BMW 1602e

I was under the naive impression that BMW’s involvement in electric cars was a more recent thing, say the last 20 years or so, but after watching a recent video (see below) I was amazed to find out it first produced one in 1972. Not only that but it had a role in the Olympics of the same year!!!!

Morgan Plus 8 Speedster

This is the pinnacle of what a sports car should be, 40’s two seater styling which is handmade combined with modern running gear all built around a bonded aluminium chassis. Throw into the mix that it will be limited to a run of only 60 examples and its damn near perfect. 

BMW 8 Series (E31) Convertible

The original BMW 8 Series was Bavarian maker’s supercar of the 1990’s, full of tech, luxury and of cause speed (well limited to 155mph). However a year after it first wow’d the crowds, BMW did it again in 1990 with a convertible version. Only 3 were built for assessment and all are still owned by BMW. The one in the video is on display at BMW’s own museum.

Cumberford Martinique

So another “modern” take on the 30’s style sports car, these are usually base on something else )like a beetle) and are just a crude body sat on awkward running gear to only give kind of look. This though is different, very different.

BMW F76/79 “Cargo Donkey”

I know a 3 wheel BMW that isn’t a bubble car!!!!! Built between 1932 and 34, it was sold as a delivery vehicle. The F76 was fitted with a 192cc single cylinder 6bhp bike engine, this meant it fell under the 200cc limit meaning it was license free for use on the road. The F79 though had a 398cc engine with 12bhp but was a licensed vehicle. In total 600 trikes were built, 250 F76’s and 350 F79’s.

BMW i8

We don’t normally have new cars on here, usually due to any car that now goes into production, particularly from a major manufacturer, are styled for mass appeal and mass production. But every now and again something comes along that breaks the mould. The BMW i8 is one such car.

BMW Alpina 318i Kilometer Marathon Car

With the current trend in making cars as efficient as possible with figures of 60+mpg now getting to be the norm among new cars it’s hard to believe that over 30 years ago a BMW topped out at 88mpg. A competition was staged in 1981 by Auto Motor Sport and Shell for teams to go head to head for the most fuel efficient car over 1km. In total 120 team put cars forward, the most striking though was a BMW E21 318i tuner Alpina gave one hell of a nose job to.

BMW 328

When I saw this parked up in a line-up of Vintage cars at the recent Chatsworth House Country Show I just couldn’t take my eyes off it. It seemed out of place surrounded by pre 40’s cars with high waistlines and tall radiators. Its sleek ageless lines and sweeping streamlined low slung body whose design is credited to Peter Szymanowski, who became BMW chief of design after World War II, is just so beautiful to behold.

BMW E25 Turbo

Before the legendary, and personal favourite, M1 there was this concept built by BMW to celebrate the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, well actually both of them. Designed by Paul Bracq and built by Michelotti in Turin it had all the super car concept bells and whistles. Most importantly though weren’t those gullwing doors or even the wedge shape or the digital dash, but the newest toy on the block a huge Turbo bolted to the 2ltr, 4 cylinder M10 engine which was strapped mid ship. Producing 276bhp it was good for a top speed of 155mph.

BMW 600

I like the Isetta bubble car, I like its quirkiness, its barn door, the fact you have to carry two spare wheels as the fronts and the back have different offsets, it was good looking and so of its time. The one thing it was lacking though was two extra seats. BMW at the time wanted to expand their range to provide a economical four seat car and needed it on the cheap. The result was this elongated bubble car, with a bench rear seat and additional side door to get in the back!!!! It does remind me of the recent increase in size of the Fiat 500 to the 500L. Unlike the 500L it was well received thanks to its interior space, value and those modernising bumpers, they look they should be on something built in the 70’s rather than the 50’s.

BMW 700 LS Coupe

When I first saw this at the recent “Passion for Power” car show I was certain it was rare having never seen on and unusual after all it was a rear engine BMW. But I didn’t realise how rare. The 700 was in production from 1958 to replace the Isetta as a 4 door family economy car. Nearly 260,000 were built until 1965 when BMW moved into the more lucrative luxury saloon market. However in its last grasps of life and sat on an elongated chassis, a lightweight Coupe version was produced from 1964.  

BMW Nazca C2

Designed by Italdesign as a possible replacement for the M1 for BMW as well as get them back into the supercar business, they produced 3 prototypes/concepts between 1992-93. All fitted with a 5.7ltr V12 derived from the current 850 CSI with some tweaks that resulted in 350bhp with a top speed of 185mph this was no show queen. The first 2 built having a combination of gulwing  and normal doors, the last one though had a roof chop resulting in a stunning Spyder.

Martin/Mobility Conquest

This has to be a story of something good coming out of a tragedy, when Alan Martin’s son was involved in an accident that resulted in his disability Alan developed this trike suitable for disabled riders. The worked up prototype trike pictured below (which is currently on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester) utilises a BMW 850cc engine and front end. The concept was simple allow the rider to ride the trike from their wheelchair. The rear drops down to a ramo remotely and the wheelchair locks into place and off you go.

Ascari Ecosse

Would you like a pre Noble Noble???? Then this rare beast is for you. Built by British manufaturer Ascari Cars between 1998-99. In all only 17 of this V8 BMW mid-engined car were produced. Designed by Lee Noble (who would go on to open his own supercar building company Noble in 1999) and based on the company’s previous car the FGT, this has all the hall marks of a great car. Over its short life the car was produced with both the 4.4ltr and 4.7ltr power plants with the latter having 400bhp on tap.

BMW C1

Seeing a market for a scooter that would get commuters in congested cities out of their cars BMW came up with the C1. From the outset safety was paramount with the bike being crash tested and fairing as well as many contemporary small city cars. The inclusion of ABS, seat belt and side protection bars meant that in many countries (Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Israel and Spain) exceptions for the need to wear a helmet were made specifically for the C1.

BMW Columbus

Another concept, this time from BMW (ItalDesign) from back in 1992 to commemorate the 500 since the discovery of America. The idea was a mix of people carrier with flexibility of a camper van but the performance and luxury of a sports car. This came from the 300bhp V12!!! I must say I like the central driving position and it looks like it could comfortable seat 7, an ideal candidate for a modern luxury limo or taxi if you ask me.

BMW Z1

It was an episode of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson was testing the latest BMW coupe, the Z1. In his then more restrained style he went though the usual characteristics and numbers but the part I remember most was the doors. No standard, suicide or gullwing ones here, no they sank down into the sill, awesome.

BMW M1

I remember when I was at Primary school, about 10 years of age, looking through some car books in the library when I turned to a page containing a picture. A picture of a car racing in full red, white and blue livery. It was like nothing else I’d ever seen before, sleek, fast and sporty (I was 10) and written below it, BMW M1.

Since that day I have always had a soft spot for this supercar. A car that didn’t have the racing impact it was built for. It was the first car built by BMW Motorsports division and still the only mass produced mid engine car BMW have ever built. Originally meant to be developed and built by Lamborghini, Lamborghinis financial situation meant production was moved to Baur. Homologation problems in the development and move of production base meant that the number of road going versions required for it to race were not met, by the time they were and following a move to Procar (due to a change in the rules) meant the car was no longer competitive even though the race version, fitted with BMW's legendary straight 6, with up to 850bhp. Its badluck resulted in a short production life, running from 1979 to 1981. The road going version producing 277bhp only managed to number 450 examples. Its just a shame its look didn’t influence more of the BMW range further that the front engined 850 produced through the 1990’s.















For more information-

http://www.usautoparts.net/bmw/models/vintage/m1.htm