V8 fitted to BMW Isetta

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Over the years, I have seen a few BMW Isettas restored and even slightly improved, but I don’t recall any quite as daring as this one.

Built as a home project, this BMW Isetta is now the receiver of a massive 4.6 liter 281 CID engine from a Rover 75.

BMW Isetta with V8 engine

Besides occupying most of the small car’s interior, the V8 engine is also capable of delivering somewhere close to 300 Hp. The engine was hooked up to a 4 speed transaxle gearbox, and I bet a lot more alteration had to take place to accommodate the big and powerful new engine.

BMW Isetta with V8 engine

The only thing that seems to sorely miss is an wheelie bar. With small cars fitted with big engines, the tendency to do a wheelie when you floor it is quite high. But in order to compensate for that, the owner did a nice paintjob with flames and Marvin the Martian.