How To Drive a 1959 BMW Isetta Bubble Car

Today on the channel, the coolest car you will ever see - and I get to drive it! This is a 1959 BMW Isetta Bubble Car.
#Isetta #BMW #Bubblecar
Want to see your car on the channel? Email me on [e-mail]
**********OUR CHANNEL PARTNERS**********
Dodo Juice - Award Winning Detailing Products
Get 10% off Dodo Juice's British Made Detailing Products with code: JAYEMM10
Shop at www.dodojuice.net
RoadStr
The App for Car People and Car Meets
RoadStr.io/invite
CarVertical
The History Checking Service - Use This Link for A Discount!
www.carvertica...
FIRE SAFETY STICK
The World's Lightest and Most Compact Fire Extinguisher
firesafetystic...
***********************************************************************************
Want More JayEmm? Become a channel member for access to exclusive content!
/ @jayemmoncars

[@chartreux1532]

My Grandfather (Now almost 102 years old) still drove his BMW Isetta up to when he was 94 Years old, usually to get to the next Marketplace to buy Apples etc. He still has it in his Garage together with his old 1971 Opel Kadett B-1900 Rallye Coupe, which still runs perfectly despite having around 200.000km on it. He mainly was able to drive the BMW Isetta until Age 94 because it's easy to drive & park because of it's Size. Funny little Car and i'm happy to see these get some Attention from Car KZbinrs/Reviewers the past Year Prost & Cheers from the Berchtesgadener Land in the Bavarian Alps

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Prost!

[@ChrisFEJackson]

What a legend your grandfather is, I'd love to see the cars he has with stories no doubt behind them.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@JayEmmOnCars I hope KZbin is mistranslating this when it says it translates as "Dumbass!".

[@AapVanDieKaap]

@@richardharrold9736 Prost is what you say in Germany as a toast. It means: Cheers!

[@paulricketts1089]

...I've got my Grandfather's Isetta too. It's in great original shape and a California car too. I had planned on restoring it someday.........

[@neiladam2832]

I had a corgi model car of this when I was a kid. It was only slightly smaller than the real thing.

[@xeboi11]

😂

[@linkuhndave]

I remember mine being an orange color.

[@neiladam2832]

@@linkuhndave mine was dark metallic blue.

[@nicksanders1119]

I think my one was a pale green, before I painted it bright red, with Humbrol enamel. :-)

[@coachhussayn3379]

@@neiladam2832 bro that’s so cool, I had the same thing no one gives a fuck.

[@megapangolin1093]

Saw loads of these during my childhood in Brighton. We need more reviews of classic cars like this, I was smiling all the way through, that never happens when you are reviewing a mainstream flash car. Well done, great video.

[@btnbiker]

It was sad to see the old factory pulled down few years back to make way for luxury flats

[@highdownmartin]

@@btnbiker the works was demolished in the seventies.

[@royhorologic1732]

See my "review" above.

[@peterlorimer4865]

You saw a lot of them in Brighton because that's where they were UK assembled.

[@tonymiller3182]

Ahh! My first car, an Isetta 300+ (never knew what the “plus” meant), back in 1966 when I was 16. It was blue, single back wheel ( so could be driven at age 16), didn't have a BMW plaque on the front, but the engine was marked thus. It had two bumpers that projected either side of the door, and you could grab one of these & lift the front up. Mine was pretty reliable, but for some reason the engine would misfire if you went over 45mph, & having no fuel gauge meant I sometimes forgot to dip my home-made dipstick into the tank & was always running out of petrol. Happy days!

[@Harry-kk6qf]

Sounds like the same model that I still have. Assembled in Brighton, so maybe why they didn't put the BMW badge on it. Three people can lift it up and put it in the back of a van if necessary

[@ecologicaladam7262]

We had one when I was small - my dad's 'daily driver' to work. On family outings, my parents sat in the front (6ft 8" and 5ft 10") with my brother and I on the shelf behind them - with the family corgi between us! Later, my brother bought one to restore and we got it up to 60mph going downhill (overtaking a rather surprised Jag): one of the more frightening experiences of my life!!

