We Fixed The World's Smallest Car!

[@Christopher-iu6lg]

Bought this new in 1958(?) and drove it to work for years. BMW reliable but a little chilly in Vancouver Island winters. Great to see one again.🎉🎉

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

I have never heard BMW and "reliable" used in the same sentance before. BMW are the most unreliable pieces of garbage out there yet they are priced like a luxury car.

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

also how old are you sir? I would guess you would have to be in your 80's if you bought something new in 58 if so I am impressed that you are on here and making comments. good for you to keep up with the times.

[@RayJones-w8z]

Hey guys, I’m a long time subscriber . In my youth I hade 5 Isettas. Many great stories. I used to enjoy going to the auto parts store and asking for a set of spark plug, singular. The stock voltage regulator is also the starter solenoid. The generator is also the starter. The fuel shut off lever behind the seat is on in one direction and reserve in the other. If you don’t drive it like a mad man, useful for keeping up with city traffic, I used to get about 80 miles per gallon. Oh and don’t throw away the front shocks, they are rebuildable. Please contact me for any questions you might have.

[@jamesb.492]

checkout the electric remake the Microlino

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

why did you need to have 5 of them? do they break that badly that they need to be replaced so often? I have not even owned 5 vehicles in my life and I am 45

[@davidhakes3884]

@@AsTheWheelsTurn Some folks like to try different sets of wheels often, if you sell and drive used cars then some of my relatives have owned thousands of cars. IF the Isetta man had 5 right now they are worth a lot of $$ His knowledge is I am sure much more than mine as I did Not like working on them.

[@carlphelps4098]

Right On! ❤💯💥

[@klatubaradanikto]

@@AsTheWheelsTurn Parts cars used to be a very necessary thing. Before the internet, it was extremely hard to find parts, information & tools for rare & obscure stuff. My parents bought one as a driver & another for parts in the 60’s. In the 80’s Dad bought nearly every one he came across. He traded a chainsaw for a very rusty car in order to get a good crankshaft out of it. The plain, bronze bearing on the aluminum connecting rod is the weak part of the engine & is the demise of most of these cars. The engines are extremely difficult to disassemble due to a lot of parts pressed on & require special tools to pry them apart.

[@_Outraged]

The look on Hillbillies face when he picked up the Isetta and walked with it was priceless. If there was ever a "Hold my beer" face that would be it. Great video.... Love that you and Westen were teamed up.... Deja Blue probably isnt the least bit thrilled. Haha

[@duanestevens9789]

Technically he did say hold my beer with his "That looks too hard!" 😂😂😂😂

[@jamesstewart3505]

Hillbillies are Kansas best this problem solving is lacking and needed today

[@chipprice1174]

It'll always be the "Erkle Mobile ( Steve) to me! We have a restaurant in Chesnee SC that is Bantum Chef" It has a little museum in it and has one of these cars. According to the plaque on it, BMW was in financial distress, started making these cars and got the funds built up from the sales of these, and fast became the BMW of today.

[@truracer20]

Urkel. I'm highly disappointed that not one reference was made. Not a single"did I do that?".

[@JeffDeWitt]

The Bantum Chef is cool! It also has a nice collection of old radios and a bullet nose Studebaker. The guy who owns the place is a big Studebaker fan.

[@johndoran3274]

Everyone had their first exposure to this fine automobile when Ercole drove this thing into the house back in the ‘80s. Sweet!

[@YouveBeenMiddled]

She carries cookies in her purse! Westin, you put a ring on that girl's finger *right now.*

[@avlisk]

I saw one somewhere near Boston in 1960. Haven't seen one since. It was really cool then, it's really cool now. I hope I don't have to wait another 65 years to see another. Robby, get out the checkbook! Thanks.

[@gwood69]

Westin and Robby are KZbin gold. The collab we never knew we needed. Can’t wait for the off road games. Gonna be a hoot!

[@kevinculbertson2071]

In the mid 90’s I had to fix one of these up as a parade car for a club. It was a 57’ Isetta 300 4-wheeler like this. I could not find a manual anywhere (limited internet searching back then). While visiting my girl friend’s family that still lived in Germany, we went to a BMW dealer and that had the freaking manual for it on the shelf! They sold me the one they had there so I could take it back home with me. Talk about customer service. Anyway, it was a blast to drive around in even though both front shocks were blown out, it got so many funny looks and thumbs up while driving. Great job team. Oh, BTW. It’s pronounced E-setta per the German dealership.

