Three classic models from BMW's history
BMW is unusual in that many of its current production models are already considered classics. There's no doubt that cars like the 5 Series and the M3 sports saloon will be revered by enthusiasts and the automotive press long after the day BMW stops making them, if indeed that day ever comes (the long running 5 Series has already been in production for 35 years, and demand is now stronger than ever).
Having said that, it's no struggle to identify classic cars from BMW's history, either. The firm has seen its share of troubles in 80 years of car production, and it would never have survived the economic impact of the two World Wars had it not been for the consistently high quality of its vehicles. 30s models like the 328 and post-war triumphs like the 1500 and 2002 are what kept the company afloat, and paved the way for the modern classics that make up BMW's current catalogue. BMW 328
The 328 was a beautiful and highly successful sports roadster produced between 1936 and 1940. Designed by Fritz Fiedler, its streamlined body became the prototype for generations of sports cars to come, notably the equally beautiful Jaguar XK series. It was one of 26 cars nominated for the Car of the Century award, along with the likes of the Mini, Porsche 911 and Ford Model T.
Its success on the international racing circuit has become the stuff of legend. The 2-litre 328 was practically unbeatable in its class during the latter half of the 1930s, winning both the RAC Rally and 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1939. It also won the Italian Mille Miglia (or Thousand Miles) race outright in 1940. Like BMW itself the 328 managed to survive the War, albeit in a slightly altered form. After 1945, one of the Mille Miglia cars was discovered by the British amongst the debris of a bombed BMW factory, and it was sent home along with the technical plans. They ended up at Bristol Cars, the then newly-formed automotive wing of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Even more conveniently, Fritz Fredler was persuaded to oversee production at Bristol - so it's no surprise that its first model, the 400, was virtually identical to the German 328. BMW 1500
Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1961, the 1500 effectively saved BMW from bankruptcy. Practically all its post war models before that had been commercial failures, and the situation had become so desperate that BMW shareholders were in talks to sell what was left of the company to Daimler-Benz. However by 1963, sales of the 1500 meant that the firm could actually afford to pay its investors a dividend - for the first time in 20 years.
It's easy to see why the 1500, first of the famous ‘New Class' of compact saloon cars, was such a hit. It was powerful and sporty, featuring front disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension and the first appearance of BMW's M10 engine, a phenomenally successful plant that stayed in production for 20 years. The M10 would go on to be used in many motorsports applications, including European Touring Car and Formula 1 racing, and its design formed the basis for the S14 engine powering today's BMW M3.
The 1500 boasted another design first for BMW, the so-called ‘Hofmeister kink'. Named for Wilhelm Hofmeister, director of design at that time, this refers to a distinctive inward bend at the bottom of the C-pillar (the piece of metal which joins the side- and rear windows at the back of the vehicle). It has since become a quintessential mark of BMW design, and features on practically every model made since the 1500. BMW 2002
One of the last New Class models, the 2002 is one of BMW's most famous sporting coupes. In production from 1968 to 1976, it was the forerunner to the modern 3 Series and significantly raised the bar for power and performance in its class. For instance, the 1972 2002tii (Touring Injected International) boasted a 2-litre engine capable of an impressive 130hp, giving it an autobahn-friendly top speed of 115mph.
In 1973 BMW premiered the 2002 Turbo at that year's Frankfurt Motor Show, the company's first model to feature a turbocharger (it was also the first turbocharged production car to be made in Europe). This new version produced an unprecedented 170hp, but at the peak of an international oil crisis sales of this and other high performance vehicles were badly affected. A spooked BMW obscured the word ‘Turbo' on its display models, and much to the anguish of future collectors the car was withdrawn just a year later. Cheap car insurance for BMW owners
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