Classic#heart

BODY AND SOUL. THE ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH, 1938.

The market for luxury cars has always been small (as well as perfectly formed, of course). But, as the 1930s got into their stride, the niche manufacturers in these rarefied climes were forced to engage with the same forces of progress as their larger industry-mates. Bespoke handcrafted models were being faced down by modern, volume-produced adversaries, and only by embracing change could they rise to the challenge. Cue the Rolls-Royce Wraith of 1938, which heralded a raft of striking new features designed to bring it into line with the zeitgeist. The Wraith celebrates its 80th birthday in 2018. » read more

POWER TO THE CITY. THE BMW MOTORCYCLE PLANT IN BERLIN.

The entry-level G 310 R/GS apart, all BMW motorcycles for the European and North American market are now built in Berlin-Spandau. However, twas not ever thus. The plant started out as home to an aero engine manufacturing firm, which acquired BMW in 1939 and merged the company with its own operation. From its humble new beginnings after the Second World War, a thriving motorcycle manufactory duly emerged. The first motorcycle assembled in Berlin was the BMW R 60/2. That was in 1966 and marked the beginning of an incredible run of success which has seen the Berlin facility become the world’s most advanced motorcycle production plant. » read more

WHEELS & WEISSWÜRSCHT. A CLASSIC VEHICLE GET-TOGETHER AT BMW GROUP CLASSIC.

BMW Group Classic is inviting all owners of beautiful classic vehicles to regular “Wheels & Weißwürscht” get-togethers at its Munich base on Moosacher Straße in 2018. As the name suggests, Weißwürscht (a traditional Bavarian sausage) will be laid on, accompanied by a smattering of pretzel. The second of these easy-going meetings took place under blue skies on 19 May – and the large car park was soon full to bursting. Reams of smiling faces indicated that a good time was had by all, the opportunity to broaden their classic education greedily consumed. » read more

BELOW 10 AT LAST. HUBERT HAHNE’S NÜRBURGRING LAP RECORD, 1966.

In 1966 Hubert Hahne became the first person to dip below the magical ten-minute barrier for a lap of the Nürburgring. And he did it in a touring car which, to the naked eye, differed barely at all from the standard production models the man in the street was driving to work and heading out in for a Sunday morning spin. It was hard to think of a more effective demonstration of technical progress in automotive design. Sports sedans like the BMW 1800 TI and BMW 2000 TI duly came to encapsulate new dawns, the sense of speed and a fresh attitude to life. » read more

A TURBO THAT GIVES YOU WINGS.

BMW had worked hard to chisel out a sporting image for itself, and come 1972 it was time to showcase what it could do: Off came the covers of a genuine dream machine. The BMW Turbo was a study car as spectacular as it was sophisticated, its futuristic technology cloaked in a design of breathtaking impact. Boasting eye-catching gullwing doors, new foam-filled bumpers, advanced safety technology and a punchy turbocharged engine, the BMW Turbo opened a window into the automotive future. » read more

CALIFORNIA DREAMING. THE BMW SCENE ON THE WEST COAST OF THE USA.

The sprawling megacity of Los Angeles on the west coast of the USA hugs the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the hearts of petrolheads with equal closeness. No surprise, then, that LA is home to a mammoth community of historic car fans – or that classic BMWs are well represented. The SoCal Vintage BMW Meet celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2017 with the biggest event yet. More than 400 classic BMWs lined up to catch the eye of the assembled galleries. » read more

FUN IN THE SUN. THE MINI MEET 2017 IN THE USA.

The annual get-together of the Mini Owners of America club is held at a different venue every year. In 2017, the Californian sun smiled down on Santa Rosa, the surrounding vineyards – and the hordes of classic Minis. » read more

CONTROL TO ISAR 12.

