Otto Explains — Iconic Cars
10 Iconic Cars From BMW
Short Answer
Otto’s ten iconic BMWs are the 328, Isetta, 507, 3.0 CSL, first M5, first M3, Z1, 850i, Z8 and i8. They run from 1936 to 2013, and each was chosen because it is remembered for one specific thing, such as racing success, design, a technical first or an engineering signature. BMW publishes no official list, so the selection is Otto’s own.
How did Otto choose these ten BMWs?
BMW publishes no official list of its most iconic cars, so this selection is Otto’s own. Each car had to be remembered for something specific that BMW’s own records document: success in motor sport, its design, a technical first or an engineering signature. The ten run from 1936 to 2013 and include a microcar, roadsters, coupés and saloons, listed in date order rather than ranked. Cars whose main importance is that they changed BMW as a company are covered in Otto’s article on BMW’s legendary cars, and the company’s story is told in the history of BMW.
Why is the BMW 328 (1936–1940) remembered?
The 328 was the car that, as a series vehicle, dominated the two-litre class in motor sport in the late 1930s. Its 1,971 cc six-cylinder engine gained a new aluminium-alloy cylinder head, giving 80 PS in road form and up to 130 hp in racing versions. It was built from 1936 to 1940.
What made the BMW Isetta (1955–1962) special?
The Isetta was a bubble car developed by Iso of Milan and built under licence by BMW from 1955, with a 250 cc BMW motorcycle engine of 12 bhp. Its door came as one unit with the steering wheel and dashboard. BMW built 161,728 before production ended in 1962.
Why is the BMW 507 (1956–1959) so admired?
The 507 was a two-seat roadster based on the 502 saloon. On the advice of BMW’s American importer, its design went to Albrecht Graf Görtz in New York, and the result was nicknamed the ‘Dream of the Isar’, after the river that runs through Munich. It had a 3,168 cc V8 of 150 bhp and was built from December 1956 to December 1959. How a V8 differs from an inline engine is explained in engine designs explained.
What was the BMW 3.0 CSL (1973–1975)?
The CSL was the lightweight version of BMW’s E9 coupé; the letters stand for Coupé Sport Leichtbau. Its final version, on sale from July 1973, had a 3,153 cc six-cylinder (M30B32) with electronic injection and 206 bhp, and an aerodynamic package that earned it the nickname ‘Batmobile’. Only 169 of this version were built, until October 1975.
What was the first BMW M5 (1984–1988)?
The first M5 (E28) was a 5 Series saloon with a modified version of the M1’s engine (M88/3): a 3.5-litre six-cylinder with four valves per cylinder and 286 hp. It reached 245 km/h while looking almost like a standard 5 Series, which earned it the name ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’. It was built from October 1984 to June 1988.
Why is the first BMW M3 (1986–1990) so famous?
The M3 (E30) was shown at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show as a sports car based on the 3 Series. Its 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine (S14B23), with four valves per cylinder, gave 200 hp, or 195 hp with a catalytic converter from 1987, rising to 215 hp from September 1989. Built from September 1986 to December 1990, it attracted more than 17,000 buyers.
What was unusual about the BMW Z1 (1988–1991)?
The Z1 was a roadster with a 2,494 cc six-cylinder of 170 bhp mounted as a front mid-engine, a galvanised monocoque with a plastic outer skin, and retractable doors that could stay open even while the car was moving. It was built from 1988 to 1991.
Why is the BMW 850i (1989–1994) remembered?
The 850i was the first model of the 8 Series (E31), on sale from 1989 with a 4,988 cc V12 of 300 bhp. It was renamed 850Ci in 1992, and more than 20,000 had been built by 1994.
What made the BMW Z8 (1999–2003) stand out?
The Z8 combined a 400 bhp V8 from BMW M GmbH (S62B50) with a chassis and body made primarily of aluminium. It was built from 1999 to 2003.
Why is the BMW i8 on the list?
Presented in September 2013, the i8 was the BMW Group’s first plug-in hybrid. A 1.5-litre three-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine drove the rear wheels and a 96 kW (131 hp) electric motor drove the front wheels, for a system output of 266 kW (362 hp). It had a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell and doors that open upwards. Plug-in hybrids are explained in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric cars.
Common Questions
- Does BMW have an official list of its most iconic cars? No. BMW publishes no such list, so Otto’s ten are a selection based on what each car is remembered for and on BMW’s own records of it. Other choices are possible; these ten cover the widest spread of eras and ideas.
- Which BMW was nicknamed the ‘Batmobile’? The final BMW 3.0 CSL, on sale from July 1973, named for its aerodynamic package. Only 169 of that 206 bhp version were built.
- Which iconic BMW used a motorcycle engine? The Isetta. BMW built it under licence from 1955 with a 250 cc BMW motorcycle engine of 12 bhp.
- Why was the first M5 called a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’? Because it looked almost like a standard 5 Series while its 286 hp six-cylinder took it to 245 km/h.