[@darrinstone49]

That's SO Cool meeting a gentleman of his caliber! Chevys are actually fairly durable & so easy to fix! Love the Square body's & 70-72. My all time favorite is the pre square 1979.

[@thomaswaddell9012]

When I was in high-school a friend's dad had an Isetta. They had 9 kids in it once with the door closed. It looked hilarious. I thought one girl was gonna freak out before she finally got out.😂😂

[@CharlMarais247]

0:47 I've had these moments. That great feeling when you figure out a problem. Best feeling in the world. Complete satisfaction

[@lostuntilnow]

First car I ever owned. Bought when I was 14(dad wouldn’t let me drive it) Ran well but kept having the battery go dead, turned out that the starter/generator was bad. Replaced and it was great. Thanks for the memories this brought back.

[@jamesb.492]

a Swiss company is selling an electric remake the Microlino. over 1000 sold in Europe already

[@scottmiller2455]

Such a fun video to start the day, put a smile on my face. Love the end where you guys are making your little boy Tonka toy noises talking about putting a turbo on it. Thank you.

[@MrGaryGG48]

Turbo??? I was waiting for Westen to start campaigning for an LS conversion!! 😂🤣

[@neXtFriarTuck]

Robby! You need an Isetta!!! That would be awesome!

[@jack_of_all_trades_52]

Robby's becoming my favorite Utah KZbinr by far.. love the collab with Westin

[@marvindebot3264]

Isettas are fun and little jewels, so well made. You can have a complete ball of a time at under 30 MPH. Don't hot one up however, you don't want to crash one.

[@abuubaydullah1]

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!! good old bubble car i remember them for when i was little my Grandfather had one along with the old sit up and beg ford pop (we are in the UK)

[@Andre.D550]

I actually had one of these back in the early 70’s. This brought back good memories. I replaced the ‘donut’ in the drivetrain with a piece (double up) of car tyre. 😎

[@GB-fd5ev]

That was probably their biggest maintenance issue then and definitely today. Cheers, Geoff

[@jimandnena4]

In the 50's, our pharmacy delivered prescriptions with this model. My Sears rototiller has the same chain drive. I think my rototiller is heavier.

[@jk22850]

When I was in high school, one of my classmates got an Isetta. That would have been about 1967. Some days, at the end of school, he would have trouble finding it. 3 or 4 guys would pick it up and move it somewhere. Once, it was on the steps to the school which was about 7 or 8 steps up. I rode in it several times. It was cool!

[@desnekke7073]

Hey guys, I am from Germany and my grandfather got one - still reliable and enough for every city and h drove with my grandma nearly 1000km for holidays to Italy - Bmw ❤ enjoy this car

[@UncleManuel]

Hillbilly was like "I got no time for child's play" - and just picked up the Isetta and rolled with it... 😂😂😂

[@ggalland1]

That is a neat little car. Thank you for sharing

[@user-yc1nh8tk2m]

The best thing about this car is the pure joy it brings to anyone driving it or seeing it driven

[@warrenjansen7096]

I visited a micro car museum that was in Georgia many years ago. Super cool to see so many of these cars in one place. It was owned by the man that used to run the Double Bubble bubble gum company. From what I understand the collection was sold a few years ago and the museum closed. But these cars are a hoot!

[@taurota1554]

awesome and outstanding as always.thanks for sharing and taking us along.

[@davekauffman8727]

Westen needs turn signals too, I'm not sure what Kansas requirements are, but in NY State a motor vehicle must have operational turn signals, to pass inspection. Looked like fun wrenching on that little go kart!

[@lbview]

hi Robby, well it is not the smallest car in the world ( see old Topgear of that car being driven through the BBC). My Dad did have one of these BMW Isstta though. He used it as a second car to drive to work in London. The ones in the UK only had one back wheel, so it could be driven on a motorbike license. He sold it after two years when he rolled it after skidding on a patch of ice. It ended up on the roof and he could not get out until some guys came and rolled it back on the wheels, rolling on the side that had not been damaged so it was dented all over. He just took the train after that. love your channel.

