Owners of a car that became a Sixties motoring legend hope to stage a rally at the site of the factory where it was made to mark its 50th anniversary.

The original Isetta bubble car was built at the former locomotive engineering works in New England Street, Brighton, between 1957 and 1964.

Italian company Iso, which designed the car, first applied for the design to be patented on June 16, 1953.

Members of the Isetta Owners' Club from all over the world want to celebrate its birth with a rally to Brighton where they hope to present a plaque to Brighton and Hove City Council to be placed at the site.

The first Isettas built by Iso were not successful because of their engine design, so BMW adapted the design and by 1956 the bubble car era was in full swing as working class people, who would not normally be able to afford a car, bought them for about £300.

BMW could not cope with the demand and sold the licence to build the Isetta to two other companies, including Dunsfold Tools.

After negotiations with British Railways, which owned the engineering site where the first baby tank locomotive was built, production began in Brighton.

The Isetta bubble car was originally a four-wheeler but was adapted to a three-wheeler so it could be used on a motorcycle licence. It is noted for its front opening door and steering wheel which moves out of the way.

Other companies produced their own versions of the bubble car but when the more practical Mini car came in, it went out of fashion.

The New England Street site, which was used as a car park until the Nineties, is now wasteland and awaiting planning permission for development.

The Isetta Owners' Club is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year so the planned rally will be a joint celebration.

Committee member Richard Jones, from Yorkshire, who is organising the celebrations, visited the site last year to take photographs.

He said: "I was a kid when it was running. It does not look like anything now. It is just a mess.

"My father owned an Isetta in 1962. I have fleeting memories of being on the parcel shelf on the back of it in a carry cot."

Stephen Fay, 54, of Greenbank Avenue, Saltdean, bought an original red and cream three-wheeler Isetta when he was 18, which he owned from 1965 to 1969.

More than 30 years later he bought a green version of the same model, which he has been repairing for more than five years at his home.

He hopes it will be ready to join the rally in June.

Mr Fay met his wife Christine when he owned one in the Sixties. He said: "The first time I took her out was in that. She was horrified.

"All my friends were on motorcycles and they always used to get soaking wet. I got there nice and dry.

"It was cheap to run, the road tax was cheaper because it had three wheels and it was easy to park."

For more information, visit www.isetta-owners-club-gb.com