[@markziff7234]

Still, way better looking than the current BMW's front end!

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Bwahahaha GOLD! 🏆

[@Sneka97]

Not that hard to achieve to be fair hahaha

[@SpecR22]

Even more so when you see it's wearing a thong.

[@altergreenhorn]

Everything looking better

[@georgec2126]

Amen to that! The current grille is simply a device for maximum intimidation, 10 feet behind you at 70 in the outside lane...😐

[@chrisrumble2665]

I think I speak for everyone when I say that what we all really wanted to see was you getting in! 😀

[@bensmithkent22]

Clarkson the long streak of piss got in something smaller that peel p50 thing and he was getting on a bit. Id say being tall is harder than being a bit round. Hes only 5’10. But yea this must have got hits for the curiosity factor alone.

[@peteacher52]

I had a 1958 Isetta from 1967 to 1969 and did about 15000 mi in it when it threw an engine even though my cruising speed was 37 mph. Admittedly it had probably been around the clock before I got it. Replacing the broken parts with BMW parts cost more than the car's market value at the time so a mechanic friend suggested putting a Honda stationery engine in it. But performance was aunty and the motor had no generator so the battery operated on a dead loss system, needing regular charging; and if that motor stalled, one had to hop out and pull the recoil rope starter! Hindsight is always 20/20. Little did we know that even if we had bought the genuine BMW bits, the car's collector value would soon go through the roof; the little Bubble that cost us NZ$180 in 1967 would fairly soon be worth $20000+ I carried two little 4.00x10 Conti tyres around with me for years afterwards until seeing a Bubble Car in an Auto museum, so I gave them the tyres and they immediately fitted them to their Isetta. I drove mine from Auckland to Napier twice and from Auckland to Ngatea once a week so it did very little short running on a cold engine. It was a quirky wee car with oodles of snappy character and I actually miss it more in my old age than I did when it "passed along" 54 years ago!.

[@roastbeef1967]

BMW should release a M-version of the Isetta.

[@8draco8]

Nickname: The Deathwish

[@firefighterps2]

😊

[@STEVIEBHOY]

My neighbour in Dublin has just got one as a project... it's just a shell and rolling chassis at the minute 👍

[@iandavidson99]

You need to review my Sinclair C5 next !! :)

[@scubatrucker6806]

I agree this is the coolest car on the planet. I love it

[@AntoniusTyas]

Feels like deja vu Also, loving the Isetta video. I used to hate the Isetta because it's weird. But as I got older I start to appreciate the weird, and the Isetta is on my list of weird cars I want to see.

[@georgec2126]

By the way, these are now available in electric form as the Microlino, made in Bern in Switzerland! Brilliant. 😎

[@albertseabra9226]

Isettas were really great do be driven in cities. Although some people would go across Europe -- and they used to get to their destinations. This vehicle was highly convenient. One my Friends owned one in Lisbon, Portugal. As a teenager, I loved to go on errands across the City. Arriving to our destination, we Always found a parking spot exactly in front "our" store or Café. Nowadays people park a Smart facing the sidewalk, between two regular cars. At the time, we could to already that. And the car's door opened into the sidewalk -- quite convenient !

[@ozeskiman]

Another fascinating review. Great to see other cars owners sharing their passion with us through your channel. More of anything please, James.

[@colechapman6976]

If I ever find myself in an emergency situation, and the only escape car is a BMW Isetta, this video will suddenly be extremely useful

[@ToreHansen]

The flyby is just cute. Great video and epic car.

[@strangebloke7]

Excellent! Brings back happy memories of my trips to nursery school back in 1966 in a blue version of this little beauty! 👍

[@ckmurphy1]

I found you quite by accident when you were in FL a few years ago and I love your channel, your car choices are epic!

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks!

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

This is fantastic. Thank you for showcasing interesting cars like this. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

[@ashleydavall]

I remember as a kid being fascinated by the Isetta after seeing one on the show Heartbeat, set in the 1960s. Trish, the barmaid in the show drove one.