Sedans have a long history of service in the German police force. But it’s hard to think of one with a showbiz presence to match that of the BMW 501. The star of TV cop series “Isar 12”, the Baroque Angel (as it was popularly known) made automotive and television history. The car was more than just part of the scenery, it was one of the main characters. In its forest green police livery, it now finds itself centre-stage at classic car events. » read more

DESTINED FOR ONE ANOTHER – DENNIS CHRISTIANSEN AND HIS 2002.

Anyone who falls for a BMW 02 before they’ve even started school is destined to own one. At the age of 16, Dennis Christiansen stumbled upon his red 2002 while searching for spare parts for a BMW 1502. Despite being too young to have a driving licence, he was now the proud owner of not one but two classic BMWs. » read more

JUST DESERTS. THE “5EVER” BMW TEAM FINISH THE ALLGÄU-ORIENT RALLY 2017 IN 2ND PLACE.

Everyone knew it would be hard. 6,000 kilometres over minor roads and on a tight schedule was only ever going to be a tough ask for man and machine. The Allgäu-Orient Rally 2017 is one of the world’s longest endurance rallies and only cars at least 20 years old are eligible to take part. Team 5ever – supported by BMW Group Classic all the way – lined up for the event with a triumvirate of E34 BMW 520i Tourings and fought their way valiantly across Turkey and Israel to the finish line in Jordan. Second place was their reward. » read more

MISSION: CAMEL. THE ALLGÄU-ORIENT RALLY 2017 IS UNDERWAY.

After a wet night spent in a car or tent in downtown Oberstaufen, it was finally time to roll off the starting ramp. Ahead of Team 5ever and their fellow Allgäu-Orient rallyers lie 6,000 kilometres over minor roads – through the picturesque Allgäu region of southern Germany and far beyond – and a series of special challenges. BMW Group Classic will be behind them all the way (in spirit, at least). » read more

SHOCK AND AWE AT THE RACE TRACK.

The BMW Junior Team wrote a new chapter into motor sport history back in 1977. The newly formed set-up presented three largely unheralded youngsters with a unique opportunity to show off their talent. The youthful vigour with which they rose to the challenge put the cat among the pigeons in touring car racing. » read more

COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH GRADUATES FROM A MECHANIC’S COURSE.

Many things can go wrong over the course of an endurance event like the Allgäu-Orient Rally 2017, especially when the route branches off onto small, bumpy roads. At times like these, it pays to be able to get yourself out of a muddle or two. Cue an invitation from BMW Group Classic to the teams involved for a crash course in car mechanics. » read more

RUNNING IN THE FAMILY.

It’s not every day you find a young intern spending quality time with a 30-year-old BMW 7 Series, even if it has aged rather well. You might well suspect family ties at play; in this case a love of all things BMW extends back over three generations – with no end to the love affair in sight. And why should there be? As we all know, the influence of our family runs deep. » read more

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

We would like to wish all friends and fans of BMW Group Classic a merry Christmas and drift-happy new year. Every classic BMW has its own unmistakeable character – see for yourself. » read more

A SMALL BUT SHINING LIGHT.

What a triumph it would have been, a third overall victory in succession at the Monte Carlo Rally. So near and yet so far: the classic Minis topped the time sheets, only to be later disqualified. » read more

THE COMEBACK KING.

Show car, racing car, pleasure cruiser, bearer of eight shades of paint from white to black, and latterly little more than a donor of parts to a healthier sibling; the BMW 507 once driven in Germany by the King of Rock ’n’ Roll has experienced some scarcely believable ups and downs in its time. And now, restored by BMW Group Classic with meticulous precision, it has come to the finely feathered fairways of Pebble Beach to reflect on a life less ordinary. » read more

ZIGGY’S STARDUST ON WHEELS.

Ziggy Stardust, alias David Bowie, is no more. As well as his wondrous music and stage shows, the multi-talented star also created a classic Mini, entirely to his own design. He covered the whole of the sporty little number in gleaming chrome, even the windows, so that the world could admire its reflection. » read more

THE JOY OF SIX.

The best of both worlds: The body of the original 5 Series joins forces with the engine from the BMW 2500. » read more

THE ALPINE EXPRESS.