[@wolfgangricky]

Saweet. You will have to build a 2nd garage Robby to house your collection of Cool cars here soon i believe. Ty for taking us along

[@kevindavis4305]

Need to see more Isetta in Robby’s future. Just to see Westins get restored would be cool.

[@tynewlin]

Very cool. I love Isettas. My grandfather used to have the Isetta 600 (cc) "Limousine" with the additional rear door on the passenger side. I do believe the smallest car is actually the Peel P50, however. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@danrussell3439]

Make sure you check that the baseball cards are still attached to the rim with close pins to make the engine sound like we use to do on our bicycles

[@briankottman8274]

With Robbie and Hillbilly in the house, ANYTHING can get fixed - thanks for sharing the positive energy!

[@61rampy65]

Back in the 80s my friend had an Isetta powered by a water cooled Honda 750cc V4. Talk about *fast* ! Talk about *dangerous* ! It could get up to 70 mph very quickly, but the 6" drum brakes were not so good at stopping from those speeds. He drove it around for quite a while, but sold it to someone in California. Oh, Robby, that thing you called a rag joint is known as a 'Metalastic' U-joint. German cars still use them.

[@daviddaw999]

In the UK we got a three-wheeled version of the Isetta with just the single rear wheel. I had a friend who owned one and he claimed that he made love to his girlfriend in his. She would kneel on the seat, facing to the rear, resting on the parcel shelf. He would stand behind her with the door open and sunroof rolled back and voila. I was impressed by his ingenuity.

[@barackmycat9448]

That was awesome. Haaa

[@fluffpantss]

Did you ever hit your head on the back window 😂

[@000622477]

Does that count as IN the vehicle lol?

[@cliveturner4788]

We had 4 wheeler Isettas in the UK as well as 3 wheelers.

[@robfninh]

@@cliveturner4788 I have seen a couple at local car shows here in New England.

[@livinlikelarry8782]

Y’all are a crew that’s priceless I wish y’all were here 🎉bravo always

[@devarskinnee8760]

Look at that kick butt food Nice!!! Geter done 👍✅ brother's.ding,ding,ding,dong.

[@MikeBaxterABC]

4:25 "We are going to go to the local "Tractor Supply" ... "exactly where I world start, looking for a similar part! good one Robby!!

[@rickclark4112]

I literally blew milk when hillbilly picked it up off the jack and just walked off with it.....OHHH MYYY GOD!!!! Great stuff guys!!!

[@lonhoschar1943]

That was pretty sweet!! I remember seeing one similar to that at a car show back in the late 60's. Not sure who made it but it had the same type of entry. Open the front and the steering column swung to the side like the Isetta. Looks like it would be a blast to play with.

[@oneeyedjack4727]

The rear axle looks like the one in my lawnmower. I knew someone in the '70s that had one of these cars. It was a novelty back then.

[@rantonio]

Great video! Love Hillbilly's mad mechanix skillz!

[@mikeanderson6522]

Best part is getting it to run and girlfriend had a good ride. Weston is fun guy. Thanks Robby.

[@WildXNatur]

When I was like 10 years old (62 now) we had an Izetta that we pushed around the yard. Whole front opened as the door to get in. My Gandpa used it to build a wild "Tractor"

[@dinger40]

Dad had one in 1960, 3 of us went on holiday in it. Mum and Dad in the front, case under her legs and me on the parcel shelf. Toured Wales, had to get out and walk up some of the hills.

[@Kevin-ti3rz]

Getting anything to run is always fun . It may not be fast but it will get you there most of the time

[@TheMrstevewillson]

That sounds so good at the end. Good job.

[@Ring-a-ging]

Weastin should put a mower deck on that thing! He should also think about doing a VLOG to document an Isetta cannonball run coast to coast. That's something that would last a few months :)

[@alankartchner5842]

My Dad had a Isetta 300, my younger brother kinda took it over. Took it to school where they painted candy apple red. It had 4 wheels, the rear wheels were only a few inches apart. It had a rubber fiber universal we kept tiring apart

[@ramjam720]

A guy that I knew in Hickory NC had one of these, and they drove it in the Longview Thanksgiving Parade every year. They put a Pilgrim hat on it and gave it a face, and made it look really funny.

