I was getting some work done on my car at the local VW dealership–they have a really excellent service department–and when it came time to pay up I actually had to walk to the BMW showroom cashier. While I was waiting, I spied the 2005 BMW Mobile Tradition Catalog and flipped through it. It’s stuffed with pictures of classic BMW cars and history. For example, the BMW Isetta “Bubble Car” (celebrating its 50th year anniversary) is described as follows:

The BMW Isetta was the most successful microcar in the 1950s after the Glas Goggomobile. There were both rational and emotional reasons for this success. The vehicle design was practical and the price of DM 2,750 set it apart from the competition. Low consumption and versatility even put it ahead of the more powerful Volkswagen. The spirit of the car was expressed in its inimitable shape, and it was affectionately known as “Bubble Car” or “Rolling Egg”. The BMW Isetta became part of the in-scene, being purchased by a string of celebrities including Cary Grant, Curd Jürgens and Stirling Moss.

I want one! But alas, the pragmatic side of me says that it would be a death trap on the wintery New England highways. But…I can buy a little piece of history through the catalog!

Like this “BMW Isetta mit Campinganhänger”…

or this small toy “BMW Isetta Export”…

or this awesome “BMW Isetta Speedometer Watch”, “a high-quality cover made of natural crystal glass and a case designed in nickel-free stainless steel. The ingenious container watchcase allows the watch to be transformed from a sporty wristwatch into a classic fob watch. The watch is shockproof and waterproof up to 4 bar.”

The Isetta isn’t the only car covered either…it’s a good browse. Here are some direct links that may work: BMW Mobile Tradition Website and the 2005 Katalog in PDF Format.

The BMW site subpages are rather hard to direct-link, so if these links are broken just use their search and look for “mobile tradition”, then browse to “publications” then to “accesories” to download their catalog. I’ll have to go back and see if I can score a printed version for the library. The other BMW historical publications, I’m told, are well worth looking into if you are a classic car enthusiast.