Techno Classica in Essen, Germany is billed as the world’s largest specialist exhibition of classic cars and motorcycles. Given that BMW is 100 years old next year and it has a division dedicated to preserving its heritage—BMW Group Classic—it’s no wonder the company will have a large presence at Techno Classica 2015, which starts this week.
For new BMW enthusiasts interested in what came before, to older fans who may have owned what came before, BMW will present an opportunity to view some of the “young classics"—models that are between 25 and 40 years old.
From April 15 to 19, 2015, Hall #12 at Techno Classica belongs to BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce. Elsewhere on the grounds, 1,250 exhibitors will display their vehicles and products in 20 halls as well as open-air spaces.
The 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s saw BMW introduce models that laid the foundation for most of the series and models we enjoy today. Many of these classics now are sought after by collectors and performance enthusiasts because of their innovation, great looks, still relavent performance, and of course, rising value. BMW Group Classic will present some of these ground breakers at Techno Classica.
For example, classic, sporty, and elegant coupes will be represented by the BMW 6 Series and the BMW 8 Series. The 6 Series, designed by Paul Bracq, took over from the CS models and had a fourteen-year production run—the longest of any BMW. In 1989, the last year of the 6 Series, BMW introduced the revolutionary 8 Series, topped by the twelve-cylinder 850i.
Also produced in 1989 was the BMW Z1, the first of the Z cars and the first BMW roadster since the BMW 507. The Z1 was even more innovative, with a hot-dip galvanized steel monocoque, plastic body panels, and vertically sliding doors.
The third generation 5 Series, built from 1988 to 1996, included features such as folding rear seat backrests, an onboard computer with fault memory, Automatic Stability Control (ASC), an electronically controlled injection system for all engines and, from 1990, four-valve technology for the six-cylinder in-line mills. In 1991 a Touring version and electronically controlled all-wheel drive were available for the first time on the 5 Series. What seems ordinary to us today was innovative back then, and that’s why these older BMWs are classics.
These four classics—the E24 6 Series, 8 Series, Z1, and E34 5 Series had something else in common. Each had an example—two for the 5 and 6—turned into BMW art cars.
Fans of BMW Motorsports and M cars will have things to see at Techno Classica as well. Thirty years ago BMW unveiled the homologated production version of the original BMW M3. It’s racing heritage started with Roberto Ravaglia’s World Touring Car Championship in 1987, and served as the inspiration for BMW racing success ever since, such as Marco Wittmann’s title in a BMW M4 in the 2014 DTM touring car series. At Techno Classica 2015, BMW will present three generations of racing M3s, along with some older inspirations that ran the original and modern Mille Miglias: the BMW 328 Touring Coupe and the BMW 507.
BMW never forgets that it built motorcycles before it made cars. Seventy-five years ago Georg Meier became the first rider from outside Great Britain to win the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, and he did it on a supercharged BMW motorcycle. Last year, Michael Dunlop rode a BMW S 1000 RR to victory on the island to mark the anniversary. Dunlop’s winning bike will be on display in Essen, as will the motorcycle sidecar with which Wilhelm Noll raised the world speed record in the motorcycle sidecar class to 174 mph 60 years ago.
Mini may not have been around as long as BMW and Rolls-Royce, but it has worked just as hard to establish a tradition of classic, sporty, and fun cars. BMW Group Classic has teamed up with the classic Mini club scene to present an selection of historic Minis that reflect the multifaceted character of the distinctive British car. A Mini Pick-up, a soft-top version of the classic Mini, and the open-at-all-sides Mini Moke will be on stage, joined by Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf variants.
Rolls-Royce will display two cars that epitomize its extraordinary history of elegance and reliability. The Rolls-Royce Phantom—originally called the New Phantom since it came eighteen years after the original Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost—has inspired five subsequent generations. Visitors to Techno Classica 2015 can enjoy a 1930s-era Phantom II Continental with Fixed Head Coupé body by Gurney Nutting, complete with separate rear-mounted luggage trunk, and then compare it to a current generation Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Those of us not fortunate enough to make the trip to Essen will have to live vicariously through online reports, videos, and blogs. Although, since many of the BMW presentations will display “young classics,” some of us will be able to put on our own classic BMW displays just by going out to our garages.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
