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The perfect BMWs show that design may be as thrilling as acceleration. From postwar roadsters that stole hearts on the Frankfurt Motor Present to futuristic hybrids that resemble spacecraft beamed down from Mars, these 12 vehicles exhibit that in relation to BMW, model usually drives the narrative.
Every mannequin on this listing turned heads on journal covers, impressed trend tendencies, and even shared the silver display with Hollywood icons. Buckle up for a spirited tour via six many years of aesthetic triumphs, punctuated by rock ’n’ roll lore, racing glory, and a wholesome dose of automotive swagger.
1. BMW 507 Roadster (1956–1959)
Launched in Could 1956, the 507 was BMW’s reply to Europe’s grand touring elite and have become an instantaneous icon with simply 252 items constructed. Its hand-formed aluminum physique, designed by Albrecht von Goertz, earned it the title “most lovely automobile on this planet” and landed Elvis Presley amongst its proud homeowners. With a 3.2-liter V8 beneath the hood, it provided refined efficiency that felt extra like a velvet glove than an iron fist.
In the present day, the 507’s curve-perfect fenders and concave kidney grille make it the centerpiece of any vintage-car rally. This roadster stays a testomony to postwar optimism and bespoke craftsmanship that also conjures up coachbuilders right now.
2. BMW 503 Cabriolet (1956–1959)
Launched alongside the 507, the 503 Cabriolet centered on grand touring magnificence, with solely 139 cabriolets constructed out of a complete of 413 503s. Its electro-hydraulic tender high and sculpted chrome detailing made it a favourite amongst European jet-setters and Hollywood stars alike. Powered by a 3.2-liter V8 producing round 140 horsepower, it cruised to 118 miles per hour with easy grace.
Every instance feels extra like a rolling sculpture than a automobile, mixing Artwork Deco aptitude with German engineering. Spot one at a concours d’magnificence and also you’ll swear you’ve stepped right into a black-and-white film.
3. BMW 2002 Turbo (1973–1975)
When BMW launched the 2002 Turbo in 1973, it shocked the world as the primary German manufacturing automobile with a turbocharger. Its flared wheel arches, crimson pinstriping, and daring “Turbolook” graphics made it a street-art assertion lengthy earlier than that was a factor. The 170-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder fired off surprises at each nook, however fans usually recall how its styling outshone uncooked numbers.
With simply 1,672 examples produced, the 2002 Turbo stays a cult traditional and a poster little one for Nineteen Seventies efficiency stylish. Drive one right now and also you’ll really feel the identical rebellious spirit that fueled youth tradition within the period of disco and bell-bottoms.
4. BMW 5 Collection E12 (1972–1981)
BMW’s first midsize luxurious sedan, the E12, redefined government transport with Paul Bracq’s shark-nose design and subtly flared wheel wells. Early fashions featured environment friendly four-cylinder engines, earlier than six-cylinder variations broadened their attraction to driving fans.
Its balanced proportions and poised stance drew reward in Automobile and Driver for mixing sportiness with boardroom polish. Boomers bear in mind household street journeys the place the E12 felt extra like a sporty companion than a chauffeur-driven limousine. In the present day, it stands as proof that even a four-door sedan can have the soul of a sports activities automobile.
5. BMW 3.0 CSL (1972–1975)
Nicknamed the “Batmobile” for its hovering rear wing and aerodynamic bumpers, the three.0 CSL was BMW’s homologation masterpiece. Simply 1,265 items had been constructed to qualify for European touring-car racing, the place it dominated and cemented its legend. Its light-weight aluminum panels and aero package turned heads on each the observe and the showroom ground.
With 206 to 220 horsepower from its inline-six, it proved that racing-inspired styling might be as potent as engine output. Show one at a concours and watch fans marvel at how type and performance fuse into pure motorsport aptitude.
6. BMW M1 (1979–1981)
BMW’s first and solely mid-engine manufacturing automobile, the M1, arrived in January 1979 with a futuristic, wedge-shaped silhouette by Italdesign’s Giorgetto Giugiaro. Restricted to 453 complete autos, it blended Italian styling finesse with German precision and 273 horsepower from its straight-six engine.
The M1 starred within the Procar collection alongside Method 1 drivers, making it a racetrack superstar lengthy earlier than hypercars took middle stage. Its pop-up headlights and race-inspired decals cement its place as an ’80s design legend. Proudly owning an M1 nonetheless looks like holding a slice of automotive science fiction in your storage.
