These were the first cars after the Second World War, which could afford in Germany, even a simple worker. It was practically the beginning of full motorization for everyone. In addition to this model, there were a number of other mini-cars. Before the war, a simple worker could not afford a car. Also in the 1950s, prosperity for little people in Germany was not enough for a real big car. In the 1960s, these mini cars disappeared again and the people bought larger models as the financial wellbeing got better and better. There were even well-known brands that began producing small technical products after the war, such as BMW, Messerschmitt, Heinkel. First they built motorcycles, scooters and then covered motor scooters (mini-cars). Today you laugh about it, but in Germany immobility was a big problem after the war, which could be eliminated with these little cars for all citicens. Everyone was proud if they could own one.
I have owned both a 1957 BMW 600 car, just like this like this, and a 1960 BMW R 600 motorcycle. The engines are almost identical, though the engine is turned around 'backwards' in the car. The bike had 42 Horsepower, the car engine was detuned to 22 Horses. The bike had fairly large twin Bing carbs, the car a single tiny Zenith carb. The bike had fairly open twin exhaust pipes, the car a quite restrictive single muffler and an air-to-air heater. The bike had higher compression and bigger valves, the car had a fan added to the slightly longer crankshaft for cooling, as well as shrouding to direct the cooling air. On the bike there was no cooling fan as the cylinders hung out into the air stream. I modded the car engine with bike parts; the bike's higher compression pistons, heads, carbs, and a homemade dual exhaust. I also added wider, Metzeler 'racing' tires. The performance became awesome, though overheating was a slight problem if you stood on it too much, as the fan needed to increase in size to increase cooling to keep up with the increased power. Both were very high quality vehicles. The car was killed by the cheap VW bug with more room and a small trunk.
Very cute! Back in 1968, when I was old enough to start remembering things, I saw some Isettas still being used as commuters in Vienna, Austria. I can't say I ever saw one of these 600s on the road, however. I did see one at the BMW Museum in Munich in 1974, though. A super cute car! All your cars have great personalities, kind of like you and your family!
So cool to see this car. My dad had this 1959 Isetta limo and he also had the small one door. I was 4 years old when he bought these cars. I think he sold both cars in 1962 or 63. He then bought a Covair.
I would love to see you do a piece on the Zundapp Janus, a tiny German 4 seater with Isetta like doors at both ends and the single cylinder engine between the back to back seats
I think my Dad rented one of these back in 1963 when we were stationed in W. Germany and he was waiting for our car to be shipped over from the states. I was only like 6 and remember a car that he drove that opened in the front. It was weird, LOL. Now I know it wasn't a dream.
Fun little cars. So historic. If you are ever in München make sure to go to BMW museum. They have a large collection of Isettas on display and every few hours they start one up and drive it around the museum. Inside. I have family friend that took me on back tour. Interesting.
Muy bonito y económico los trabaje en bavaria motores me trae lindos recuerdos los felicito por estos recuerdos sanos que refrescan nuestra memoria sigan adelante felicitaciones
the is a very rare car with historical value. only a few of these exist in limo style. it is also not a rebuild...it is in preserved condition , original. very rare. very expensive. needs to be in an auto museum and not driven on bad wet roads like this guy is doing. also. wonder if this mechanic has permission to post this car on youtube and its plate number.? I would be a bit upset if I took my car to a mechanic and he is taking it for rides and posting it on youtube ...Oregon 1Q-6039. plate
My mother in law owned one here in Argentina where it was called "El ratón alemán"....."The german mouse" :) as the garage was taken by the other family car it used to sleep in the living room, sweet little thing, and a BMW ...
In the 1960s one of those used to park at my workplace. I think it was the same colour as this one too. Are the headlights supposed to be a different colour?
