BMW went through some hard times in the 1950's, as their range of saloons and sports cars (especially the V8 engined 507 Roadster) were too expensive for their respective markets. The company needed a cheap to produce and cheap to sell economy car, and the Isetta bubble car was it. Designed by the Iso company (makers of such high performance GT machines such as the Grifo and the Rivolta), BMW built it under license between 1955 and 1963, and equipped it with a BMW motorcycle engine. The two engine sizes on offer were 250cc's (which this model has) and 300cc's.
Access was through a forward hinged door, which was in fact the whole front of the car. The steering column is hinged on a universal joint, so that it swings out of the way to allow the driver to step out of the car. A full length sunroof is another feature along with a chrome luggage rack on the rear end. Most were four wheelers (with the two rear wheels being mounted closer together than the front) but British cars were three wheelers (with a single rear wheel) to allow it to be classed as a motorcycle and sidecar which allowed it to be driven on a motorcycle license, and meant you paid lower annual road tax.
Overall this car was a sales success, but after 1959, it had to compete against the Mini, which was only slightly more expensive, and was a "proper" car, with 4 seats, and luggage space. Hence it disappeared by 1963, by which time BMW was back on track making sporty executive cars at a profit, and hence were not very interested in the small bubble car anymore.
Revell make this model, and it is quite good. It has a removable panel on the right lower side that hides the engine, an opening front door, with which the steering column moves, and is quite well made. Worth getting if you like a few "oddballs" in your collection.
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