Auto enthusiasts are probably familiar with the BMW Isetta microcar. But this 1954 Iso Isocarro 500 pickup—a barn-find project vehicle now listed on eBay motors—is probably your first exposure to its cousin, a tiny Italian truck.
The body shell has been stripped to bare metal, and reunited with the chassis.
The utilitarian microtruck is 70 percent restored, according to the vendor, Santiago Varela Torres, with the body taken down to bare metal, the frame fully refurbished and painted, and a suspension installed. The vehicle sports an attractive two-tone blue-and-white paint job, but it reportedly could use a respray. Four tires and wheels are included, Torres said, and a wooden rear box can be part of the deal. The sliding sunroof is a nice feature.
The Iso’s frame has been fully restored and painted.
The Iso pickup comes with this BMW-sourced motor. It’s reportedly more reliable than the twin-cylinder Iso unit that was originally delivered with the truck.
“This is a unique project,” said Torres. “There are only a few of these vehicles still existing in the world.” He believes the vehicle—which is currently located in Colombia—was manufactured in either Italy or Spain (where Madrid’s Iso Motor Italia had the license). Torres said the interior is not included, but a big box of spare parts is.
The Buy-It-Now price is $75,000, reflecting the pick-up’s rarity. For comparison, Hagerty puts the value of an excellent 1957 BMW Isetta 300 at $28,500.
Parts that are unique to the Isocarro will be hard to locate, although eBay has models, books, and other rare items. eBay Motors also has BMW Isetta parts, which will fit the Isocarro, as well as complete Isetta models.
Success with a Microtruck, If Not with the Microcar
The Italian Iso microcar, designed by aeronautical engineer Ermenegildo Preti, was famously licensed to BMW, which sold about 160,000 units of the tiny car. But the Italian firm had had trouble selling them in the home market. The company had problems with its 236-cc two-cylinder engine and faced competition from Fiat in the micro segment. Iso reportedly sold only 4,900 Iso microcars in Italy between 1953 and 1955.
A period Isocarro ad proves the little truck was designed for agricultural work.
The Isocarro pickup was a different story. The Italian market was friendly toward small trucks. So Iso tweaked the car’s design into the Isocarro 500, which was never offered by BMW. With a load capacity of 1,100 pounds—or 500 kilograms, hence the name—the back of the Isetta’s egg was attached to a sturdy tube frame to carry the bed. A new rear axle and differential were fitted, and a pickup box with a folding tailgate was added.
The Isocarro has a gullwing door—just one of them.
The project truck here comes with a running and rebuilt 500cc BMW engine, Torres said. It’s not original, but it’s probably the better bet if the truck is going to work for a living. Even with motivation from the “Ultimate Driving Machine,” the Iso is no speed demon. But its leisure pace is part of the fun—giving fellow motorists a chance to fully enjoy what is arguably the world’s cutest hauler.
