Mark Osborne
Vice President
Lot 283
From the Robert Ullrich Collection
1958 BMW ISETTA 300
Chassis no. 499930
Without reserve
1958 BMW ISETTA 300
Chassis no. 499930
Without reserve
15 August 2014, 11:00 PDT
Quail Lodge & Golf ClubSold for US$24,200 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Collector Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
From the Robert Ullrich Collection
1958 BMW ISETTA 300
Chassis no. 499930
1958 BMW ISETTA 300
Chassis no. 499930
298cc OHV Single-Cylinder Engine
Single Carburetor
13bhp at 5,200rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
*A charming example of an important post-war German micro-car
*Huge fun-for-dollar ratio
*A very original, low-mileage example
*Factory maintenance manual included
*Turn more heads than a Ferrari
THE BMW ISETTA
The tiny Isetta 300 is said to have been the car that saved war-devastated Bavarian Motor Werkes of Munich, then facing the gloomy prospect of a possible takeover by Mercedes Benz. Built under license from Italy's ISO S.p.A., the much-loved "Rolling Egg" Isetta (Little Iso) with its strange front-opening door and pivoting steering wheel proved popular in Germany, especially with postal carriers, and many were exported to the United States. Isettas were fitted with a sliding fabric roof panel - in case the front door was blocked or damaged – and sliding glass side windows. Able to carry a driver and one passenger in something approaching comfort, the Isetta's main attribute was its terrific fuel economy, about 50mpg, at a time when gasoline prices were soaring due to conflicts in the Middle East.
Renzo Rivolta's unique design first came to market in 1955 as the Isetta 250, but was upgraded the following year with a 298cc engine and a bit more power. Later on, BMW produced a larger version with a 600cc engine. Very maneuverable and easy to park, the Isetta was more than a novelty, and today is a must-have in the micro-car collector community.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
This attractive US specification example, in very original condition, has been part of a Pacific Northwest collection since 2000. The owner and consignor says simply, "I just like unusual cars". Offered with what appears to be its factory-applied red paint with a white fabric sliding-top, this German micro-car is said to run well. Although it shows the expected wear and tear of more than 50 years of occasional use, the body appears to have suffered no damage, and is cosmetically acceptable for a "driver". The consignor says the car has been fitted with a new gas tank and reproduction hubcaps, several of the originals have been lost over time.
Good Isettas have been appreciating in value in recent years, with owners delighting in the way these little cars turn heads and ignore gas stations.
Without reserve