The original Isetta was an Italian-designed “bubble car” dating from the early 1950s. When the Iso Company launched the car, it had a tiny engine that produced just 9.5 horsepower and a single wheel in back. A second wheel was later added to prevent the vehicle from tipping over.
Its defining feature was its lack of side doors. The single bench seat was accessed by swinging the front of the car open, dashboard and all. BMW purchased all the tooling to build the Isetta in 1955. They improved on the design and eventually sold more than 161,000 units.
The quirky look of the Isetta is poised to make a comeback. Chinese automaker Eagle has shown a battery-electric knockoff of the iconic Isetta design, but with four traditional doors. It has even less power than the original, with its electric motors only producing 5 horsepower.
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