BMW Isetta model series

It became clear during the mid-1950s that BMW would not survive without a model that generated good sales and was cost-effective to produce. A licence agreement was signed with Milan-based company Iso which had a small bubble car fitted with a front door in its product range. As the BMW Isetta, the single-cylinder 4-stroke engine from the BMW R 25 motorcycle was installed in this vehicle instead of the 2-stroke engine. Production was launched in spring 1955 with the 12 hp Isetta 250. The same year saw the launch of the Isetta 300 with the power increased by 1 hp. BMW landed a big hit: More than 10,000 Isettas were already sold during the first year of production. BMW manufactured a total of 161,000 units during the period between 1955 and 1962.