Reaction to the original Isetta was relatively good, but the general response was that the car was too small. In 1959, BMW decided to go "up a class" and produce a larger car with room for four by using existing Isetta production equipment on a stretched chassis.
The outcome - the 600 - retained the stock front opening door, but with a wheelbase 165cm longer, a larger boxer motor driving full-width rear axles (the small Isetta's rear wheels were placed close together), and conventional rear doors for the rear passengers. Revised bumpers looked a bit better, but this car is still far too odd to compete with other small cars at the time - especially considering it cost more that the ever popular VW Beetle.
Only 35,000 were produced in one year (1959), after which it was replaced by the normal looking BMW 700.
2 comments:
Actually kind of a stylish little thing for a late-fifties economobile. The front bumper with the incorporated turn signals is actually a pretty clean design. It's nice to see that they finally installed some standard rear doors so the passengers didn't have to climb over everyone in the front. Very unconventional, but more functional than its predecessor. Still, all things considered, with gasoline prices as low as they were back then, I'd have much rather had a '57 Chrysler 300C with a four-speed.
The BMW 600 was produced for 3 years - 1957 thru 1959. Good Yahoogroup - search there for BMW 600.
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