20 History-Making Cars From the BMW Museum
The BMW Museum in Munich is a unique building with four cylindrical towers. It welcomes anywhere between 480,000 and 600,000 visitors annually.
During a recent trip to Germany to attend the world premiere of the all-new iX3 electric SUV, we took a tour of the museum and came out with pictures showing 20 of its most notable cars. Enjoy our photo gallery!
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1974 BMW 3.0 CSL Renncoupé IMSA
Not only is this car considered BMW's first "ART CAR", but it also won the European touring car championship title six times.
1931 BMW 3/15
The first BMW car was actually a rebranded Austin Seven with a number of modifications and upgrades, including four-wheel brakes. Its output was only 15 horsepower.
1939 BMW 328 Mille Miglia
This is arguably the car that helped BMW become a world-renowned brand for design thanks to its unprecedented aerodynamics and unique style. It allowed the manufacturer to evolve significantly over the coming decades. However, the car waited until 1940 to win its first Mille Miglia race.
2009 BMW Vision EfficientDynamics
This concept vehicle not only paved the way for new electrification technology at BMW, but it also strongly influenced the design of the BMW i8 that was sold from 2014-2020.
1971 BMW 3.0 CSi
The 3.0 CSi coupe simultaneously ushered in a new design philosophy and a new breed of cars from the Bavarian manufacturer. With its 200-hp, fuel-injected, six-cylinder engine, this coupe also delivered remarkable performance.
1957 BMW 507 Roadster
The now-legendary 1957 BMW 507 Roadster, chassis number 70079, is estimated to be worth around $9 million USD.
1981 BMW M535i
Built exclusively for the European market, this M535i heavily inspired the creation of the M5 that launched a few years later. A sport suspension, Recaro seats, multi-coloured trim and 218-horsepower, six-cylinder engine helped set it apart.
1937 BMW 328 Fachsenfeld Streamline
This design study, of which only two units were built, aimed to push the limits of aerodynamics to improve performance. Equipped with an 80-horsepower, six-cylinder engine, the car could reach the exceptional speed of 189 km/h.
1989 BMW M3 Sport Evolution
First introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1985, the M3 immediately established itself as one of the most impressive sports cars of the decade. In 1989, BMW produced 600 units of a model dubbed 'Sport Evolution,' which generated 238 horsepower and could reach a top speed of 248 km/h.
1999 BMW M Roadster
The highest-performance version of the Z3 roadster was produced exclusively at the Spartanburg, South Carolina plant. No fewer than 15,322 units were manufactured, with European models initially powered by a 320-hp (Euro-spec) six-cylinder S54 engine. Models for the U.S. market got a mere 240 hp in 1999 and 2000.
2011 BMW M3 GTS
The V8-powered M3 GTS coupe delivered as much as 450 horsepower thanks to this ultimate GTS model, now prized by collectors.
1997 BMW 320i Clubsport
The Clubsport package available in Europe on the 318i, 320i, 323i and 328i models included an M suspension, unique wheels, side skirts, a rear spoiler and exclusive interior trim.
1978 BMW M1/1979 M1 Procar
The star of its own racing series, the iconic BMW M1 was limited to 399 units. It featured a 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine producing 277 horsepower and could reach a top speed of 262 km/h (production model).
1936-1939 BMW 328
This road-going 328 enjoyed a 403-unit run over a period of more than three years. Its legendary status today also owes to the fact that around 60 additional units were built for racing.
1970 BMW 2002 Ti
The BMW 2002 quickly became a legend with its incredible level of performance. Credit goes to this 120-horsepower Ti model, which sprinted from 0-100 km/h in 9.1 seconds.
1988 BMW Z1
First shown as a prototype in 1987, the Z1 was produced in 8,000 units the following year. Famous for its downward-sliding doors, it used the same six-cylinder engine as the BMW 325i, producing 170 horsepower.
1999 BMW Z8
A few years after the launch of the Z3, BMW introduced the Z8 as a tribute to the legendary BMW 507. This prestigious roadster used the M5's V8 engine and accelerated from 0-100 km/h in just 5 seconds. Overall, 5,703 units were built between 1999 and 2003.
1992 BMW 530i Touring
BMW introduced this wagon variant of the 5 Series at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1991. Since then, the 5 Series has always been available in Touring configuration, although it shunned the North American market up until 2025.
1965 BMW LS Coupe
Here's a very unique car, also known as the Type 700, that was built in 1,730 units. Designed in Italy by Giovanni Michelotti, it was powered by a 697cc rear-mounted engine producing 40 horsepower.
1979 BMW 518
Introduced in 1972, the BMW 5 Series has offered a variety of models and configurations. This entry-level 518i surfaced in 1974. Under the hood was a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine producing 90 horsepower.
