BMW 3xx (1. Generation)

This car ought to combine the dimensions of the compact class with the comfort of a fully-grown sedan and a suitable cubic capacity. BMW holds on to the principle of a front engine with rear-wheel drive, but has to position the car favorably enough so that it lures starters. A vehicle with front-wheel drive would imply significantly higher investment costs, but the production costs would not sink substantially. Additionally, it would no longer be possible to use the whole engine range up to the six-cylinder in-line engine. And teething troubles would be more substantial. Only much later BMW managed to conquer Rover's Mini, and thereby establish its Compact-mobile for the company.

These vehicles of the 3 - series are the legitimate successors to the 1502 - 2002. For the time being, the model remains with two doors, anew is the six-cylinder engine in the 320 and 323 from 1977/1978 (picture 1 and 2). The car body is increased, mainly providing more wheelbases. In front it is the spitting image of its predecessor, even if the stronger versions feature four smaller headlights instead of two bigger ones. The boot is taller, which makes it difficult to provide for an elegant shape. It does not carry on the elegance of the 02. On the contrary, it must be covered with a black visor (see picture 2) after customer's protests.