[@S-Ltd1000]

I vaguely recall these being a fairly common sight on the roads as a young boy in the late 60s, early 70s.

[@Harry-kk6qf]

Great video, thank you. I have a 300cc 3-wheeler Isetta, assembled in the Brighton works. I bought it as a young man in the mid 1960s. Great draw for the girls who couldn't resist it! I did 60 mph down hill with a following wind. It has now been in storage for about forty years. I would love to give it an overhaul and get it on the road again. Your video is an inspiration.

[@jimmypratt6450]

More off these classics please .

[@jeffeloso]

I had the 3 wheel version for 3 years in the mid 1970s. You can stuff it into first gear without depressing the clutch and drive off. Changing down really required a double de-clutch. I think someone said it was a dog-clutch gear box. On mine the gearbox was the only thing that did not go wrong. No fuel gauge - just a changeover lever to go onto reserve which was about 1/2 gallon. Mine used to eat spark plugs, so I always carried spare plugs and a plug spanner - you change it through a little panel behind the seat . I did about 30,000 miles in it.

[@replevideo6096]

I had an Isetta 3-wheeler with no reverse gear. In fact they all had reverse but the UK version had it blocked off. The law changed in 1963 so I was able to remove the blanking pin which took just a couple of minutes. The brakes were the same as a Mini, so were amazingly sharp in such a light car.

[@ChrisFEJackson]

Best review & car ever! What better way to bring mobility and motoring to the masses. Messerschmidt did a similar thing also I believe.

[@HiNinqi]

Gosh that is adorable. I'd love one. With reinforced glass tho 🤔

[@lrs3]

Damn it, now I want an Isetta.

[@HarryCross-i7l]

Great Little Car, And Right Hand Drive, That's what the Microlino should have.

[@robreeves9825]

Strange one this, but it's actually your oddity and curiosity reviews that I really enjoy.

[@ThreeCoos]

Great video, much prefer this to the Supercar reviews. Love that wee engine at idle - so cool 😎

[@woodhousejohn6745]

Great video. Really enjoyed it. I had 2 of these (3 wheelers) in 1966/7. I paid £60 for the first, and £40 for the second because the exhaust was damaged. I so wish I’d just kept them. The “boys” in those days sometimes removed the counterbalance weight from the right hand drive version (behind the trim on the left hand side of the cabin). This resulted in a noticeably lighter car because the weight was a very heavy cast iron lump. It also resulted in a scary drive as turning left was like teetering on a cliff edge. Not recommended (or legal). Even with the weight on board the car could be properly slung round traffic islands because most of the mass of the car was on the right. Turning left at speed to exit the island was a different kettle of fish! Happy days…

[@reallynotpc]

That looks fully as much fun as I expected! Much more so than my Piaggio Ape van.

[@marklotinga]

It's a yes from me in terms of more weird, wacky and wonderful. Be sure to point out all the various quirks and features too. 😏 Much as you mention, my Dad was a biker who moved up/on to owning one of these. A real joy of a video and a really nice change of pace. Literally.

[@griswald7156]

Mine was left hand drive with three wheels…and it drank oil which caused its demise…and the steering used to drift in all directions..i replaced the vulcanised doughnuts ..and the Speedo cable sheered off at the gear casing….it was a gorgeous car…my second hand one lasted me a week..also the cabin stunk of petrol..i had it in 1968…i wish i still had it ,i swapped it for a J reg Yamaha 50…i passed my car test in 1973..

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

Ahh.. The Isetta. What an adorable little thing, don't you think, Jay? Over here in Germany you still do see some of them driving around once in a while - mostly in summertime though. I remember some years ago (before social gatherings went to hell in a handbasket), I was at a small oldtimer-festival where they had about half a dozen of these lined up next to one another - as if waiting for a race to start.

[@dummatube]

When I drove my yellow three wheeled version to school I got to park in the car park in some great company: Between the eccentric maths teacher’s supercharged Bentley and my art teacher’s Lotus Cortina. I guess teachers were paid more in those days!

