BMW 1500

The manufacturing of this vehicle marks a turning point in the history of BMW. After the Second World War BMW loses the most important factories in the east and has to fight with the new company for the name rights. The model pallet contains either cars that were too expensive for the post-war period, having difficulties to stand up against Mercedes, or cars based on motorcycle technology with which only little money is made.There is no middle-of-the-market car. But developing a new car costs money, a lot of money. In the end, BMW succeeds in gaining the confidence of well-to-do stockholders (the brothers Quandt) and in constructing its car of the 'new class'. An engine develops with hemispherical-shaped combustion chamber and at least in Germany till then unprecedented volume. He will establish for long years the basis for cubic capacity rises and with it substantial performance increases.

Unusual is the chassis, especially the rear axle. It takes more than six years until Mercedes copies it for the first time in one of their cars. It is not the principle of the semi-trailing arm axle that makes it uncommon, the sensation is the new manufacturing method. For the first time chassis parts are produced of simple metal sheet treads, like car body parts. This makes them lighter and lowers their production costs.It is difficult for the new vehicle. With a sales price of approx. 9000 DM it has grown out of the competition with Opel and Ford and poaches on Mercedes' preserved territory. They offer much more interior space, and they look more representative, which is a big plus at that time. BMW attempts to stress its sportiveness and youthful image and tries massively to poach clients of Mercedes. Indeed, the crucial success comes with the more powerful models from 1964 on, and the 02-series. By the way, corrosion is a problem, like with most first works of that time. Therefore, the model is really rare today.