[@rhondasweeney7271]

The boys with new playtoy !😊😮 Thanks for sharing! 😂

[@stephenpoe2037]

Rare and fairly valuable little car , Thanks for sharing !

[@chevelleranch7481]

I see as usual someone else does all the work and Westen shows up like a blister....after the work is done.

[@garychaiken808]

Great job guys. Thank you 😊

[@barnabius]

The best rare cars are cars that you can repair with cheap simple parts from Tractor Supply. What a nifty and surprisingly simple little rig

[@cordonsnyder8046]

My friend Al has several Isettas and has restored them and shows one at Hot August Nights in Reno Nv.

[@rileynichol3621]

12:00 Robby with the most focused look on his face

[@esong21956]

There is a shop here in Houston, TX that works on, including rebuilding, these cars. Their shop is very cool seeing them in various states of repair and waiting for parts.

[@hguldmann]

Cabin scooter is a vehicle that, as the name suggests, is a 3-wheeled scooter built into a cabin. They were popular in the 1950s and 1960s when they were produced in Italy, Germany and England. The most famous brands are Fritz Fend's Messerschmitt KR175 from 1953, inspired by his time in the aircraft industry, BMW's Isetta also from 1953 and the Heinkel Trojan.

[@1a1u0g9t4s2u]

Very entertaining episode. This Isetta is a wannabe middle child to the Rokon and Golden Nugget. The three child vehicles would look sweet being towed behind the Lamo (when it gets finished) as a trail party parade. Thanks for sharing.

[@GB-fd5ev]

At 7:18, like a motorcycle? That engine is a motorcycle engine with a modified gear-case for reverse. I have a German built 4 wheeler and a UK built three wheeler which in both the UK and Canada we drive on a MC license. They also built a 600cc version, 4 passenger, 4 wheeled (wide rear axle) 2 doors; using the twin opposed BMW MC engine. You should also check out the Heinkel 3 wheeler; the Messerschmidt 3 wheeler (various engines up to 300cc) and 4 wheeler Tiger (500cc twin), both Messerschmidt cars had 4 speeds forward AND reverse, you shut off the engine, flicked a switch and restarted the engine in reverse! The advantages of 2-stroke engines! Cheers, Geoff

[@frank1672]

In the UK back in the 60's these diddy motors were know affectionately as a 'Bubble Car'🏁

[@SidwalkArt]

The parts discussion is my fave

[@bragnonymous]

I think this classic needs a full Golden Nugget restore series.

[@krenkosenforcer]

That steering column and door is is pretty genius

[@wushock92]

This is crazy! Westin lives 90 miles to my south east and in the last week or 2, you and Greg A both were down there. So close and yet so far.

[@BigHeinen]

I'd LOVE to see a "Build & Upgrade" video of you putting a Harbor Freight 212 Predator racing motor in this thing! WOW!

[@reddog543211]

Excellent repair job guys

[@elizabethdunn9434]

What a great episode! I love how you guys help out as much as possible. Keep up the great and entertaining work 😊

[@lancehites6697]

This perks my interest as I drove the one we had (1957 300) to school occasionally. Four guys could and would pick it up and put it on the sidewalk for kicks. I quit so the one upance wouldn’t get out of hand! Lol 😂 Next car was a Salvaged 61 Bonneville convertible that is quite valuable today. In 1970 it was a car that made you take a second look. But no one tried to pick it up and move. lol 😂 We used to say “three on the tree” , or three on the floor. For the Izeta however, we said “three on the sidewall.” Lol 😂

[@jacobycampbell5564]

That looked so much fun! Robby you should get one!

[@boltonky]

Its one of those vehicles you could probably sell the drive train, swap it for something more modern with 6 speed rear end and have heaps of fun...but then again restored you could probably sell it an make a whole vehicle without the name/badge for way less lol. Good on you guys for helping out westen

[@HotEFinTrash]

The steak house closes at 9 and its 8:30 so we will go in now. Just know that all restaurant workers hate your guts. Do NOT go into a place a half hour before close. You probably ruined their night. Especially seeing that you were like the only people there.

[@rolandtb3]

Isetta must be fun on bumpy roads. A few more tweaks and she'll bladt off.

[@raymondowilson8537]

Awesome work Robby and team!

[@danclark7956]

Y'all were in my hometown & I didn't know. Bummer. My oldest boy went to school with Westen. Would have been nice to have seen ya.

