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First of all, a little history
Although the Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Factory) is mainly known for the production of luxury and sports cars, it is a multinational company with manufacturing industries spread over different parts of the planet, to which the car brand belongs «Popular» Mini, the Rolls Royce super-luxury car, and BMW Motorrad, part of the group dedicated to the manufacture of motorcycles.
One hundred years ago, in 1916, the company began its journey with the development of engines for combat aircraft in the middle of the World War. After the war ended, and after the signing of the Versailles treaty, Germany, as a losing country, was prohibited from producing military material, which is why it had to change its production strategy. He then began to manufacture motorcycles back in 1923, a task that he has not abandoned since then.
Automobile manufacturing started in 1928 with the production of the BMW Dixi, under license of the successful and popular British model Austin Seven. From there the range was expanded to achieve a important prestige as a manufacturer of sports models, such as the 327 or 328.
With the outbreak of World War II, BMW again turned to the creation of military equipment, including aircraft for the Luftwaffe. After the conflict, and after the rebuilding period of its factories, it returned to the production of luxury vehicles with models such as the 2 and 501 saloons, and coupes like the 502 and 503, excessively expensive cars that are difficult to sell in a country mired in postwar misery, a situation that was about to bankrupt BMW.
The right decision was then made to start production (under license from the Italian manufacturer Iso) of the inexpensive vehicle. isetta, a circumstance that saved the company from being absorbed by its main rival Mercedes Benz.
It was not until the XNUMXs, with the beginning of the production of the New Class (New class) -a series of mid-size saloons that filled the huge gap between luxury vehicles and the popular Isetta, 600 and 700-, which BMW laid the foundations of what is now a manufacturer of quality cars premium characterized by their sporty disposition.
In 1994, BMW bought the British group Rover. After six years of constant losses, it got rid of almost all the brands, such as MG, Austin, Morris, Rover, Land Rover, and only kept the manufacturing rights of the Mini, the classic model that continued to produce under the specifications of Rover until the appearance of the new model in 2001.
In 2003, and following an agreement signed in 1998 with the Volkswagen firm, who was then the owner of the brand Rolls Royce, it took control of the manufacturing rights for English vehicles. Thus the current production scheme of the German group was closed.
Ten cars, ten innovations
The exhibition at hand consists of ten cars, Although they may be scarce, they are very well chosen and perfectly represent the evolution of the brand in the story we have just told you. The sample is illustrated by a series of photographs arranged chronologically in which they are reviewed the most important milestones in the 100 years of the history of the Munich brand.
The units listed below (except for the three vehicles in the current range) are donated by private collectors and are in excellent condition.
♣ BMW 326 Convertible (1936 - 1941), 6 cylinders in line, 1971cc and 50cv. Convertible version of the successful 326 saloon. An example of the brand's good work in the time before the 2nd World War.
♣ Bmw 327 coupe (1937 - 1941), 6 cylinders in line, 1971cc and 55cv. Derived from the 326 but with a more sporty character. After the war, production continued in the German zone occupied by the Soviet Union, far from the control of the parent factory in Munich, so they are not considered authentic BMWs.
♣ BMW Isetta (1955 - 1962), 1 cylinder, 300cc and 13cv. As we have said before, it is the vehicle that allowed BMW to survive. Its design was the same as the Italian Iso model, with the difference in the position of the lights, on the sides of the body instead of the wings of the front wheel arches. It had the engine of the 25cc and 250cc R300 motorcycle from the year 56.
♣ BMW 2002 Turbo E20 (1973 - 1974), 4 cylinders in line, 1990cc and 170hp. The E20 series was the shortened version of the Neue Klasse saloon and predecessor of the 3 series. The top of the line was the 2002 turbo, the first production model in Europe to be turbocharged. Very few units were produced that are currently highly sought after and valued.
♣ BMW M3 E30 (1986 - 1992), 4 cylinders in line, 2302cc and 200hp. The first example of the series 3 vitaminized by Motorsport, a true object of worship today. He obtained an important sporting record, both in rallies and on circuits.
♣ BMW Z8 E52 (2000 - 2004), V8, 4941cc and 400cv. This impressive roadster rose to fame before it went into production as the James Bond car used in the movie 'The World Is Never Enough', but despite its imposing looks and brutal engine inherited from the M5, it was a commercial failure. for its high price. Its avant-garde design with some nods to the past give it a line that only improves with age.
♣ BMW 220d F22 Grand Tourer (2015 - current), 4 cylinders in line, 1995cc and 190hp. With him came the new times. Model despised by purists and fans of the brand as it is a front-wheel drive minivan, the antithesis of what BMW has stood for up to now.
♣ BMW i8 (2015 - current), 4 cylinders in line, 1499cc and 231hp + 131hp electric motor. Vision of the brand of the hybrid sports car of the future, endowed with a lot of power starting from a small thermal propeller with generous supercharging, and aided by electric motors.
♣ BMW 730d G11 (2016 - current), 6 cylinders in line, 2993cc and 265cv. The new representative of the 7 series is loaded with the latest technology, it is the first model of the firm that has autonomous driving capacity, science fiction for minds like the one who subscribes these lines.
♣ Mini Cooper (1991 - 2001), 4 cylinders in line, 1275cc and 61cv. Last representative of the stage of the mythical Mini known as classic. With injection engine and manufactured by Rover, although its owner was BMW since 1994.