If you’re driving a BMW M Coupe, it’s generally not where you’re going that counts, but the pleasure of the journey there. However, when your destination is the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este on the banks of Lake Como – where drawing up and stepping out is a lot of fun in itself – that changes things a little. Our trip took us on a historic route over the San Bernardino Pass. » read more

AN AUTOBAHN BLAST WITH ELVIS.

Hands up who remembers the old Gus Backus hit “Da sprach der alte Häuptling” (“Said The Old Indian Chief”) from the 1960s? In early December 2015, the “Schlagermusik” singer dropped by in person at the BMW Museum’s “Family Affairs” exhibition to revive old memories of two enduring icons: the BMW 507 and Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Back in 1958 Backus experienced the Bavarian roadster in all its glory – with the King himself at the wheel. » read more

THE BOILERMAKER.

Subline: A sports car and touring saloon in one – the BMW 2002 ti from Alpina was the perfect driver’s car and had no competition. » read more

SPORTING HERO.

Simply incredible! The legendary 02 Series is turning fifty. And it is celebrating it in style at the Techno Classica. There’s absolutely nothing old about it though. It is still tremendous fun, just as it always was. It was the benchmark of its class. A dream, but an affordable one. We wish it a very happy birthday and bow down in awe. » read more

THE FEELING BEHIND THE MACHINES.

The passion for an historic BMW motorcycle is something shared by people around the world. However, different experiences, memories and emotions lie behind this bond between owners and their bikes. » read more

60 YEARS OF PURE TEMPTATION.

The BMW 507 is regarded the world over as one of the most handsome sports cars of the 1950s, if not one of the most beautiful automobiles – of any kind – ever built. Its unveiling at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in September 1955 was greeted by a gushing press as a “BMW sensation” and the “dream car from the Isar” (the river that flows through Munich). Today, 60 years on from that debut appearance, the BMW 507 has lost none of its allure. Quite the contrary, in fact, since admiration for this sculpture on wheels continues to swell. And that’s reason enough for the BMW Museum to honour the 507 with a special exhibition. » read more

SOME WERE FAST, OTHERS WERE VERY FAST. AND THEN THERE WAS WILHELM NOLL.

Wilhelm Noll may be far from a household name in the modern era, but back in his racing heyday he was one of motor sport’s headline-makers-in-chief. Noll was determined to achieve great things and he knew he had a special talent to back up the iron will. The German was a brilliant motorcycle sidecar combination rider. And his good friend Fritz Cron provided the necessary balance with almost acrobatic dexterity. » read more

APRIL 2015. IT’S TECHNO CLASSICA TIME AGAIN.

For 190,000 visitors, the long wait for the world’s biggest classics fair came to an end on 06.04.2015. Unlike all the other motor shows, Techno Classica is never about presenting the latest models and innovations but about the passion and fascination for the automotive past. » read more

THREE CHEERS. 40 YEARS OF THE BMW 3 SERIES.

The world has changed radically over the last 40 years: walls have fallen, borders have disappeared and new technology has revolutionised our existence in ways we could not have imagined in our wildest dreams. Personal computers, the internet, mobile communications – all these have become indispensable not only in our everyday lives, but in our cars as well. » read more

TRUE BELIEVER.

Three BMWs sit outside his front door, all of which he’s owned almost his entire adult life, but Peter Strakerjahn staunchly refuses to be separated from any of them. He has owned the Isetta for 51 years, the BMW 2002 for 40 years and the BMW 528 for a no less impressive 30 years. Now 85, Peter Strakerjahn clearly has a soft spot for the brand with the blue and white logo. » read more

HEART TO HEART.

BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce. The three brands could hardly be more different, yet don’t think for a moment they have nothing in common. Their cars are all expressions of individuality on wheels, of a personal lifestyle. All three boast a cult following and have spawned one story after another, which we will be recounting here on a regular basis – patchy in detail and with no claim to completeness perhaps, but all from the heart. Let’s get things started with the legendary BMW M5. » read more