In the early 1950s, a microcar was developed in Italy called the Isetta. Its egg-like shape earned it the nickname of “Bubble Car,” and it had a single door that opened in the front. They were licensed for manufacture by several companies, BMW perhaps being the most prolific. These cars are rare in the U.S. these days and would hardly meet DOT safety standards if they were mass-produced again. Located in a dry building in Florence, Kentucky, this pair has been sitting for many years and is offered together for $17,500 here on craigslist. Once again, Zappenduster emerges with another nifty tip!
After its Italian production included BMW in West Germany in 1955, two versions of the Isetta were offered, one with a 247cc single-cylinder engine and – later – another with a 298cc engine. If you managed to get up to 53-55 mph, you were doing well, especially on the tiny tires and with the windshield not far in front of you. But you got to enjoy fuel mileage of 78 mpg on regular gasoline. Records show that at least 161,000 of the Isettas saw the light of day in the 1950s. In some places, you could operate one with a motorcycle license.
We’re told that both of these egg-shaped cars were running when they were parked many moons ago. Now they’re covered with dust, and one of them has had its engine dismantled, but we’re told all the parts are there. Because of their dry storage, perhaps rust won’t be a problem, as I’m guessing that sheet metal replacements are hard to come by in the States. Since the titles are said to be clear, we assume both are 300s from 1957.
Somewhere in the family scrapbooks, we have pictures of renting one of these when we were on vacation in Florida when I was a little tyke. It looked like a fun ride to run around the streets of Miami Beach (if that’s where we went), and two adults and one mini-me were all these things could carry. The seller is open to offers and says that delivery is available (I assume with distance limitations).
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