As time marches on relentlessly, Werner Oswald's famous car chronicles always want to be expanded to include the latest models. Sometimes there is a detail in the past that has been overlooked and needs to be added. Eberhard Kittler and Halwart Schrader have now done both. Oswald's original "All BMW automobiles" was first published in 1978, but as BMW continued to build cars in the 43 years that followed, it is no longer completely up to date. Kittler and Schrader now at least fill the gap left by the remaining 20th century, ending with the BMW Z8 and X5.
The long road to BMW
And that's a good thing, because the variety of Bavarian models has exploded in the new millennium to such an extent that the depth of the book would suffer if the 272 pages were not doubled. What is much more interesting anyway is that the reader of the book gets far more than the title promises. In the very extensive pre-war section, for example, the three authors also explain the history of the Bavarian Motor Works, starting with Wartburg automobiles as early as 1898 and only arriving at the advertised BMW automobiles from 1929-2000 via Dixi (1904).
Original photos and technical data
It is noteworthy that even those early works of the automotive age are predominantly shown in historical pictures and accompanied by a detailed data box. Those tables, which in the case of later BMW models sometimes extend over a double page, are the unique selling point of the "Oswald". In addition to the usual information on displacement, top speed and power, the tables also include gearbox and final drive ratios as well as the type of carburetor installed at the factory. Each model is usually illustrated with contemporary pictures and is presented and characterized in a short text.
BMW relationship
In addition to the chronologically ordered series BMWs, technically related variants such as Bristol, Veritas or Glas as well as small series models from Wiesmann and house refiner Alpina are also given their own chapters. Exotic cars with Bavarian technology are also summarized in a small collection. A bibliography and a brief introduction to the most important men in BMW history round off the book. In addition to well-known names such as Wilhelm Hofmeister and Paul Rosche, Kurt Deby, who prevented the dismantling of the BMW plant in 1945 and led its reconstruction, is also honored here.
Encyclopedia character
While the longer texts on BMW history can still be read quite smoothly, the model-related, shorter sections clearly focus on conveying information. "BMW Automobiles 1929-2000" is therefore not a book for light reading fun, but a classic reference work with a logical structure and high information density. The price of 39.90 euros is absolutely reasonable in view of the high quality.
Bibliographical information
- Title: BMW automobiles 1929-2000
- Author: Werner Oswald, Eberhard Kittler, Halwart Schrader
- Language: German
- Publisher: Motorbuch Verlag
- Edition: 1st edition 2021
- Format: Hardcover, 230 x 265 mm
- Scope: 272 pages, 400 illustrations
- ISBN: 978-3-613-04402-9
- Price: EUR 39.90
- Buy/order: Online at amazon.de, online at Motorbuch Verlag or via the relevant bookstores
