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Films:
Jack's Toy Is A BMW Isetta
When I was in my 20’s I purchased a 1957 Isetta 300. The fellow who had owned the car was a sign painter in San Dimas, California. He had passed away in a house fire. I tracked down his father who sold the car to me for $75. It was not running at the time and I rented a U-Hual trailer and I and two of my friends carried the car into the trailer. I Pomona, California there was a BMW motorcycle dealer. I took the cylinder head to them and they were able to repair the head. I got the car running and was in the process of repairing the brakes when my Dad asked me if he could drive it? I sat on the rear shelf with my head through the Sun roof. As my Dad was going down our street I informed him he would have to use the E-brake as there weren’t any other brakes as yet. He was surprised to say the least. My friends and I would take the car to a local horse track and slide the car sideways around the track. Once we even managed to get it airborne. The fastest I had the car was 65 mph. With only 3 brakes on 4 wheels this tended to be exciting when you wanted to stop. Those with an Isetta will understand. I had a supervisor who owned a 300 that was Corvair powered.
Question for the group – He says he bought it new in ’57. Totally believable, no problem. I’m wondering about the license plate, though. Back in ’57, it would have been a California Black plate or Yellow plate, right? Why does it have a new 6-series modern white plate? I’m struggling to think of why it changed, if he’s the same owner this whole time.
