13       the third kind every age has its typical symbols, shapes and stylistic codes. the field of design documents a certain kind of attitude towards life and is used to illustrate the signs of the times. the car make bmw isetta is living proof for the preference of round shapes during the 50ies. good things are often born out of social need. products that reflect the spirit of the times, that unite usefulness with contemporary style symbols are for the most part also successful. these products grow and develop, they become an essential part of people’s everyday lives. during the 50ies, a time that was characterised by a spirit of optimism and general zest for life, it was particularly round shapes that appealed to the taste and aesthetic perceptions of the people. round design in the fields of fashion, furniture and everyday use stood for zest for life and was seen as a symbol of health and a relaxed leisure time atmosphere. another important object of prestige and status symbol was the car. accordingly, the extraordinary design of the legendary “bmw isetta“ represents a particularly clear statement of round shapes. the vehicle was originally produced by the italian motorcycle and fridge manufacturer iso and was later taken over by the bmw company. the main advantage of the isetta was that it was affordable as well as connected to motorcycles which were extremely popular during the 50ies. “in a way, the isetta was a means of locomotion of the third kind”, says manfred grunert, isetta expert at bmw and passionate electronic-dj. although the vehicle was powered by a motorcycle engine, it was no motorcycle – but consequently it wasn’t a car either, it “simply was something different”. however, the round shape of the isetta also had a functional character: the car was not only advertised as a lifestyle vehicle but also as a kind of “shopping bag on wheels” that offered optimum storing space in proportion to its relatively small size. the isetta offered people enough space to sit comfortably, stored their purchases and was there for “getting out of town” at weekends. soon, the advantages of the manoeuvrable, 12 or 13 hp vehicle were also discovered by the german post and the “stern” magazine. the round, semicircular shape of the isetta offered a perfect surface for applying advertisements, and due to its small size and manoeuvrability it became a popular city vehicle for easy supplies of local shops and uncomplicated parking. besides that, the isetta was also used by the police in rural areas. the police version of the car had to make do without a flashing blue light but instead had an additional pair of headlights. equipped with additional windows at the front door and a snow shovel at the front, the isetta was even used as a snowplough. in the field of technical aspects, the “rolling egg” also had a few interesting details and custom-built models to offer. the two standard models 250 cc and 300 cc were equipped with 12 and 13 hp of engine performance respectively. the maximum speed of the vehicle was approximately 85 km/h. the vehicle was entered through a front door that also held the steering wheel and the dashboard. the “motocoupé” was intended for two adults and one child. in addition, there also were isetta versions with right-hand or left-hand drive and with three or four wheels (models: standard and export). for the american market, a few small details were changed: the front bumper was located at the door, it had bigger headlights and a combined indicator, brake and tail light. as custom-built versions, the isetta was also produced as a convertible with a removable roof and as a truck with a detachable panel. when the small car boom waned at the end of the 50ies, bmw tried to boost the market with a four-seater version with side doors, the isetta 600. however, the heyday of the car had passed and in 1962 its production was finally stopped. however, the isetta has never ceased to fascinate people, a fact that is illustrated by the many fan clubs and about 5.000 enquiries at the bmw company archives every year. the cult car is still a big player on the used vehicle market where it reaches prices “that are simply unbelievable”. helmut wolf