I have to add that the Isettas also had 4-stroke engines! So the engines clearly came from the bikes. The RS 25 is a legend and was the most important motorbike constructed by BMW. And the Isetta 600 (yours) is also a "motocoupée" derived from the bikes.
the BMW600 in Argentina it was named DeCarlo; whilest the BMW300 was the Isetta. my dad&mom had both. 1st the BMW300 Isetta when I was a baby; 2 years later when my sister was born they changed to a red BMW600 DeCarlo which lasted 2 years (changed for a Rambler) fond memories; now I'm 64 cheers 🇦🇷Argentina
I've been wanting a car like this since I first saw the 1970s movie A Day At The Beach. I don't know if that was a BMW in the movie because there was no back seats though.
The construction of the Motorbike engine may be similar, but the bikes didn't have a ventilator for cooling. I think, the small Isetta has the one cylinder from the BMW RS 250, although the bikes always were 4-strokes. The RS was the most popular motorbike of the 50s and the hell of a reliable one! Some of them are still used as daily drivers today! In the 60s came the RS 50 and RS 65, from which the big Isetta may have a common ancestor, the bike again being 4-stroke. The RS 25 can be used as a daily driver because it is quite modern and needs less maintainance than a new motorcycle. It has a very economical one cilinder 250cc engine (3 liters/100 Km), a drive shaft and no chain and more or less enough power (15 HP?) do be used on today's road. I had a 70s 100 RS, a one liter bike with 70 HP or so. It had over 100'000 Km without any overhaul and was a cool ride with a very low level of gravity. The bike didn't even fall on the side when left on its own: the big bars protecting the cylinders touched ground first and the bike stayed upright. Great bike!
Limo is the German term for a closed car, as compared to a roadster or convertible. My BMW 600 'limo' was registered as a two door coupe in Pennsylvania
@@michaelmiller9452 Yup, simply a body type. Limousine, estate, roadster, convertible, etc. Can be subdivided further into hatchback limo, liftback limo, etc. The term is originally French and when cars were a new thing, French was still very much en vogue in Germany.
I say, there's a plenty of room under the hood! What if to install a Mitsubishi i or Subary Sambar engine with the CVT? They were turbocharged boasting 64hp...
Love how the Germans used the term "limousine" for a saloon car - look at publicity material for the Trabant 601 and you'll see the same term. There are still a few Isettas about, and they're extremely desirable now, but I'll bet the BMW 600 is a much, much rarer beast. It is charming.
If you could find one, do you know how much this ride might cost?. I saw where the guy who ran the museum for mini and micro cars sold all of it at auction a few years back and made a real load. Many of the cars went for over $100,000 or more. Would sure love to have one of these. BTW, listening to it the engine sounds a bit like the 1976 VW Super Beetle I had back in the 70s.
Thank you. Love the videos! I thought I knew about cars until I saw your channel and then was blown away. Especially with your Subaru knowledge. Thanks!
Imagine if you told someone that you drive a limo and you show them this.
imagine that you have told a family where you are giving your marriage proposal that you have a limo and then you visit them in this car?
😂😂😂😂
Imagine telling someone you drove BMW and showed them this.
@@OOICU812 it ain't so bad
These were the first cars after the Second World War, which could afford in Germany, even a simple worker. It was practically the beginning of full motorization for everyone. In addition to this model, there were a number of other mini-cars. Before the war, a simple worker could not afford a car. Also in the 1950s, prosperity for little people in Germany was not enough for a real big car. In the 1960s, these mini cars disappeared again and the people bought larger models as the financial wellbeing got better and better. There were even well-known brands that began producing small technical products after the war, such as BMW, Messerschmitt, Heinkel. First they built motorcycles, scooters and then covered motor scooters (mini-cars). Today you laugh about it, but in Germany immobility was a big problem after the war, which could be eliminated with these little cars for all citicens. Everyone was proud if they could own one.
Old friend of mine had one of these BMW and was a blast to
Buzz around in.
I didn't even know they made a lwb version of the Isetta. Thanks for showing 👍
Yes they DID in fact do this longer Isetta, it's called the "stretch limo"
this is the BMW that I remeber in my childhood in Tehran. Now its an honour to have one!!
hello, but such models can be bought, where am I from Kazakhstan
"so we open the door like this" love these technical guides.
the engine is so smooth. beautiful car.
