The National Motor Museum Trust

European post-war austerity, combined with the Suez Crisis of 1956, led to a petrol shortage and increased the popularity of fuel-efficient microcars.

In 1953, the first truly successful microcar was launched: the Italian-made Iso Isetta bubblecar, soon made under licence in Germany, France, Brazil and Britain. The British built cars were assembled under licence from German BMW and fitted with their engines. Arriving in 1957, sales of the Isetta were initially hampered in Britain by licensing laws, which taxed it as a conventional car, having four wheels. This difficulty was overcome in 1959 with a three-wheeled version.