[@MadeleineTakam]

It takes an extraordinarily brave man to get in; And drive this on a busy road.

[@crhvideo]

The Isetta is even allowed on the Autobahn, as its top speed is more than 60 km/h. I saw one on the Autobahn once, passed by one Sattelschlepper (Lorry) after another. I would have been terrified.

[@davidthegolfer]

James, what an excellent and fun review. Very good restoration and you would have sold me one when new. Great fun, well done. I don’t laugh very much at the moment and my wife said “so good to hear you laughing”. Brilliant. I have been searching for a pic of a large snail in disguise as a turbocharger for the BMW.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks David :) glad you both enjoyed it

[@redemption-leadership]

My parents had the three wheeler when they were dating in the early sixties; no reverse gear, but they put black dots and antenna on it, and then called it the ladybird. Great to see this review, nice one! Perhaps do the Messerschmitt next.

[@HOWES1854]

My first car, I was 15 in 1968 I drove around in it with no licence or insurance, it was the single rear wheel , sunroof , two tone , green and yellow. It used to catch fire under the seat , the wiring shorted out , it was a scary ride for a passenger 😂

[@michaellangford8521]

Hi Jay don't want to appear to be a stalker😱 but as you seem to be going down a classic car review route, if you are interested my brother has a very rare AC 428 if you would like to review it. Another great review always great content 👍

[@timelwell7002]

Perhpas U2 should have chosen the BMW Isetta instead of the Trabant for the cover of their album *'Achtung Baby'!* My mother had a right-hand, drive 3-wheel version of this back when I was a child. I believe I'm right in saying that my older brother actually learned to drive in the thing - so double-de-clutching was the order of the day. I'm certainly glad that my mum never had a crash in it - if she had, I fear that instead of living into her late 80's as she did, she would have died in her early 40's. What a change from her last car, which had a 5-star safety rating. Most modern cars are far safer than anything from the offerings we had to drive back in the pre-Jurassic era...

[@gregshamieh6339]

Folks looking to keep one of these running can obtain many engine parts from their BMW motorcycle dealer -- BMW, being incurably cheap, 'borrowed' the motor from their single cylinder motorcycles of the day - i.e. the R25, R26 and R27. Most ignition and engine internals are interchangeable. The cooling fan, though, is unique to the Isetta. ;-) By the way, the sketchy idle/stalling you mentioned may be as simple as a carb float adjustment -- while you were showing off the engine in the vid, I could clearly see fuel dripping from the carb. Step 1 is to drop and drain the bowl of stale/crappy fuel, and make sure the float needle is moving freely. If that doesn't work, bend the float tabs to lower the fuel level in the bowl. That ought to suss it!

[@stevennorth6484]

used to see quite a few of those when I was a kid, Messerschmitt made a two seater.

[@sparky4878]

Do enjoy these reviews more than supercars and modern stuff. Can get those from so many places. It’s the more unusual things I like on here. Someone near me has an old Fiat 500. It’s so tiny, but perhaps a Range Rover compared to this.

[@johnburton6984]

Super commentary on this great little car.. I used to ride to work in a friend's one for a time, such fun.. A full restoration one sold in New Zealand recently for $40k NZ.. I however ended up buying a very different car, Lotus Evora Launch Edition but still want to get hold of this super-car... Regards from NZ

[@2702simmo]

Enjoyed that video Can’t wait for the charger. Hero car I’ve driven one , it was crap to drive really but If I won the lottery it would still be one of my first purchases

[@ronalddaub9740]

I saw one at a car show last year and the man did not have the engine but he put a 500cc Yamaha single on one and it was great but these cars are pretty fast with the original engine as far as power-to-weight ratio

[@SA-zoom1]

Those seats are giving your shirt some competition

[@KarlAdamsAudio]

Very enjoyable video - even the second time around. Maybe an Invacar next?

