The Isetta, contrary to myth , had a reverse gear. It also had a sun roof in case the front door got blocked or damaged and un openable. I used to drive this one up from Wooburn Green to Holtspur on a daily basis, wouldn’t want to do that now.
Back home in Ireland, mrs micra’s mother (sorry, mammy !) was desperately anxious about the bubble car - the only BMW I’ve ever owned - being blown over by a passing truck.
Don’t recall any particular difficulties about the absence of a reverse gear. It was light enough to push backwards without too much effort.
Of course - typical - I wrote the above before moving on to page 8 and seeing @perfidious_albion’s post. You had to pass a driving test before you could lawfully use the reverse gear. I hadn’t passed one but I can’t recall whether reverse gear was deactivated or whether it was left to the unqualified owner’s honesty.
I drove one on my motorcycle licence. Imagine road fund licence was cheaper. Big bonus was being able to sail through the car test first time, fully confident (including reversing into a road junction).
After a bit of research 🧐 it seems that some of them did have the reverse gear disconnected for motorcyclists so you could be right about having to push it back.
When I was at school in the 1960s, one of the teachers had a bubble car, I think it was a Heinkel from memory.
This was when Thunderbirds was a big show on TV, and one day some of the sixth formers got hold of a can of whitewash, and wrote on the front door 'Thunderbird 6: Thunderbubble'.
After one too many Advocates last night (remember that Xmas liquor- same colour as my bubble!) I deleted the photo of the Isetta thinking (upon drunken reflection) that no one would be interested in a fottie thread. But, cold light of day, a few were, so here is another shot of the ‘flying egg’.
I think mine may have been an even bigger head turner (no, not because of my hell for leather 60 mph driving, down hill with a following wind) but because the previous owner had fashioned a receptacle for a Roberts radio. What with that going and the heater blowing warmish air through what looked like the floor end of a vacuum cleaner hose, it really was the business !!
All those saying “credit to Port Vale” on Saturday, they are 3-0 down at half time. I think that provides further proof of how poor our second half was on Saturday.
Comments
The Isetta, contrary to myth , had a reverse gear. It also had a sun roof in case the front door got blocked or damaged and un openable. I used to drive this one up from Wooburn Green to Holtspur on a daily basis, wouldn’t want to do that now.
Funny you should say that @MorrisItal2.
Back home in Ireland, mrs micra’s mother (sorry, mammy !) was desperately anxious about the bubble car - the only BMW I’ve ever owned - being blown over by a passing truck.
Don’t recall any particular difficulties about the absence of a reverse gear. It was light enough to push backwards without too much effort.
Happy Days.
Of course - typical - I wrote the above before moving on to page 8 and seeing @perfidious_albion’s post. You had to pass a driving test before you could lawfully use the reverse gear. I hadn’t passed one but I can’t recall whether reverse gear was deactivated or whether it was left to the unqualified owner’s honesty.
Love the photo. Does it qualify as a motorbike or ‘Quadricycle’ perhaps for favourable road tax and license purposes?
Not sure this thread could stray much further than an exchange about 1960s bubble cars.
I drove one on my motorcycle licence. Imagine road fund licence was cheaper. Big bonus was being able to sail through the car test first time, fully confident (including reversing into a road junction).
Great colour.
Is that a very rare UK RHD built 3 wheeler.
Getting up Holtspur Lane fully loaded must have been interesting.
After a bit of research 🧐 it seems that some of them did have the reverse gear disconnected for motorcyclists so you could be right about having to push it back.
When I was at school in the 1960s, one of the teachers had a bubble car, I think it was a Heinkel from memory.
This was when Thunderbirds was a big show on TV, and one day some of the sixth formers got hold of a can of whitewash, and wrote on the front door 'Thunderbird 6: Thunderbubble'.
After one too many Advocates last night (remember that Xmas liquor- same colour as my bubble!) I deleted the photo of the Isetta thinking (upon drunken reflection) that no one would be interested in a fottie thread. But, cold light of day, a few were, so here is another shot of the ‘flying egg’.
Missed the start of this...has MB been accused of not having a reverse gear?
Not sure how this all started in the fog of Christmas, one thing is for sure my bubble had a tighter turning circle than Taff (remember him?).
Beautiful car, if perhaps not particularly comfortable or practical, must have been quite the head turner when new.
I think mine may have been an even bigger head turner (no, not because of my hell for leather 60 mph driving, down hill with a following wind) but because the previous owner had fashioned a receptacle for a Roberts radio. What with that going and the heater blowing warmish air through what looked like the floor end of a vacuum cleaner hose, it really was the business !!
Off to Vipienne now.
All those saying “credit to Port Vale” on Saturday, they are 3-0 down at half time. I think that provides further proof of how poor our second half was on Saturday.