Diesel RVs: 12/15/18

Re: [diesel_mercedes] Olden Dayze

On 12/15/2018 9:49 AM, Aleph93 aleph93@ca.rr.com [diesel_mercedes] wrote:

I looked under a BMW Isetta, parked at a car show, and it had the basic BMW motorcycle engine setup with only 1 cylinder.

Neat looking thing.

They were available as 250, 300 and 600 models and were built under several licenses in Europe and South America, the most common being the BMW. Mine was a '57 with all the options such a luggage rack, front door vent louvers and wheel embellishers. She was powder blue overall with two-tone blue and white interior. Top speed was 53 mph with a tailwind. They got extraordinary fuel mileage and were very maneuverable due to the triangular suspension layout. The rear wheels were solid axle with a common drum brake. To pull start, I would begin by opening the front door and placing the shift in 3rd. I would lean against the inside of the door and push backwards on it will running backwards. My left hand was on the steering wheel and my right was holding the clutch pedal down. When I got sufficient speed, I would leap into the car with my right foot first, spinning my body around and flopping down on the seat while simultaneously releasing the clutch and turning on the key. As I fell backwards onto the seat, I was pulling on the steering wheel, thus closing the door. The engine would catch and I would rear over the flip the door latch closed.

--   Mark L. Bardenwerper, Sr.  Technology...responsibly, thoughtfully

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Posted by: Mark Bardenwerper <citrogsa@charter.net>

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Re: [diesel_mercedes] Olden Dayze

I looked under a BMW Isetta, parked at a car show, and it had the basic BMW motorcycle engine setup with only 1 cylinder.

Neat looking thing.

Rob

SoCal

On 12/14/18 9:12 PM, vwnate1@yahoo.com [diesel_mercedes] wrote:

I remember a neighbor having an Isetta in 1960 or so, I thought it the coolest car ever, they of course were embarrassed to be driving such a tin can.....

My very first VW came to me with a bad battery, I had to push start it everywhere I went, not a happy time for my girlfriend.....

For a while I lived down a 30' driveway and had to park carefully every night, making sure it was facing the street, I'd grab the front bumper and pull it up to the side walk (1960 VW Beetle, didn't weigh anything and had rock hard Bias Ply tires, easy to roll and skid) , let it coast into the street and bang the clutch out in second gear, putter off to High School......

No driver's license, no tags on the car, big gaping holes in the large canvas sliding 'sunshine roof' etc. ~ I was 14 years old and thought I was being a Man, working in a garage, paying rent on my own apartment, going to high school and having a live in girlfriend .

Sheesh .

? How did you like the Isetta ? .

-Nate
Mark wrote :
I miss my Isetta. I used to push start it all by myself. Actually, I pull started it.
-- Mark L. Bardenwerper, Sr. Technology...responsibly, thoughtfully