The post-war period is naturally not a period of great wealth. Most people were very happy if they were able to buy a motorized two-wheeler. If this two-wheeler happened to have a roof against the rain, they were especially lucky. Such a paneled motorcycle is introduced to the market in 1955 by BMW. It is designed in license by the Milan motorcycle company Iso Spa. The 'Isetta' has a door in front, to which the movable steering column is fastened together with the steering wheel. In addition, the vehicle features a material roof which also serves as an emergency exit. Like today's Smart there are just two front seats, if necessary they might be occupied by three very slender persons.

The engine drives the rear wheels, which have so little wheel track that it is unnecessary to insert a differential gear and only one drum brake is needed. Some export versions have just one wheel in the rear, instead of an axis with a very small wheel track.

The single-cylinder by blower air-cooled engine in the rear has at first 9 kW (12 HP, 245 cm³), and later 9.5 kW (13 HP, 298 cm³), enough for 85 km/h. The vehicle is built till 1962 and costs 2,580 DM (a standard beetle is 3,950 DM at that time). The sells make it possible, bigger models like the BMW 600 and 700 to follow. Strangely enough, the Isetta is not successful in Italy; in spite that the design is developed there. Figure 4 on top shows the French version. 07/09