The dragster: nicknamed Big Dill features an extensive list of modifications outside, inside and in the engine compartment. Brown started the project by building a custom frame. He then modified the body to clear a pair of widened, Volkswagen Beetle-sourced rear wheels wrapped by massive tires and replaced the factory-fitted 298-cubic-centimeter single-cylinder engine with a 1.2-liter V-twin taken off of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Brown then turned his attention to the interior, which is entirely custom-built as well. Accessed via a side-hinged front door, it's equipped with a single seat, a quick-release steering wheel, a roll hoop and diamond-stitched upholstery. All told, the project took about 438 hours to finish.
Brown then turned his attention to the interior, which is entirely custom-built as well. Accessed via a side-hinged front door, it's equipped with a single seat, a quick-release steering wheel, a roll hoop and diamond-stitched upholstery. All told, the project took about 438 hours to finish.
While the Isetta was never a common sight on American roads, Brown managed to find a second example to turn into a car hauler he calls The Pickle Jar. The transformation required designing and building a one-off subframe to mount a tilting platform on, and Brown chose a 230-cubic-inch Chevrolet-sourced straight-six to significantly increase the pocket-sized BMW's payload capacity. He didn't leave the body alone, either. Up front, the Isetta received a pair of Volkswagen Beetle fenders and lights. Out back, it wears fenders from a Ford Model A.
They couldn't match the green paint?
ReplyDeleteTake that body off and I'm in!
ReplyDelete