I have owned both a 1957 BMW 600 car, just like this like this, and a 1960 BMW R 600 motorcycle. The engines are almost identical, though the engine is turned around 'backwards' in the car. The bike had 42 Horsepower, the car engine was detuned to 22 Horses. The bike had fairly large twin Bing carbs, the car a single tiny Zenith carb. The bike had fairly open twin exhaust pipes, the car a quite restrictive single muffler and an air-to-air heater. The bike had higher compression and bigger valves, the car had a fan added to the slightly longer crankshaft for cooling, as well as shrouding to direct the cooling air. On the bike there was no cooling fan as the cylinders hung out into the air stream. I modded the car engine with bike parts; the bike's higher compression pistons, heads, carbs, and a homemade dual exhaust. I also added wider, Metzeler 'racing' tires. The performance became awesome, though overheating was a slight problem if you stood on it too much, as the fan needed to increase in size to increase cooling to keep up with the increased power. Both were very high quality vehicles. The car was killed by the cheap VW bug with more room and a small trunk.
Very cute! Back in 1968, when I was old enough to start remembering things, I saw some Isettas still being used as commuters in Vienna, Austria. I can't say I ever saw one of these 600s on the road, however. I did see one at the BMW Museum in Munich in 1974, though. A super cute car! All your cars have great personalities, kind of like you and your family!
600s were produced only 2 years
Amazing car, nice to see such a old car with absolutely running condition... Great job.
I know its super nice
Thanks for the video and explanation. As it seems to me for such an external volume the layout of this car is perfect.
This sound is so amazing! I love the BMW 600. In Germany its known as Isetta
Greetings from Germany
Bist du schonmal eine BMW Isetta gefahren😃?
@@habibistking8652 Nee, leider noch nicht. Hätte ich echt Lust drauf!
I loves the tail lights!
my fave kind is Euro style
B.U.T-FULL!! I wish my car ran & sounded that nice :) Really amazing. Thank you for video'ing that ride-along.
Reminds me of my Isetta 300 c.c. bubble car. That one went downhill in neutral faster than when it was being given the beans in top gear. Great fun!!
What a unique car...
my grandfather he had car like this one before 55 year's
How pleasing the engine sound is!
Yes, very nice
So cool to see this car. My dad had this 1959 Isetta limo and he also had the small one door. I was 4 years old when he bought these cars. I think he sold both cars in 1962 or 63. He then bought a Covair.
"morning pucker" lol,.... that was funny,.. thanks for the update,.. ;-}
I listened to that 3 times and thought he said something else :D
Just caught up with your channel from across the pond enjoying your vids and content
Excellent ! thanks for checking out the other side of the pond
@@2stroketurbo just wondering if you've ever came across any British TWC invacars stateside?
Nope, sure haven't, especially way out here on the West Coast farthest from Europe
I would love to see you do a piece on the Zundapp Janus, a tiny German 4 seater with Isetta like doors at both ends and the single cylinder engine between the back to back seats
I think my Dad rented one of these back in 1963 when we were stationed in W. Germany and he was waiting for our car to be shipped over from the states. I was only like 6 and remember a car that he drove that opened in the front. It was weird, LOL. Now I know it wasn't a dream.
Damit bin ich 1966 zum Job gefahren.Super und viel Spaß damit.Gruß aus Deutschland
wow ... first time i saw a car entered from front side..
I remember them when I was little in Chile.... mid 70's
This is amazing I absolutely love it
cute car, the driver's door is funny ( called buble door ) right?
4 stroke engine 2 cylynder boxer. Awesome !
this channel is FANTASTIC
Mi padre tuvo uno de 1958, aqui en Argentina! Lo compró a fines de 1964. Lamentablemente; se incendió en 1968.
Que mala suerte; yo fui pasagero en uno en Bs. Aires en 1961.- Despues emigre' a USA; saludos desde Texas!