[@larrykittell726]

I spent nine years in Germany and never saw an Isetta there. It looks like a fun car.

[@tobiastho9639]

You would have to go to a museum or a BMW meetup to see one... they are old, rare, expensive and not very safe after all...

[@blanchae]

Great video. Finished watching it with a big grin on my face!

[@SilentStudioExplores]

17:27 Robby - "Want to go outside?" Shop Kitty - "MEOW"

[@Bryan-Hensley]

One of my friends here in Greeneville TN has 2 or 3 of those or something very similar

[@mebymyself2816]

Robby, have a look at the Messerschmitt 3 wheeler of the same era, it was a two seater but they were tandem not side by side with what looked like an aircraft perspex cockpit hood that hinged on one side, fun but bouncy.

[@benjaminferrel5474]

You’ve been to Kansas, now it’s time for a trip to Europe. The cars would fascinate you.

[@roberthocking9138]

Nice work, I hope you put some oil in that chain case

[@Behmal]

Making this automatic, with a 700-750cc engine (something like a Can-Am driveline) would make it a fun ride. Perfect collab with Weston and Layton. Can't do anything but smile when I see those two together.

[@nickb5391]

Robbie, check out the Peel P50, it is smaller than the BMW Isetta & Heinkel/Trojan 'bubble car', I see you're working on a 4 wheeler, they also did a single wheel at the back

[@KeepingItKeith]

Walking into a restaurant 20 min before close and ordering 4 steaks is a good way to get a hocker. 🤣

[@budmatto9205]

Robbie, you need to paint this little bugger. It would be like an afternoon project ....

[@kensherwin4544]

I think it would take 2 weeks of sanding first.

[@albertdehn8381]

Thanks for sharing 😀👍

[@joeloyd56]

Thanks for the content

[@FILIPFROMSALMO]

GREAT JOB!!! GREAT VIDEO!!! YES, GET THAT OTHER ONE AND FIX IT UP. This will be great for off road mountain rescues

[@BarclayWilt]

I hope you guys enjoyed your stay in Winfield. I cracked up when Hillbilly got left by the 12th street apartments!

[@Ryan-ho9tz]

That looks like the funnest car to drive.

[@bmwloco]

Isetta's where made by BMW after WWII. Germany needed low cost transportation. Some made it to the US. Want something really cool? Find a Messerschmidt ; looks like a jetson mobile. Isetta's came with either a BMW motorcycle single engine or two cylinder. Air cooled.

[@bennyboogenheimer4553]

Designed by an Italian Kitchen Stove manufacturer ECO in 1934 but considered too (ART DECO) futuristic, the company went Bankrupt. A BMW engineer remembered the car in 1955 when BMW was allowed to start building 4 wheel vehicles again. But they had to be smaller then a VW for British sales. The Izetta was a perfect fit. The Italian powertrain was tossed out, for half a BMW, R 750 power train. A 1961 sold for $1,800.00 in NYC, when you could buy a 1961 VW Bus for $2,140.00. Both got a Million Smiles per mile!

[@BuzbyB]

A friend of mine had a Messerschmidt - great fun - it would go as fast backwards as it would forwards as to go backwards. Being a 2 stroke, you had to stop the engine and restart it backwards. I had a more mundane Heinkel Trojan - the three wheeled version of their Isetta.

[@chipharden9759]

Would love to see yall get an isetta and restore with elegant paint!.....

[@dougalexander7204]

My dad turned a 1961 Nash Metropolitan around in a two car garage. (Just a little drywall repair😂). Also drove it through Death Valley from the east to LostWages, NV.

[@pmae9010]

I have had a life long love for all cars small, I am 6'3" tall go figure, I have loved these little cars since I first saw one, so fun, Now you need to find a NSU Prinze and drive that.

[@Dave-ei7kk]

Posi-traction? 🤪😂😂 I knew something was up with that when I saw only one brake drum on the passenger side. Solid rear axel! That thing must be squirrelly to steer on dry pavement and I wonder how long the rear tires last.

[@christopheranderson8619]

Ha! That rigs super cool. I want one! 😎

[@ericm8811]

Hey Robby Layton! Darn rights you better git that Isetta for the Boss! She's the best so she deserves one! Ride ride ride!