By the mid-1950s, West Germany had begun to recover from the turmoil of World War II, and its population was no longer satisfied with the tiny “microcars” being provided for their transportation by local automakers.

Seeing fertile ground for new products, BMW decided to enter the fray.

Their new car, shown to the public in September 1957, was a startling reinvention of the Isetta theme.

It was freshly styled with skillfully rendered, sharp accents from Michelotti and a Pininfarina-styled headlamp area.

The lengthened chassis now seated four and was advanced for its time, with individual coil-over shocks at each corner allowing for considerably more vertical travel than that of the Isetta.

Access to the rear seat was by a door, with fashionable frameless glass, on the right side.

The lively, reliable flat twin engine was isolated in the back and provided enough power to attain 60 mph and permit genuine long-distance family outings.

The two-tone 600 presented for sale here is a su...