[@JayEmmOnCars]

@HubNut may be able to help with that

[@Bluepeter62]

The Isetta is now reborn and will soon be available as electric car named Microlino from Electric Brands in Germany, they also make the XBus.

[@ferrellmontgomery4703]

I was so hoping for a rev up in the tunnel!! 😁😁❤️❤️

[@artbk]

Very neat little thing and props to the owner for the restoration! Wating for that Dodge tho!

[@nickgould9981]

The Dodge is a beast!

[@gph42]

Tremendous James.

[@rudyleon3156]

Great fun thanks for sharing

[@Cliffdog01]

This defenetly goes on the list of cars Jay has test driven that would make Lawrie jealous. 😂

[@alexpanting4177]

Practically every classic outshines a supercar, people see you in a supercar and think tw×t, people see you in a classic and go yea OK mate, smile and wave 👋 👍

[@davidcampbell8723]

KN, fat exhaust, widebody kit, TE37s, coilovers and a black carbon wrap on the bonn ...er ... door plus there is enough space for a sub-woofer in the back. Should do the trick.

[@brucehorn7600]

I would love to see you drive a Messerschmidt!

[@RogerBergqvist]

I can feel the G-forces from the car... 😆😅

[@markwright3161]

10:24 It looks like that dog thought someone had thrown it a ball, it was going the other way at 10:22 before you drove past :)

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

It's often said those F12s are scary... Even dangerous on the public roads. But take this thing on a motorway and you'll know all about what a thrill is. That's proper danger

[@nickgould9981]

Every drive is an adventure

[@Uta_Chandra.H]

This car looks like fun to drive 😂

[@thedrivebygg]

Most excellent, we need a modern version, the twizzy?

[@waters1801]

I very much enjoy your content, thank you.

[@kjyu]

i was wondering which video from watch later went private, now i know!

[@drunksupportcharacter]

Hey, Its that car that everyone tries to tune up and do wheelies with in the video games

[@btnbiker]

You youngsters need to learn how to double de clutch🙄. So wanted one of these as a teenager, thought I would be great to drive myself to school. Now as an OAP I look lovingly at the Microlino

[@Lot76CARS]

What a great car James, I’m actually quite jealous that you’ve driven something so left field…. Even it it was a BMW, sort of..

[@silkdestroyer]

An ex girlfriend bought me a 300 as an Xmas present in the mid 80s. (I say EX because what I had really wanted was a Citroen SM). Only joking Julia, and I still love you where ever you are!! Anyway, we had some great times in it and for a while it was my daily driver. One Easter we even travelled from Devon up to my parents at Durham, like you suggested, avoiding all M/ways. The journey itself became part of the holiday. I'm surprised that you never mentioned the fuel tap behind your left shoulder. Off/on/reserve. If I remember correctly, a 2.75 gallon tank, including 1/2gal reserve. Normally, what would happen, is that, when getting low on fuel, (no gauge of course,) you would go around a corner, and as the fuel surged to one side of the tank, the engine would cough and splutter, at which point you would reach behind and move the leaver over to reserve. You then have about 30 miles in which to get fuel. On our long trip, I would fill the tank, plus a 2 gallon can, which would sit beneath my legs. I would essentially drive until it ran out, re-fill it from the can and then then next time it went on reserve I would look to fill it up, along with the can. I was getting about 70 to the gallon. The dynostart was the most troublesome item. There were times when it would act as the starter, but wouldn't charge, and others when it was happy to charge, but wouldn't start. Luckily, starting it was very easy,. with the help of a 17mm socket and a ratchet! And you are right about it's super car appeal. At that time in Plymouth there was a bloke with a Countach, which, naturally, always attracted a crowd. However, every time I came back to my little Isetta, there was always a similar crowd around it. It seemed as if practically everyone's uncle used to have one! Mine was flat out around 52, and it would cruise around 45. It was a funny little thing though, rather like a little puppy. Some days you would take it out and it would fly up hills in 4th. The next day it was as if it just didn't want to be out, and you'd be down in 2nd before you'd even started the climb! The gear change was fine, once I had change the little plastic 1/2 ball thingy that the lever passed through in the bulkhead. When I got it, that was damaged and if I wasn't careful I'd pull the lever out of the linkage, usually leaving me in neutral, coasting to a stop to fix it. That usually happened pulling out on to round-a-bouts, trying to snatch 2nd to to keep moving. The only other strange aspect of the gears on mine was 1st and reverse. They were both down and forward, but they were so close together that I could never tell which one I was in until I slowly started to bring the clutch up. And, if I was in the wrong one, I would come back to neutral and then I could seemingly push the lever straight to where it had been and presto, this time it would be what I had wanted. Brilliant little car. Loved everything about it. The looks, the sound, the strange, rubbery little indicator stalk, filling the suspension units up with oil. There was a time when the wiper motor was duff, but all I had to do was disconnect the linkage under the windscreen and operate it by hand! Another time I got caught out on Dartmoor with too little fuel on a hill, meaning that the fuel ran away from the pick up point, (just gravity feed.) I ended up having to reverse down the hill, turn around and then reverse all the way up! On the flat it was fine, and I obviously had to find a filling station. Wish I still had it. During a period of hard times it had to go, but I now have a 1949 Renault 760, (similar in many respects), AND a Citroen SM. VDR 154, where are you now? LG.

