Quirk Database1950sGermanyBubble car / microcar
BMW Isetta
The BMW Isetta is a bubble car made by BMW in Germany from 1955 to 1962. Its weirdest quirk: The whole front of the car is the door, and the steering wheel and instrument panel swing out with it.
The whole front of the car is the door, and the steering wheel swings out with it. It's a motorcycle-engined egg that helped keep BMW alive, and now it's one of the most-auctioned microcars on the planet.
Weird features:DoorsSteering & ignition
Quick facts
- Maker: BMW
- Years: 1955–1962
- Country of origin: Germany
- Body type: Bubble car
- Engine: Single-cylinder four-stroke, 247cc then 298cc
- Weirdest quirk: The whole front of the car is the door, and the steering wheel and instrument panel swing out with it.
- Sold prices logged: 5 (latest: $27,250 at Bring a Trailer, Oct 29, 2026)
- Full story: BMW Isetta: The Bubble Car Whose Front Door Takes the Steering Wheel With It
Sold prices
| Date | Venue | Car | Price | Mileage | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bring a Trailer | 1957 BMW Isetta 300 | $27,250 | 1,400 mi shown | Result for 1957 BMW Isetta 300 at Bring a Trailer ↗ | |
| Bring a Trailer | 1957 BMW Isetta 300 Bubble Window | $37,523 | 20k mi shown | Result for 1957 BMW Isetta 300 Bubble Window at Bring a Trailer ↗ | |
| Bring a Trailer | 1958 BMW Isetta 300 | $34,500 | 19k mi shown | Result for 1958 BMW Isetta 300 at Bring a Trailer ↗ | |
| Bring a Trailer | 1958 BMW Isetta 300 | $42,250 | 13 mi shown, TMU | Result for 1958 BMW Isetta 300 at Bring a Trailer ↗ | |
| Cars & Bids | 1957 BMW Isetta 300 | $20,000Sold after auction | 28,700 mi shown (5-digit odo) | Result for 1957 BMW Isetta 300 at Cars & Bids ↗ |
Prices as published by each auction site, in the currency the car sold in. "TMU" means total mileage unknown.