Fun little cars. So historic.
If you are ever in München make sure to go to BMW museum. They have a large collection of Isettas on display and every few hours they start one up and drive it around the museum. Inside. I have family friend that took me on back tour. Interesting.
That thing sounds awesome.
Nice car bro. First time I am seeing this car. I mean front side driver entry door car.
It's a vintage one.
Muy bonito y económico los trabaje en bavaria motores me trae lindos recuerdos los felicito por estos recuerdos sanos que refrescan nuestra memoria sigan adelante felicitaciones
Holy crap thats a long car 0_o
Derpyguy ikr
It's so big we need Trump to describe how *_Yuge_* it is
Amazing and nice historical car
Love your work 👍
You should get a gopro
Yes, a nice car. Something for little Kids, who have still fun in this LIFE - Shalom from Germany
Beautiful car, it looks modern even by today’s standards
Fantastic car wonderful video
The area where you live is a paradise.. I wish I could live there
I hope your being sarcastic!
Um 1969 hatte ich zeitweise 3 Stück davon. Es war ein witziges Auto.
*I don't know how you did it* but we felt as passengers with you!!!
Which would have a longer throttle cable?
This BMW LIMO or 72 buick riviera.? Might be a tie!😃 another awsome video thanks for sharing
Cute, iconic and legend
Thanks for sharing, I'm subbed!
I'd love a car like that, or a remake with similar design features.
Excellent!
the is a very rare car with historical value. only a few of these exist in limo style. it is also not a rebuild...it is in preserved condition , original. very rare. very expensive. needs to be in an auto museum and not driven on bad wet roads like this guy is doing. also. wonder if this mechanic has permission to post this car on youtube and its plate number.? I would be a bit upset if I took my car to a mechanic and he is taking it for rides and posting it on youtube ...Oregon 1Q-6039. plate
Get a life
That's a sweet little thing!
Nice car! I love it.
Man i wish i had sum like dis when i was a kid
I had a friend that used to own one it was a 59 also I got to drive it a couple of times.
How does it accommodate lead-free petrol/gas... which has come along since that engine was made?
My mother in law owned one here in Argentina where it was called "El ratón alemán"....."The german mouse" :) as the garage was taken by the other family car it used to sleep in the living room, sweet little thing, and a BMW ...
1:30 how’d it start without you putting the clutch in? My ‘96 Z3 won’t start unless I put the clutch in, a instead it’ll violently lurch forwards
Nice video!
As my younger brother refered to the BMW Isetta back in the day;..a "Fahrbares Aboertle"-- a drivable Toilet....!
a ha!
Liberty Patriot. Du bist ien Deutscher ?
Awesome car,i loved it
In the 1960s one of those used to park at my workplace. I think it was the same colour as this one too. Are the headlights supposed to be a different colour?
Love that car 💕
I have to add that the Isettas also had 4-stroke engines! So the engines clearly came from the bikes. The RS 25 is a legend and was the most important motorbike constructed by BMW. And the Isetta 600 (yours) is also a "motocoupée" derived from the bikes.
Wasn't the 300 based on the engine used in the original italian Isetta?
It's derived from the Isetta 300, which was derived from the Italian Iso.
So cute. Love it.
need to get the heat guard back on engine cover/lid.
I’d love to own something like that
Sound beautiful
¡ Siempre quise tener uno de esos!
the BMW600 in Argentina it was named DeCarlo; whilest the BMW300 was the Isetta.
my dad&mom had both. 1st the BMW300 Isetta when I was a baby; 2 years later when my sister was born they changed to a red BMW600 DeCarlo which lasted 2 years (changed for a Rambler)
fond memories; now I'm 64
cheers
🇦🇷Argentina
So sweet!
I like this car, it would be awesome to have one
Muffler still on order from Germany? Sounds good though, just like a BMW R60 motorcycle, lots of low end grunt.
I've been wanting a car like this since I first saw the 1970s movie A Day At The Beach. I don't know if that was a BMW in the movie because there was no back seats though.
