Traveling to Munich, Germany will take you straight to the BMW Museum and its impressive product lineup of vehicles and archetypal vehicles from the automakers illustrious past. Instead of just showcasing occasional number-one-off models or prototype concepts, the museum’s curated exhibit helps visitors trace the path of BMW’s technological progression and success within the realm of racing sport and design excellence. Entering the museum offers us an insight into how they have evolved from humble beginnings to become one of the most recognizable brands in automotive history.

Since its post-First World War shift from aircraft and bike to auto and bike making, lightweight engineering, success in racing and customers’ evolving tastes have been key to BMW’s story. The cars kept within the iconic shape of the museum’s architectural bowl visually chronicle that journey. The collection of 10 historical treasures chart the change from tiny 18bhp roadster to high-performance racers and iconic supercars, each individual piece of the story illuminating BMW’s tradition of engineering boldness and a taste for racing that would underpin its character to this day.

1. 3/15 DA-3 (1930)

The 3/15 DA-3 is also one of BMW’s earliest and significant steps into the automobile world. BMW launched into the car building trade with the Dixi, which it used as its first roadster too, and the 3/15 DA-3 did not arrive until 1930 under official Austin 7 license. Its mechanical specification sounds puny compared with BMWs later foray into high performance motoring, but the light weight construction of this tiny roadster gave it a surprisingly lively character, the tiny hood concealing an 18 bhp, 738cc four cylinder engine and the entire car weighing in at just 902 lbs.

3/15 DA-3 Key Points:

• BMW’s first roadster
• Introduced in 1930
• 738cc four-cylinder engine
• Produced 18 horsepower
• Only 150 examples built

The manufacturing run of just 150 means that this 3/15 DA-3 is a very rare part of the story of BMW although the model doesn’t feature prominently in the early years of the collection. And its tale has an interesting link to BMW’s corporate future the company would, after all, one day own Austin’s successor company, Rover, and that makes the little roadster more than just an early car. The 3/15 DA-3 exemplifies how much BMW’s car division still had to go to earn its reputation for producing high performance automobiles. Its tiny engine, minuscule weight, and license origins stand in stark contrast to the racing and luxury cars that would come later. Nonetheless, this unassuming roadster laid the groundwork for BMW’s future in the automotive industry and is a useful vestige of BMW’s earliest years.

2. 328 (1936)

THE 328 BMW’s most spectacular step forward since it licensed the production of the Austin car was one of the sportiest and most important early automobiles in the Museum. In the course of a few short years BMW had advanced from the Austin-based little cars to high-performance racing machines that attracted worldwide attention. The 328 was the BMW of this engineering era with its delicate and light construction, new chassis concept, and powerful straight-six engine. Its 2.0-liter engine, equipped with such developments as advanced hydraulic brakes, gave the sports car performance that was extraordinary for the period.

328 Key Points:

• Introduced in 1936
• 2.0-liter straight-six engine
• Advanced hydraulic brakes
• Lightweight sports car design
• Successful European racing record

When it was built, the 328 immediately attracted the attention of the racing world. Its high power combined with a light weight structure and high-quality engineering, allowed it to be successful in major racing classes throughout Europe. It even managed to win in some of the most difficult races, such as the Mille Miglia, which placed great demands on the technical performance and resilience of the vehicles involved. Overall, however, it demonstrated the potential of BMW to compete in this increasingly competitive market through a focus on engineering effectiveness and lightweight agility. As a result, the 328 became an important indicator of the momentum which had developed at BMW during the 1930s.

3. 335 (1939)

The BMW 335 represented a further major milestone in the company’s history, for it was the first of the big luxury sedans. In marked contrast to the light sports persona of the 328, it was aimed at smooth, high speed driving on the improving European network of open roads. Its body, somewhat lighter than the norm for such large sedans, was mated to a 91 horsepower, 3.5-liter straight-six engine, providing the 335 with enough performance to cruise comfortably at some 90 miles per hour, yet still keep its character smooth and quiet.

335 Key Points:

• BMW’s first luxury sedan
• Introduced in 1939
• 3.5-liter straight-six engine
• Produced 91 horsepower
• Reached 90 mph

The 335 was arguably the first BMW sport-sedan, perfect for thrashing along at highway speeds on the German new Autobahn. The BMW’s new high-performance, comfortable sedan arrived during a period of transition for the automaker and was well suited for its time with an eye-catching road car that is extremely elegant and distinct. The relatively quiet and smooth-at-speed BMW 335 could outperform many domestic sedans while still providing a luxurious ride and feel. However, the BMW 335’s short production run was cut short by the outbreak of World War II, and BMW quickly discontinued the model after just 400 examples had been built, making the 335 a rare vehicle. 233 sedans were built while two-door and four-door convertibles were also produced.

