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BMW 3200 CS - an underrated rarity

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Created on September 24, 2020

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

10

Bruno von Rotz

32

BMW AG

3

Archiv

14

Daniel Reinhard

10

Bruno von Rotz

32

BMW AG

3

Archiv

14

BMW 3200 CS (1964) - klassische BMW-Kühlergrill-Gestaltung

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - Coupé der zweiten Serie, erkennbar an den Stossfängern

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - schlichte Eleganz

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - die Breite beträgt 1,72 Meter

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - italienisch anmutende Heckgestaltung

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - das Coupé ist mit 4,83 Metern Länge grösser als es auf den Bildern erscheint

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - Design ohne schwülstigen Chrom und Firlefanz

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - keine B-Säule

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - lief rund 200 km/h schnell damals

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - unterwegs zum Blumenpflücken?

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - als man noch nicht an Auspuff-Design dachte

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - macht keinen Radau, fällt nur positiv auf

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - beim Coupé der zweiten Serie war das Armaturenbrett in Holz gehalten

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - ein Fahrerarbeitsplatz zum Wohlfühlen

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - das Nardi-Lenkrad ist ein zeitgenössisches Zubehör

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - die Instrumente sind weitgehend blendfrei untergebracht

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - klassisch-sportlicher Auftritt im Innern

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - kleiner Drehzahlmesser in der Mitte, roter Bereich ab 5500 U/min

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - grau unterlegte Instrumente, Tacho bis 220 km/h

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - klassisches Nardi-Lenkrad

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - BMW-Zeichen in der Lenkradnabe

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - mit Vierwellen-Radio

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - klassische H-Schaltung für das Vierganggetriebe

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - viel Platz im pfostenlosen Coupé

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - elektrische Fensterheber hinten (und vorne)

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - sehr dünne C-Säule für optimale Rundumsicht

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - rote Lederpolster

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - der 3168 cm3 grosse Alu-V8-Motor

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - reichhaltiges Bordwerkzeug, griffnahe untergebracht

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - BMW-Propeller auf dem Bug

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - die BMW-Niere als dominierendes Element der Frontgestaltung

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - wenig Chromzierart ausserhalb der BMW-Niere

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - Stahlräder und Chromradkappen

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - Türgriffe im klassischen Stil

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - BMW-Zeichen hinter dem Hofmeister-Knick

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - BMW-Zeichen in der C-Säule

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - eindeutig beschriftet am Heck

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - der Tankdeckel ist hinten am Heck zu finden

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - BMW-Zeichen auf dem Heck

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BMW 503 Coupé (1959) - der Voränger des BMW 3200 CS

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BMW 3200 (1960) - lieferte die technische Basis für den BMW 3200 CS

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Vergleich BMW 3200 CS, Gordon Keeble und Alfa Romeo 2000/2600 Sprint, die alle um dieselbe Zeit entstanden um 1960 sind

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BMW 3200 CS Bertone (1961) - an der IAA 1961

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BMW 3200 CS (1961) - Premiere an der IAA 1961, einer der drei Prototypen

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BMW 3200 CS Bertone (1961) - an der Interantionalen Automobilausstellung Frankfurt IAA im Jahr 1961

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BMW 3200 CS Bertone (1961) - Lenkrad und Armaturenbrett, gesehen an der IAA 1961, ausgestellt waren drei Prototypen, die noch mit Lenkradschaltung ausgerüstet waren

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BMW 3200 CS (1962) - frühes Coupé bei einer Ausstellung, dahinter der Alfa Romeo 2000 Sprint, ebenfalls von Bertone

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BMW 3200 L (1962) - am Genfer Autosalon, links kann man noch eine Ecke des ausgestellten BMW 3200 CS sehen

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BMW 3200 CS (1962) - auf Testfahrt neben Konkurrent Mercedes Luxuscoupé 250 SE

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BMW 3200 CS (1962) am Genfer Automobilsalon - viersitziges Reisefahrzeug mit höchster Leistung, von Bertone gebaut

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BMW 3200 CS (1962) - das Cabriolet entsteht bei Bertone als Einzelstück, Aufnahme vom Herbst 1962

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - als Cabriolet in Villa d'Este

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - Coupé der zweiten Serie am Genfer Autosalon 1964

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - vor dem Museum

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BMW 3200 CS (1962) - Studiofoto von damals

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BMW 3200 (1960) - Blick in den Kasten mit Designstudien und -modellen

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - die Niere

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - die BMW-Niere dominiert die Front

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - die BMW-Niere

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Summary

With the BMW 3200 CS, the Munich-based company surprised visitors at the IAA in 1961, as a successor to the BMW 503 was not really expected. The new coupé was developed in collaboration with Bertone, where the body was then also built. The elegant Granturismo was only built for around four years, with just over 600 units produced. The successor was more suitable for the masses and more successful. Despite limited production numbers, Italian design and advanced technology, the "Bertone-BMW", as it was also known, remained a niche product that is still disdained by some enthusiasts today. This driving report is about a BMW 3200 CS from the second series and shows it in current pictures, supplemented by historical photos and a sound sample.

This article contains the following chapters

Continuing a tradition
Start of the BMW-Bertone cooperation
Giugiaro's early work
Proven but improved technology
In the shadow of other news
Built for just over three years
Aged with dignity

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

BMW had actually done everything right. The BMW 3200 CS had top-class technology, Bertone and Giugiaro were responsible for the design of the elegant coupé, and the number of units remained manageable at 6xx. Collectors would actually have to bang their heads today to get their hands on one of the few surviving coupés. But they don't. Is the 3200 CS underestimated? With the 503 Coupé, BMW had already built and sold an elegant touring car between 1956 and 1960; a total of just over 273 of these hand-built vehicles were produced. However, very few people expected a successor to be presented in 1961.

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