At Techno Classica Essen from April 6 to 10, 2016, BMW Group Classic will look back on the 100th anniversary of the company and the launch of the BMW 02 50 years ago and present the program for the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2016 under the motto "Back to the Future - the Journey continues".
A wide variety of milestones from all eras
This year, the look back into history at the BMW Group Classic stand in Hall 12 of the Essen Exhibition Center at Techno Classica 2016 spans an entire century. To mark the company's 100th anniversary, visitors will be presented with a particularly wide variety of milestones from all eras of automobile, motorcycle and aircraft engine construction from April 6 to 10, 2016.
The selection of historic vehicles put together by BMW Group Classic together with the BMW and Mini Clubs includes dozens of highlights and ranges from the BMW 326 Convertible from the 1930s to a BMW 502 "Baroque Angel" from the post-war period, a "New Class" saloon and a BMW M1 to the pioneering BMW i8 sports car.
Literally hovering above the action is a representative of the first products to bear the BMW logo: a Klemm L25 lightweight airplane powered by a five-cylinder BMW radial engine. The aircraft, produced in 1927, was completely restored in 2008 on behalf of BMW Group Classic and is the oldest registered aircraft in Germany.
"Back to the Future - the Journey continues"
The BMW Group also underlines its commitment to automotive and motorcycle history as the organizer of the traditional Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. The latest edition of the beauty contest for historic automobiles and motorcycles will take place from May 20 to 22, 2016 at Lake Como in northern Italy and invites visitors on an exclusive journey through time under the motto "Back to the Future - the Journey continues".
The reigning winner of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este will also be on display at the BMW Group Classic stand in Essen as impressive proof of the exquisite field of participants. The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider Zagato from 1932 was awarded the Trofeo BMW Group as "Best of Show" last year and is certainly one of the most valuable vehicles exhibited at Techno Classica 2016.
50 years of driving pleasure in a compact two-door car
In addition to the 100th anniversary of the company, the 50th anniversary of the BMW 1600, which laid the foundation for the series known shortly afterwards as the BMW 02, is also being celebrated. The new model was a gift to customers with sporting ambitions. The combination of a compact, two-door notchback body with the drive and chassis technology already proven in the four-door saloons of the "New Class" created ideal conditions for handling that was as agile as it was safe. The BMW 02 immediately became the epitome of driving pleasure.
An example of the top version, which was the first European production car to be powered by a turbocharged engine in 1973, can be seen at Techno Classica 2016, as can a BMW 1600 Cabriolet, a BMW 2002tii touring and a rally version of the BMW 2002 TI. And to fully appreciate the significance of the model series, two further exhibits are not to be missed: a vehicle from the first generation of the BMW 3 Series, which succeeded the BMW 02 in 1975, and a BMW M2, which continues the tradition of driving pleasure in a compact format in the most up-to-date and intensive way.
Fascinating contemporary witnesses from history
In the company's anniversary year, the BMW Group brands BMW Motorrad, MINI and Rolls-Royce are also present with fascinating episodes from their history. Visitors can view valuable rarities from the early days of BMW motorcycle production, reminiscent of legendary motorsport successes on two wheels. A look back at the history of the MINI brand also focuses on sporting successes. In addition, it will be demonstrated that open-top driving fun in the style of the British brand also has a long tradition. To this end, a MINI Convertible of the latest generation is presented side by side with its almost quarter-century-old predecessors.
To represent the essence of the Rolls-Royce brand, two automobiles, each embodying the "pursuit of perfection" in their own way, are sufficient: a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost from 1923 and a Rolls-Royce Ghost from the current production in Goodwood. The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, which originally bore the model designation 40/50 hp, was built from 1907 to 1925. From the very beginning, the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost was considered to be exceptionally advanced and reliable. It was marketed as "the best automobile in the world" and thus shaped early on the self-image that still defines the character of the brand and its products to this day.
