BMW Consistency

One of my favorite things about old BMWs is the familiarity between years and models. From the drivers seat They look and feel very similar. Drive an E3 or E9, then a 2002 then an E21 up to the E30, E28 and even E36. The gauges have similar layouts, same with the controls, The shifter falls into your hand in a familiar way, the brakes react how you expect them to react... It is nice I like it a lot.

So I am finishing up the restoration of a 56 BMW Isetta bubble window car.

A car so weird that nothing feels natural. Imagine my surprise when on it's maiden voyage around the parking lot I attempt to shift into reverse and am greeted with the familiar BMW reverse gate. That little pop as the lever moves over. Exactly like my E28 and E30.

It just made me smile and I wanted to share

In reply to Jumper K. Balls:

That's a cool looking project. Got any more pics to share?

I love everything about that interior.

I have actually known this car since the 80's. The owner was a family friend who was one of the main sources for isetta parts back then. He passed away about 5 years ago and his son asked us if we wanted to restore his car.

Bill used to let me drive the car in the early 90's. It held or still holds the guinness record for longest distance traveled in the smallest displacement. It is probably the highest mileage isetta in the US. Every single part of it was totally worn out. It got everything rebuilt or remade.

This is how it rolled into the shop

Body off

Dipped and getting new floors

Dead bugging it for some paint

Photobucket is being a bastard and not uploading. I can get more though.

And some were built in Britain so they qualify for British car shows!

Looks nice! Pbucket wants us all to send them 15 bucks this week so the ads are kicking the daylights out of us. If we pay the 15 not to have to deal with the ads it'll fix it.

Very neat!!

neat! didn't know anyone was still in business dipping cars. Is it a motorcycle/sequential shifter I assume?

those things used to be cheap. now - not so much.

oldtin wrote: Is it a motorcycle/sequential shifter I assume?

No. And it is pissing me off trying to adjust the linkage

My friend's '70 2002 smelled EXACTLY like my '67 Beetle inside. Something about the stuff the Germans used to stuff and cover the seats.

In reply to Basil Exposition:

Gummihar!

(Rubber-coated horse hair upholstery stuffing, and I'm probably misspelling the German word)