BMW 3200 CS - an underrated rarity

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BMW 3200 CS - an underrated rarity

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Created on September 24, 2020

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

10

Bruno von Rotz

32

BMW AG

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Archiv

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - classic BMW radiator grille design

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - Coupé of the second series, recognizable by the bumpers

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - the width is 1.72 meters

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - Italian-style rear design

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - at 4.83 meters long, the coupé is larger than it appears in the pictures

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - design without pompous chrome and frippery

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - ran at around 200 km/h back then

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - on the way to pick flowers?

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - when exhaust design was not yet considered

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - makes no noise, only stands out positively

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - the dashboard of the second series coupé was made of wood

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - a comfortable driver's workplace

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - the Nardi steering wheel is a contemporary accessory

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - the instruments are housed largely glare-free

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - classic sporty appearance inside

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - small rev counter in the center, red area from 5500 rpm

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - instruments with gray background, speedometer up to 220 km/h

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - classic Nardi steering wheel

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - BMW symbol in the steering wheel hub

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - with four-wave radio

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - classic H-shift for the four-speed gearbox

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - plenty of space in the pillarless coupé

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - electric windows rear (and front)

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - very thin C-pillar for optimum all-round visibility

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - red leather upholstery

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - the 3168 cm3 aluminum V8 engine

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - comprehensive on-board tools, stored within easy reach

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - BMW propeller on the bow

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - the BMW kidney grille as the dominant element of the front design

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - little chrome trim outside the BMW kidney grille

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - Steel wheels and chrome hubcaps

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - Door handles in classic style

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - BMW sign behind the Hofmeister bend

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - BMW sign in the C-pillar

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - clearly labeled at the rear

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - the fuel filler cap can be found at the rear

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - BMW sign on the rear

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BMW 503 Coupé (1959) - the predecessor of the BMW 3200 CS

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BMW 3200 (1960) - provided the technical basis for the BMW 3200 CS

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Comparison of BMW 3200 CS, Gordon Keeble and Alfa Romeo 2000/2600 Sprint, all built around the same time, around 1960

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BMW 3200 CS Bertone (1961) - at the IAA 1961

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BMW 3200 CS (1961) - Premiere at the IAA 1961, one of the three prototypes

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BMW 3200 CS Bertone (1961) - at the Frankfurt International Motor Show IAA in 1961

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BMW 3200 CS Bertone (1961) - steering wheel and dashboard, seen at the IAA 1961, exhibited were three prototypes that were still equipped with steering wheel controls

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BMW 3200 CS (1962) - early coupé at an exhibition, behind it the Alfa Romeo 2000 Sprint, also by Bertone

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BMW 3200 L (1962) - at the Geneva Motor Show, on the left you can still see a corner of the BMW 3200 CS on display

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BMW 3200 CS (1962) - on a test drive next to competitor Mercedes luxury coupé 250 SE

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BMW 3200 CS (1962) at the Geneva Motor Show - four-seater touring car with maximum performance, built by Bertone

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BMW 3200 CS (1962) - the convertible was built by Bertone as a one-off, photo from fall 1962

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - as a convertible in Villa d'Este

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - Coupé of the second series at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - in front of the museum

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BMW 3200 CS (1962) - Studio photo from back then

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BMW 3200 (1960) - A look inside the box with design studies and models

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - the BMW kidney grille dominates the front

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BMW 3200 CS (1964) - the BMW kidney grille

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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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