Initially, we wanted to tell you that this BMW Isetta 600 has a V8 engine under the bonnet. Then it hit us: the engine of this car doesn’t sit under any kind of bonnet.
That’s because its owner is one crazy aficionado that really wanted to hook up his Isetta with a good old-fashion supercharged V8. Therefore, he started working on his car to create it as he pictured it would be.
During the process, the small Bimmer received a supercharged 4.6-liter 281 CID engine from a Rover 75 that sends around 300 HP to the rear wheels, hooked up to a Corvair 4-speed transaxle gearbox. It took the owner 4 months to get all of it done but we’re absolutely confident he thinks it was worth every second of it.
Unfortunately, due to the weight of the 1958 Isetta, that engine can’t really be put to work as it should be. That’s because every time you step on it, you’ll end up doing a wheelie and possibly damaging the engine. Perhaps a wheelie bar would've been a nice accesory here.
Therefore the owner, Curt, usually takes it for slow drives around town, to show off the car’s impressive engine as well as the special paint job. Oh, you didn’t notice?
This Isetta is now sporting some really mean airbrushed flames on every body panel as well as some tribal signs and a mean-looking, devilish face up front. You really wouldn’t want this thing sneaking up on you at night. Not that it could with that V8 anyway...
During the process, the small Bimmer received a supercharged 4.6-liter 281 CID engine from a Rover 75 that sends around 300 HP to the rear wheels, hooked up to a Corvair 4-speed transaxle gearbox. It took the owner 4 months to get all of it done but we’re absolutely confident he thinks it was worth every second of it.
Unfortunately, due to the weight of the 1958 Isetta, that engine can’t really be put to work as it should be. That’s because every time you step on it, you’ll end up doing a wheelie and possibly damaging the engine. Perhaps a wheelie bar would've been a nice accesory here.
Therefore the owner, Curt, usually takes it for slow drives around town, to show off the car’s impressive engine as well as the special paint job. Oh, you didn’t notice?
This Isetta is now sporting some really mean airbrushed flames on every body panel as well as some tribal signs and a mean-looking, devilish face up front. You really wouldn’t want this thing sneaking up on you at night. Not that it could with that V8 anyway...