photo #1167329

oNE CYNLINDER...WHAT WAS THE mpg????This tiny German car may look like a death trap but it actually saved BMW upon its release. The car company was close to bankruptcy in the 1950s and with nothing left to save it they went forward with the Isetaa, also known as the "bubble car." It fit two people and not much else.Built between 1955 and 1962, the single-cylinder car sold 161,728 units. At the time Europeans were hungry for affordable, no frills transportation that could get them from Point A to Point B. The Isetta performed that function dutifully if not without some minor set backs along the way.The Isetta was definitely minimalist. There were only three wheels on most models, and there was only one door that was mounted on the front that, when opened, took the steering column along with it. With no reverse gear (once again: minimalist), some drivers were supposedly locked in their cars when parking in their garages. This bad boy was specifically meant for street parking.