The 1959 BMW Isetta Whatta Drag is a one-off, full-size custom built around an original Isetta body shell and inspired by a Hot Wheels design. Commissioned by microcar collector Bruce Weiner in 2005, it pairs the tiny car’s unmistakable shape with a supercharged Chevrolet V-8 that RM Sotheby’s lists at an estimated 730 hp. It was built as a showpiece—not for road or track use.
What is the BMW Isetta Whatta Drag?
It is not a factory BMW performance model or a modified Isetta intended for everyday driving. The Whatta Drag is a single custom vehicle that turns a Hot Wheels fantasy design into a full-size show car. Its body began as a 1959 BMW Isetta shell; the underlying construction and powertrain are radically different from the original microcar.
The idea began with Hot Wheels. RM Sotheby’s says designer Phil Riehlman created the Whatta Drag, first introduced in 1998. Hot Wheels Model Number 213 followed in 2000, and Bruce Weiner commissioned the full-size interpretation in 2005, using that model as its blueprint. RM Sotheby’s auction listing and the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum entry describe the vehicle as a single example.
How much horsepower does the Whatta Drag have?
RM Sotheby’s lists a supercharged Chevrolet V-8 displacing 502 cubic inches and estimates its output at 730 hp. That is an estimated figure from the auction listing, not a documented independent dyno result. The listing specifies a BDS supercharger and twin Holley 750 CFM double-pumper carburetors.
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The unusual engine sits in a custom welded steel tube frame rather than a standard Isetta chassis. The listed equipment also includes a two-speed manual transmission, M3 suspension, disc brakes and one custom rear drag wheel. The museum’s vehicle page likewise gives the engine as a 502-cubic-inch Chevrolet, estimates 730 hp, and describes a steel body and chassis with three wheels.
Is the Whatta Drag a real car, and can you drive it?
It is a real, functioning full-size showpiece, but that does not make it a road car or a competition-ready drag racer. RM Sotheby’s explicitly says it is “strictly for show and not to be used for road or track,” warning that the Chevrolet 502’s torque can be dangerous if handled improperly. The auction listing is the basis for that use restriction; it does not establish road legality, registration, or present-day condition.
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How much did the Whatta Drag sell for?
The car sold at the 2013 Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum auction for $92,000. Sports Car Digest reports that this total comprised an $80,000 hammer price plus a 15% buyer’s commission; RM Sotheby’s also records the $92,000 sale. The listing states it was offered on a bill of sale only, so the figure should be read as a historical auction result, not a current valuation or evidence of conventional title or road-registration status. Sports Car Digest’s auction report provides the hammer-price breakdown.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the Hot Wheels connection?
The toy came first: the full-size vehicle was commissioned to bring the Hot Wheels fantasy car to life, not the other way around. The most direct collector tie-in is the Hot Wheels Whatta Drag die-cast, especially Model Number 213. The historical relationship between the toy and the custom car is documented, but current retail stock or availability is not established.
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