Its BMW ISETTA
I drive a E46 M3 how about if I swap my engine with this?? Would it make it M limousine??? 🙄🙄
Cute little baby BMW 😍 Literally planning to purchase one ❤
The construction of the Motorbike engine may be similar, but the bikes didn't have a ventilator for cooling. I think, the small Isetta has the one cylinder from the BMW RS 250, although the bikes always were 4-strokes. The RS was the most popular motorbike of the 50s and the hell of a reliable one! Some of them are still used as daily drivers today! In the 60s came the RS 50 and RS 65, from which the big Isetta may have a common ancestor, the bike again being 4-stroke. The RS 25 can be used as a daily driver because it is quite modern and needs less maintainance than a new motorcycle. It has a very economical one cilinder 250cc engine (3 liters/100 Km), a drive shaft and no chain and more or less enough power (15 HP?) do be used on today's road.
I had a 70s 100 RS, a one liter bike with 70 HP or so. It had over 100'000 Km without any overhaul and was a cool ride with a very low level of gravity. The bike didn't even fall on the side when left on its own: the big bars protecting the cylinders touched ground first and the bike stayed upright. Great bike!
Most popular bike in the '50s? Where?
that fan, is it blowing or sucking the air?....seems like it would work better if it was sucking the hot air off and pushing it out the back.
They suck the hot air out and push it out the back.
I love this little BMW my neighbor has a pink one in his garage.
Perfect gateway car
I love this mini car
Hello from England...how do passengers get to the back seat?
That's a "Limo?" A lot has changed since 1959 :)
It's a relative term - compared to the standard BMW/Heinkel Bubble cars.
Limo is the German term for a closed car, as compared to a roadster or convertible. My BMW 600 'limo' was registered as a two door coupe in Pennsylvania
@@michaelmiller9452 Yup, simply a body type. Limousine, estate, roadster, convertible, etc. Can be subdivided further into hatchback limo, liftback limo, etc. The term is originally French and when cars were a new thing, French was still very much en vogue in Germany.
Chrysler imperial limo:
2stroketurbo, 1959 BMW 👍👍👍.
Brillant!
What ever this is so cute I loved lucky you to drive
Really perfect...
That is a little treasure and quite rare.
Very nice!
I say, there's a plenty of room under the hood! What if to install a Mitsubishi i or Subary Sambar engine with the CVT? They were turbocharged boasting 64hp...
❤. Beautiful 😊
Wow! It's Sunny friend car it's real!
En Argentina tuve uno dos años muy lindo auto me dio muy buen resultado
Looks great fun
If I was rich I would be a collector of these kind of cars and actually drive them at least once a month 😍😍😍
Wait I waited whole time I cldnt see the front with doors closed
Love how the Germans used the term "limousine" for a saloon car - look at publicity material for the Trabant 601 and you'll see the same term. There are still a few Isettas about, and they're extremely desirable now, but I'll bet the BMW 600 is a much, much rarer beast. It is charming.
Beautiful small German car.
Very nice car.
Wow old bmw 👍👍👍
If you could find one, do you know how much this ride might cost?. I saw where the guy who ran the museum for mini and micro cars sold all of it at auction a few years back and made a real load. Many of the cars went for over $100,000 or more. Would sure love to have one of these. BTW, listening to it the engine sounds a bit like the 1976 VW Super Beetle I had back in the 70s.
Probably $20k+
Depending on the condition this one sold for 30K bringatrailer.com/listing/1958-bmw-isetta-600/
Might be picking one of these up. Is there a place in US that has tune up and brake pads /parts etc?
Werner in GA. Isettas r us.
Thank you.
Love the videos!
I thought I knew about cars until I saw your channel and then was blown away. Especially with your Subaru knowledge. Thanks!
3:45 Honda Civic Crx 1995 I would say. 3:45 Then A Honda Civic E.g. And guess what at 0:00 A Isetta limo.
that car is sexy! i love the doors to the back seat!
How did you end up with this gem