The car that

[bjvircks]

kept BMW from going under after WWII? The 1958 US export version, at home in Iowa!

[b0ardski]

That one's cherry. Our pastor drove an ivory colored one when I was little ('67 or so). I can picture it like it was yesterday, watching him open the front and climbing out & in was a bazaar sight.

[KingCrimson]

How does the steering column work? It looks like the wheel is on the "dash" and consequently the door. Does the wheel actually move with the door?

[skategoat]

IIRC, the steering column has a pivot or U-joint at the bottom to allow for the tilt. A guy in my local BMW club had one. It was for sale and I was tempted but kept picturing myself going headfirst through the windshield.

Don't forget to give the Italians credit for the overall design. That car was the Iso Isetta before it was a BMW. Although the Italian version broke down any time it felt you needed an espresso.

[BlueB]

I always thought it was an Italian car. Not too many German ones were to be seen in my country of birth. It also gained fame as the car for disabled.

[bjvircks]

You are correct about the steering column being 'hinged' at the bottom via a u-joint and column sliding on the door bracket, dropping the wheel into your lap.

Yep... designed in Italy and the design was licensed for build in Germany, France, England by various automakers. One English version has only one back wheel so it would be classified as a motorcycle. Lower licensing fees, lower drivers license fees and less stringent qualifications to get drivers license. These are rare now because they were very prone to rollover.

In case of a front end accident you were expected to climb out the canvas sunroof.

When I stumbled across this car I had a hard time accepting that it was a BMW because all my recollections were of the quirky Italian ISO.

[bjvircks]

inside photo

[BobD]

Yep... designed in Italy and the design was licensed for build in Germany, France, England by various automakers. One English version has only one back wheel so it would be classified as a motorcycle. Lower licensing fees, lower drivers license fees and less stringent qualifications to get drivers license. These are rare now because they were very prone to rollover.

Three wheelers were big in the UK, in the 50s, and 60s, because as you say, you could drive them with a motorcycle license. The most famous was the Reliant Robin. Popular in the sixties, it survived in production until 2001.

Popular joke used to be.... A rabbit dares another rabbit to stand in the middle of the road at night. He says "it's easy, just watch for the headlights of the car and crouch down between them. You'll be safe". Second rabbit gives it a go. Car comes along and SPLAT. First rabbit says "it's funny that you don't see many Reliant Robbins these days".

BobD

[Jack M]

how bout a shot of the tiny engine? isn't it a single or 2 cylinder?

Shred told me that the BMW "Roundel" logo is an abstract representation of what a two blade airplane propeller looks like at speed. It's a reference to BMW's previous business as a military aircraft manufacturer before they were bannished from that industry as part of the WWII peace treaty.

[lowrider]

Is it true the power plant used in the car was actually designed as the starter motor of an airplane ?

[Kimo]

Hey, if it was good enough for Urkel, it's probably good enough for y'all.

[BobD]

Oh and I forgot. In the UK they were known as bubble cars.

Here's some details of the Heinkel version

http://www.heinkel-trojan-club.co.uk/cabin_cruisers.htm

As a kid, I always thought the tandem Messerschmitt would be super cool. Like flying in a WW11 fighter plane

Elvis had one http://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/messerschmitt_elvis.html