote the colour. Bit of a change from 30 years ago when BMW were really rather keen to distance themselves from bubblecars. How the world changes.
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AndrewG

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Re: 1955 Isetta
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2011, 01:42:52 PM »
Quote from: Big Al on August 30, 2011, 07:34:36 AM
Bit of a change from 30 years ago when BMW were really rather keen to distance themselves from bubblecars. How the world changes.
Aren't BMW intending to resurrect the Isetta name, having had some success with the Mini name?
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Jim Janecek

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Re: 1955 Isetta
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2011, 02:00:18 PM »
Quote from: AndrewG on August 30, 2011, 01:42:52 PM
Aren't BMW intending to resurrect the Isetta name, having had some success with the Mini name?

No, that is a rumour started and kept alive by auto blogs on the Internet.

The MINI was a successful brand in its own right.  It was a small sports car.
The Isetta was known as a deathtrap and a joke (to "real" car enthusiasts).  BMW refused to even acknowledge it for many years. 
How would they possibly benefit from using the Isetta name again?

Also- not sure about licensing rights.  They may not actually own the rights to the name to do whatever they want with it.
Don't forget- they licensed the design and everything from ISO.
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Rusty Chrome (Malcolm Parker)

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Re: 1955 Isetta
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2011, 05:30:15 PM »
Quote from: JimJanecek on August 30, 2011, 02:00:18 PM
Quote from: AndrewG on August 30, 2011, 01:42:52 PM
Aren't BMW intending to resurrect the Isetta name, having had some success with the Mini name?

No, that is a rumour started and kept alive by auto blogs on the Internet.

The MINI was a successful brand in its own right.  It was a small sports car.
The Isetta was known as a deathtrap and a joke (to "real" car enthusiasts).  BMW refused to even acknowledge it for many years. 
How would they possibly benefit from using the Isetta name again?

Also- not sure about licensing rights.  They may not actually own the rights to the name to do whatever they want with it.
Don't forget- they licensed the design and everything from ISO.

I think it was a bit more than just a rumour. The impression I got was that BMW suggested the idea to the press whilst discussing their Megacity concept at an early stage either to promote the concept or simply to test out the idea in public. I'm not sure if Autobild mocked up a drawing on that basis or if BMW supplied them with it but that was were the thing started.

http://web.archive.org/web/20071201150829/http://www.autobild.de/artikel/Themen-Erlkoenige-Laesst-BMW-die-Kugel-wieder-rollen-_458027.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20090427200445/http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/235330/bmw_isetta.html
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Jim Janecek

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Re: 1955 Isetta
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2011, 06:09:18 PM »
no, it is only a rumour.
However, you are correct in that it STARTED with Autobild.de
They just ran with this idea that the Isetta would return.
Other auto blogs picked up on that.

Where the image came from, I don't know, but calling a BMW drawing that looks like VW beetle an "Isetta" is a bit of a stretch.

Also- if you actually read the "story" you find this (translated):
Quote
BMW boss Norbert Reithofer will not deny the Isetta-topic but a certain charm, but he also believes the idea of ??not sustainable. Finally, the current BMW range was far removed from history. Reithofer: "Isetta and the big V8 sedans come from a time when BMW was close to bankruptcy because you must consider carefully whether a borrowing from that era still makes sense.."
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Big Al

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Re: 1955 Isetta
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2011, 10:44:45 AM »
The notable design signature is the front opening door. I wonder if this could ever pass modern legislation as a design. That would mean the new Isetta would be more like a Hoffman Autocabin. How ironic would that be!
However they could revamp the BMW 600 concept and add a bit more Isetta and happily market that whilst using the Isetta to advertise it. None of these style creartions is of MIcro size so it would create a sort of Yaris sized family car with style.
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Messerschmitt set, Goggo Darts, Heinkel 175, Fiat Jolly, Autobianchi, Fairthorpe Electron Minor, Borgward, Isuzu Trooper
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