600 (Germany, 1957)

There is no denying that everything happens slowly in an Isetta, as 0–60 comes in...a while. In fact, it was actually rated for a 60 mph top speed, and its R67 motorcycle-derived engine is suited for high rpm operation, but it is certainly happier at less than 50 mph. What those numbers utterly fail to convey, however, is the fun in getting there.

A positive consequence of the Isetta’s size is that all the components are close to the driver. No linkage can be long when the whole car is less than 10 feet long, and that’s highly apparent in the quick, easy steering, light throttle, and direct shifter. As any sports car maker will confirm, it is not pure power that makes a car fun, it is the power-to-weight ratio. Therefore, while 26 brake horsepower isn’t much, neither is the 1,200 or so pounds of curb weight of a BMW 600. A 66-inch wheelbase and 10-inch wheels with limited travel do make for a choppy ride, but the payoff is excellent road f...