4. Isetta (1955)

The BMW Isetta came to BMW at a very low point in the company’s history, but turned out to be an integral part of its preservation. The BMW Isetta, a bizarre little microcar, was initially designed by an Italian automaker known as Iso, and found its way to the BMW catalog in the mid-1950s when the Munich manufacturer was under intense economic strain. BMW was looking for something that could draw customers, sell consistently, and allow the company to hold on to jobs at its factories. The Isetta provided the very odd concept of an outlandish and affordable vehicle.

Isetta Key Points:

• Originally designed by Iso
• Joined BMW in 1955
• Tiny 250cc engine
• Produced 12 horsepower
• Famous bubble-car design

What was immediately apparent was the unusual size and door arrangement of the Isetta. The bodywork was distinctly wider at the front than at the rear and the door to enter the car was a large door at the front, which opened forward. Its 250cc, 12 horse powered engine was very different from the BMW’s that followed but the size of the Isetta and its uniqueness proved to be a real selling point at the time and became a profitable life line for BMW. It helped generate sales when BMW so badly needed them and ultimately, saved the company. Its importance is evident within the museum and proves that BMW’s success or failure did not have to revolve only around sleek, high powered sports cars and luxury sedans, but can sometimes be attributed to a single, tiny car.

5. 700 (1959)

The BMW 700 marked the company’s emergence from difficult financial times and also became another key model during BMW’s comeback era. As with the Isetta, BMW drew from its motorcycle engineering experience, with engineers modifying that knowledge by designing a rear-mounted variant of the R67 air-cooled flat-twin engine. That combination of a tiny size but more traditional automobile architecture led BMW to increase its entry-level offerings without sacrificing the brand’s identity.

700 Key Points:

• Introduced in 1959
• Rear-mounted flat-twin engine
• Offered as two-door sedan
• Available as two-door coupe
• Designed by Michelotti

BMW’s 700 range was rounded out by a practical two-door saloon, and an appealing two-door coupé which had a sharply raked roofline. The two body styles were both styled by Turin-based designer Michelotti and brought a sporty look to BMW’s tiny 700s, raising them above run-of-the-mill economy cars. BMW sold the 700 alongside its Isetta for around three years, meaning they had both ends of the lower market segment covered. Today, for reference, automotive historians liken the 700’s positioning in BMW’s line-up to today’s 1 Series: it was a small sporty car positioned above smaller mainstream vehicles, giving BMW its first true glimpse of how a small car could be both affordable and retain a distinctive character on the road. 

6. Neue Klasse (1962)

It is difficult to overestimate the significance of the Neue Klasse for BMW, as it was one of the most pivotal moments in the brand’s history. The Isetta and 700 had kept BMW afloat through a few difficult financial years, but the Neue Klasse is what finally put BMW on the path to consistent profitability. Their design language was far more modern, as were the chassis dynamics, and a characteristic formula developed that BMW is still known for today. Automotive historians have called the Neue Klasse BMW’s first true sports sedan.It wasn’t all about commercial success. The capabilities of the Neue Klasse soon became apparent on the racetrack as it competed throughout the 1960s against more modern, purpose-designed machines. 

Neue Klasse Key Points:

• Introduced in 1962
• Created modern BMW identity
• Dynamic chassis characteristics
• Restored sustained profitability
• Strong motorsport credentials

The family-focused sedan proved that affordable modern road-going machines could be more than just four wheels and carpet. Noted racing driver Hubert Hahne put the platform on the map when he recorded the first sub-10-minute lap of the Nurburgring Nordschleife in a lightly modified 2000 TI with wider steel wheels. That milestone helped to give the Neue Klasse an important motorsport credibility as well as a performance association that would carry through the entire BMW model range. It proved that the German marque could roll practicality, modern design, and chassis dynamics into one memorable whole.

7. 02 Series (1966)

The 02 Series was an evolution of the Neue Klasse’s success and engineering focus, adapted to a slightly smaller and more user-friendly formula. BMW launched the series publicly for the first time at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show, under the name 1600-2. The family eventually consisted of the 1502, 1802 and 2002, offered in both sedan, hatchback and convertible body styles. Its size and sporty personality made it one of BMW’s best-known product lineups of the period.

