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The Isetta is an Italian-designed microcar built under license in a number of different countries, including Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Known for its unique egg shape and bubble-like windows, it is often referred to as a bubble car.
In 1955, the BMW Isetta became the world's first mass-produced car to achieve unheard of gas mileage of as much as 78 miles per gallon. Powered by a diminutive 236 cc, 14.4 cubic-inch split single-cylinder motorcycle engine, it can propel the car along with a driver and one passenger to speeds of up to 47 miles per hour.
The engine in the Isetta is started by a combination generator-starter known as Dynastart. The manual gearbox provides four forward speeds and reverse. A chain drive connects the gearbox to a solid rear axle with a pair of rear wheels. The first prototypes had one wheel at the rear, but having a single rear wheel made the car prone to roll-overs, so the rear wheel layout was soon changed to a two wheel layout, placed slightly apart.
The Isetta was the top-selling single-cylinder car in the world, with 161,728 units sold.
In 1955, the BMW Isetta became the world's first mass-produced car to achieve unheard of gas mileage of as much as 78 miles per gallon. Powered by a diminutive 236 cc, 14.4 cubic-inch split single-cylinder motorcycle engine, it can propel the car along with a driver and one passenger to speeds of up to 47 miles per hour.
The engine in the Isetta is started by a combination generator-starter known as Dynastart. The manual gearbox provides four forward speeds and reverse. A chain drive connects the gearbox to a solid rear axle with a pair of rear wheels. The first prototypes had one wheel at the rear, but having a single rear wheel made the car prone to roll-overs, so the rear wheel layout was soon changed to a two wheel layout, placed slightly apart.
The Isetta was the top-selling single-cylinder car in the world, with 161,728 units sold.
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
1957 BMW Isetta Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the BMW Isetta
(Data based on Model Year 1957 sales)
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Chassis#: 506177 Sold for USD$30,800 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1957 BMW Isetta Chassis#: 509098 Sold for USD$31,900 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Chassis#: 503530 Sold for USD$22,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Sold for USD$41,440 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1957 BMW ISETTA 300 Chassis#: 500647 Sold for USD$50,600 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Cabriolet Chassis#: 500269 Sold for USD$55,000 2023 Mecum : Houston | |
1957 BMW ISETTA Chassis#: 500672 Sold for USD$26,400 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Chassis#: 501305 Sold for USD$84,000 2023 Bonhams : Scottsdale Auction | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Sold for USD$36,300 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Cabriolet Sold for USD$41,800 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Sold for USD$35,200 2022 Mecum : Houston | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Sold for USD$40,000 2022 GAA : February 2022 | |
1957 BMW ISETTA 300 Chassis#: 510396 Sold for USD$26,950 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona | |
1957 BMW ISETTA 300 CABRIOLET Chassis#: 501534 Sold for USD$33,000 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona | |
1957 BMW ISETTA 300 Chassis#: 500253 Sold for USD$46,200 2021 Barrett-Jackson : Houston | |
1957 BMW ISETTA CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 500311 Sold for USD$41,800 2021 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1957 BMW ISETTA 300 Chassis#: 510396 Sold for USD$17,600 2021 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Bubble Window Convertible Sold for USD$47,300 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021 | |
1957 BMW Isetta Cabriolet Sold for USD$58,300 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Chassis#: 509090 Sold for USD$34,720 2020 RM Sothebys : The Elkhart Collection |
BMW Isettas That Failed To Sell At Auction
1957 BMW Isetta's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1957 BMW Isetta 300 | A 11752 | 2024 RM Sothebys : Dare to Dream | $35,000 | $45,000 | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Deluxe | 499738 | 2024 Mecum : Indy | $32,000 | ||
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Convertible | 513503 | 2024 Mecum : Indy | $27,000 | ||
1957 BMW Isetta Cabriolet | 500206 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $35,000 | ||
1957 BMW Isetta 300 | 2019 Mecum : Kissimmee | ||||
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Deluxe Cabriolet | 2019 Mecum : Kissimmee | $41,000 | $50,000 | $65,000 | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 | 501477 | 2017 RM Sothebys : Santa Monica | $30,000 | $40,000 | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 | 2017 Amelia Island Select : Hollywood Wheels Auction | $30,000 | $40,000 | ||
1957 BMW Isetta Cabriolet | 2016 Mecum : Kissimmee | $46,000 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta | 511329 | 2015 Motostalgia Auction Austin Grandprix 2015 | $35,000 | $45,000 | |
1957 BMW Isetta 300 | 2015 Leake Auction Tulsa, OK | $24,000 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta | 2015 Spring Carlisle Auction | ||||
1957 BMW ISETTA 300 | 2014 Mecum Dallas | $30,000 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta 250 | 2014 Auctions America : California | $20,000 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta | 2013 Auctions America Auburn Spring | $25,000 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta 300 | 2012 Mecum St Charles, Il | $20,000 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Restored Arizona Micro Car | 499578 | 2012 Mecum Monterey, CA | $25,000 | ||
1957 BMW ISETTA 300 | 2012 Auctions America Ft Lauderdale, Fl | $24,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 | |
1957 BMW Isetta Cabriolet | 2012 Mecum Auctions Kissimmee Florida | $48,000 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta | 508038 | 2012 Russo and Steele Scottsdale | |||
1957 BMW Isettta 300 | 2011 Mecum Auctions St. Charles, IL Auction | $17,000 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta | 2010 Leake Car Auctions Houston Reliant Center | $17,000 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta 300 2-Door | 2009 Mecum Kissimmee, FL Auction | $20,000 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta 300 | 2008 Dana Mecum's Original Spring Classic Auction | $13,500 | |||
1957 BMW Isetta 300 | 2008 Mecum Muscle Cars & More Live TV Episode 2 | $14,750 | |||
1957 BMW ISETTA 300 TWO DOOR | 2003 Kruse Auction Auburn, IN | $18,000 |
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1957 BMW Isetta
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