Monday, April 17, 2017

What the heck? This Isetta door is hinged on the wrong side!


As you can now see, hinged on the unusual side, and you can read the license plate in the background, and no, that isn't a flipped negative, nor is it mirrored. You all are killing me. Geez everyone, just have some trust in me now and then, I actually get it right most of the time.



Do they change the hinge side if the car is built for countries where they drive on the wrong side of the road?

https://mariothemultipla.wordpress.com/2016/06/08/the-busiest-day-of-the-year/

It seems they did indeed.



In 1955, the BMW Isetta became the world's first mass-production car to achieve a fuel consumption of 78 mpg‑US (94 mpg‑imp; 3 L/100 km)

The British cars had right-hand drive with the door hinged from the right hand side of the car and the steering column moved across to the right as well. Right-hand drive meant that both the driver and the engine were on the same side, so a 27 kg (60 lb) counterweight was added to the left side to compensate. Dunlop tyres were used, and Lucas electrics replaced the German Hella and Bosch components, with a different headlamp housing being used. Girling brake components replaced the ATE brake parts.

The Isetta was not popular in the UK until a three-wheeled version was introduced. Although three-wheeled vehicles are more prone to rolling-over, there was a financial advantage; they could evade automobile legislation and taxation by being classed as three-wheeled motorcycles, and could be driven with a motorcycle licence. Isetta of Great Britain continued to produce four-wheeled Isettas, but only for export to Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.



As you can see, there were several variations on the design, left and right hand steering, hinged on opposite sides

Released on September 5, 1956, it was the first car produced in Brazil. The car had received government approval as a part of a state-supported drive to establish an automotive industry in Brazil, but ended up being built without government backing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta

Thanks David!

10 comments:

  1. Turn the negative around.

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    Replies
    1. there are no photo negatives anymore, it's all digital, and the link has 3 more images of this with the hinges wrong side

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  2. I think so Jesse. English/Australian Isetta? Maybe?

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  3. And see the license plate mirrored....

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    Replies
    1. It was a reply to greggbc, not to you. Please move it up under his entry.

      Delete
    2. I don't have that ability.
      This blogging thing is strangely limitied

      Delete
  4. Heinkel, another German bubblecar manufacturer using this front door arrangement, had their cars built under licence in Ireland, as the Heinkel Trojan. Though without moving the door hinges.

    Incidentally these bubble car could be driven with just a motorcycle driver's license here in Denmark too. Still the authorities changed the law, so the two rear wheels couted as one, if they were as close together as was the case. Guess it was considered a matter of safety, because it was tried to run the things with a single rear wheel.

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  5. The opening is relative to where the handle bars are.
    RHD, the passenger enters or alights from the kerb on the left hand side.
    The defective units (LHD), open to the right for passenger access.

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  6. Distant memory but I seem to recall my uncle's bubble car opened that way, based on the way he parked in our drive. No idea what make or model, but I also remember he changed it for a Heinekel type with the fighter plane canopy, my cousins and I used to play it
    N it when we allowed, fantastic time.

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  7. See that Jesse, not only is your blog fun to check out everyday, it's educational too! ;)

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