02 Series Key Points:

• Launched in 1966
• Debuted with 1600-2
• Expanded into multiple variants
• Established strong U.S. presence
• 2002 became iconic

The 02 Series quickly became a major success, commercially and in motorsport, for BMW. It brought the company into greater global renown and sealed a lasting place for BMW in the American market. For fans of the marque, the 02 has come to epitomize the 1960s BMW, with its relatively small size, sporty attitude, and practicality all rolled into a highly-successful package. The aggressive 2002 TI took that formula and ran with it, adding a 2.0-liter engine rated at 120 hp and upgraded brakes to the package. The car could hit speeds of around 114 mph on long asphalt roads. With cars like the 2002 TI in its portfolio, BMW became known for producing small cars that could really perform.

8. 3.0 CSL (1975)

The iconic BMW 3.0 CSL became the first truly legendary racing machine of BMW’s 1970s touring-car phase. Its iconic “L” stood not for a long-wheelbase but for “leicht” (“light” in German). Not only was the body made from thinner-gauge steel, doors were fabricated from aluminum, and high-tech plastics rather than glass were used for the windows. Suddenly, the sleek beauty of the coupe became a dedicated competition machine.

3.0 CSL Key Points:

• Lightweight racing-focused coupe
• “L” means leicht
• Aluminum doors reduced weight
• Lightweight plastic windows
• Major European touring-car success

You could see the impact of the aggressive engineering in the look of the car as well. Wide bodywork, side-mounted exhaust pipes, center-locking wheels and a large rear wing contributed to a racing look for the 3.0 CSL. And the visual modifications were a direct extension of the car’s purpose in competition, showing how significantly BMW had turned a luxury coupe into a touring car factory. The 3.0 CSL enjoyed great success in European Touring Car Championship competition, winning the championship in 1973 and then winning five consecutive titles from 1975 through 1979. Those performance results made the 3.0 CSL one of BMW’s most successful racing cars and a proofpoint of the importance of lightweight engineering in the brand’s racing philosophy.

9. M1 (1978)

The BMW M1 was born out of a bold concept with Lamborghini, a German supercar married to a modern-era German technical blueprint. But it was hamstrung by a number of setbacks, with BMW dropping Lamborghini from the project altogether when it ran into financial difficulties, and deciding to take production in house. This led to a staggeringly complex supply chain, with specialist companies all over Europe.It was a specialist company, TIR, who fabricated the eye-catching shape from a design by Italy’s gleaming Giugiaro, the steel tubular framework came from Marchesi, a specialist company in steel.

M1 Key Points:

• Joint BMW-Lamborghini project
• Production shifted to BMW
• Fiberglass body by TIR
• 3.5-liter mid-mounted straight-six
• Only 453 examples built

Italdesign assembled the major components before they sent the shellless rolling chassis to the Baur plant in Stuttgart for its Mid-mounted 3.5-litre straight-6 engine to be installed. The completed car was then sent to BMW M where it joined the chain of production. Only 453 of the mid-engined supercars were manufactured, which makes the M1 rare. The shape, the specialist build, the mid-mounted engine and the small number of M1s have secured the BMW supercar a key place in the BMW Museum. It shows the period in the mid-70s when BMW was prepared to take on a very ambitious project and has given the marque one of its most iconic cars.

10. M3 (1986)

The high-powered original E30-generation M3 did not arrive until spring 1986, and was conceived and built as primarily a competition tool, to gain homologation for racing rather than for more usual marketing reasons. BMW was forced to build a production version that was ready to undertake intense competition in the target arena, Germany’s top German Touring Car Championship. And BMW almost built a motorsport car from the outset, to spec, in everything from the car’s widened bodywork to its high-revving four-cylinder engine, and even its chassis attitude.

M3 Key Points:

• E30-generation M3
• Introduced in 1986
• Built for homologation
• 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine
• Produced 200 horsepower

The street-legal M3 was equipped with a model-specific wide body shell that set it apart from the two-door sedan immediately. Beneath the paneling was a high-revving 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that delivered 200 hp. Its combination of power and handling and competition-bred engineering drew automotive enthusiasts from around the globe, and the fact that it was related to motorsport gave it an identity that extended well beyond the road-going specifications. The original M3 was, in the words of BMW M, one of BMW M’s greatest achievements. Its responsive handling and racing-oriented DNA proved exceedingly popular with automotive fans, and its homologation origins lent the M3’s authenticity an almost intangible gravitas that remained a defining aspect of the model, indeed, of all BMW M models to come.