7. BMW M3 (E30) (1986–1991)
The unique E30 M3 remodeled a humble 3 Collection right into a touring-car titan with aggressive flared fenders and iconic M-striped badges. Its high-revving S14 four-cylinder pumped out about 192 horsepower in US trim whereas European fashions reached almost 200. Drivers appreciated the cosy cockpit, which felt extra like sitting in a efficiency kart than a luxurious sedan.
In the present day, the E30 M3 is without doubt one of the quickest appreciating fashionable classics, a tribute to BMW’s racing heritage that also thrills on canyon roads and weekend meets. Spot one at a automobile present, and also you’ll witness the devotion of followers who deal with each curve like a victory lap.
8. BMW Z8 (2000–2003)
When the Z8 debuted on the 1999 Tokyo Motor Present, its retro-inspired curves and aluminum space-frame shocked journalists worldwide. Styled as a contemporary homage to the 507, it carried a 4.9-liter V8 from the E39 M5, delivering 400 horsepower and supercar tempo.
Its cinematic second arrived in James Bond’s The World Is Not Sufficient, the place Pierce Brosnan drifted via metropolis streets in midnight blue glory. With simply 5,703 constructed, the Z8 looks like a uncommon gem from the daybreak of the brand new millennium. Its clear-lens indicators and minimalist inside nonetheless look contemporary right now.
9. BMW 7 Collection E65 (2001–2008)
Chris Bangle’s “flame surfacing” design on the E65 polarised critics with its daring hips and swept profile, however nobody denied its presence on the street. Launched in 2001 with BMW’s iDrive infotainment, it felt like an idea automobile turn out to be actuality—full with break up headlights that sparked countless debate.
Underneath that daring pores and skin lay flagship consolation, from therapeutic massage seats to high-end audio that made lengthy journeys really feel like first-class flights. In the present day, the E65 earns respect as one in all BMW’s most adventurous designs, a reminder that luxurious can leap ahead when designers dare to dream. Driving one nonetheless looks like piloting a yacht on asphalt.
10. BMW 6 Collection Convertible (E64) (2004–2010)
Arriving in 2004, the E64 6 Collection Convertible married modern coupe proportions with the enjoyment of open-air touring. Its taut shoulders, sweeping character traces, and soft-close doorways added runway drama each time you approached. Out there V8 engines delivered ample thrust, but it surely was the roof-down glamour that captured headlines and hearts.
Reviewers praised its cabin, likening it to a lounge on wheels, full with ambient lighting and heated seats for crisp evenings. This droptop stays a standout for individuals who consider model ought to shine as brightly as engine output.
11. BMW 1 Collection M Coupe (2011)
In 2011, BMW shocked fans with the pint-sized 1 Collection M, restricted to only over 6,000 items worldwide, with solely 740 items out there for the US market. Its chiseled, flared arches and quad-exhaust suggestions telegraph efficiency earlier than you even flip the important thing. Beneath the hood sat a 335-horsepower twin-turbo inline-six and a handbook gearbox that delivered pure driving engagement.
In the present day, it’s revered because the little M marvel that outshone bigger siblings in driver attraction and resale worth. Discovering one nonetheless looks like uncovering a hidden treasure amongst fashionable supercars.
12. BMW i8 Roadster (2018–2020)
When the i8 Roadster arrived in 2018, it regarded as if it had landed from one other planet with butterfly doorways and carbon-fiber physique panels. This plug-in hybrid mixed electric-only EV mode for metropolis cruising with a turbo-charged three-cylinder engine for freeway bursts, however its design stole the present. Fewer than 2,800 examples rolled off the road, every emphasizing sustainability wrapped in sci-fi drama.
Its hexagonal laser headlights and floating grille paid homage to BMW’s signature cues whereas pointing squarely towards tomorrow. Sliding behind the tinted cover nonetheless looks like stepping right into a cinematic imaginative and prescient of the longer term.
Bringing Type Full Circle
Throughout six many years, these 12 BMWs redefined what a automobile may seem like earlier than ever firing a cylinder. From coachbuilt classics to eco-chic hybrids, every mannequin proved that design could be a efficiency assertion unto itself.
Whether or not you cherish the nostalgic roar of a classic V8 or the modern hum of a plug-in future, these vehicles remind us that nice model by no means goes out of vogue. Subsequent time you catch a glimpse of a kidney grille in your rearview, salute the legacy of form-first aptitude that BMW has pushed into historical past.