[@herbienbrian2]

I drive an e36 track car as a daily, and I pretty much live my life around performance and speed, but when I see an Isetta all that goes out the window and I want one.

[@kennedysingh3916]

We had one of those in Jamaica.

[@seinsmeld13]

Great review Jay. Thankfully these cars were not available here in Canada. Cheers.

[@catkin1671]

So weird yet so cool

[@vincentaurelius2390]

Would have been great to see it parked next to a modern, full sized car.

[@MajorKlanga]

You'll soon be able to buy a modern interpretation of the bubble car; it's called the Microlino and is electric. Price expected to be €12,500 but no plans for rhd versions.

[@MrSparklespring]

Great! Did you mention it was only a single cilinder engine?

[@jumpferjoy1st]

POWERRRRR!!! HAHAHA. A brilliant car.

[@stevemitchell4914]

Refreshing!

[@georgec2126]

40 grand? Yow! And I thought old 2CVs were pricey!😯

[@robinmaes58]

Have you considered a Corolla bug eye g6 or g6r for review, it’s a very fun little car, I have a liftback g6 with a 1.3l 4efe

[@iainbagnall4825]

12:20 well, bellies WERE smaller in post-war Germany. Not even Heinkel or Messerschmidt released a Herman Goering edition.

[@gorangudelj3258]

Real delight! Thank you for this happy small....car?

[@Sixtoemo]

Lol, it literally sounds like a sit-on mower with gears going through the tunnel. Reminds me of a 2CV sound.

[@gabrielcaramet3238]

These things are so dam cool

[@eliisdumbaf3533]

I don't want one of these, but I wanna drive one

[@Gorbyrev]

That left me smiling.

[@HQBProductions]

Next time…a Messerschmidt KR500 Dopplekabiner….give that one a go and cling on!!!😨😨😀😀😀😎😎

[@martingilligan]

Great video..

[@Fee.1]

Knewing *special British past tense form of knew+knowing past tense*

[@futurecat]

James didn't have the escape hatch when Jeremy trapped him in one of these.

[@arnoldtabor3767]

Can we get a company that makes them again with a 500CC engine ? ... Also I'd love to see an electrified one

[@prt1527]

Some dogs look like their master, some cars like their driver🙂

[@fonkbadonk5370]

Dad's first car. He loves to tell the story where he and 6 or 7 of his friends drove to the swimming pool in this thing. People stopped in the parking lot open mouthed, wondering how many young men are going to unfold from this "package". Don't ask me how they were able to drive at any usable speed that day, no clue!

[@nirajkinnal8278]

This video came out yesterday. How does it show that it was released 3 hrs ago?

[@MartyMcFlyTop1]

Looks amazing)