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In the 1950s there were three British towns or boroughs associated with the assembly of overseas vehicles – Acton for Renault, Slough for Citroën and Brighton for the BMW Isetta. In April 1957, the former Southern Railway plant re-opened as an assembly plant. At its height, the factory built some 300 cars per week, but one disadvantage was that as a former locomotive works, it lacked road access. Parts from Germany and the finished products had to be transported by train.

UK sales of the BMW Isetta commenced in 1955, with distribution handled by AFN of Isleworth. In the following year the great Denis Jenkinson wrote in Motor Sport of how:

The Isetta must surely represent the most successful way of providing transport at low cost while avoiding the complications of a motor car and the disadvantages of a motor-cycle or scooter, while its cornering power and general safety in handling, relative to its size and power, classes it with cars of the highest order.

However, the four-wheel format limited sales, even following the temporary return of petrol rationing during the 1956 Suez Crises. Import duties were a further issue, but British assembly and the use of local components, such as Lucas lights, could circumvent this issue.

And so “Isetta of Great Britain Ltd.” established their Sussex operations and the sales copy stated that here was a car that would seat ‘2 adults and a child in comfort’. Better still, it was capable of 70 mpg at 50 miles per hour – and the proud owner could park it at right angles to the kerb. The 1957 Isetta 300 featured sliding windows, and a 297cc engine in place of the 245cc unit and the standard version cost just £383 19s. Should a buyer crave a grab handle, hub caps and other such frivolities, there was the “Plus” for an additional £16.

BMW ownership was now within reach for ‘£120 and easy terms’. Best of all it was ‘now under production in Britain by a British-owned and British-staffed factory’ - in other words, you would not be hissed at by the neighbours for driving ‘one of those foreign cars’. The introduction of a three-wheel Isetta in 1959 enhanced UK sales, while the Brighton-built four-wheeler was exported to Australia, Canada and New Zealand. However, before 1963 only drivers who held a full car licence were entitled to have a reverse gear on their 3-wheeler. This made parking highly entertaining for those owners with just a motorcycle licence.

BMW eventually took full control of the operation, and car production ended in 1962. The works continued to build engines, and in 1963 the firm moved its operations to Victoria Road in Portslade. The last motor was made in 1964 – well into the Neue Klasse era and just two years before the advent of the 1600-2. By then, the Isetta seemed to belong to another era but its financial importance to the company cannot be overstated. In addition to providing thousands of British motorists with their first experience of driving a BMW.

Why choose Lancaster Insurance?

Here at Lancaster, we love classic cars as much as you do and we understand what it takes to protect them for future generations.

We have links with some of the top classic car clubs around the country and some of our policies even offer discounts of up to 25% for club members.

Other benefits of classic car insurance through Lancaster can include:

• Historic rally cover
• Static show cover
• Limit mileage discounts
• Choice of repairer
• 24-hour claims helpline

Give your classic the protection it deserves and get a quote for your BMW today.