Munich / Essen. Techno Classica 2016 is the world’s
biggest specialist exhibition of its kind, and it once again offers
visitors a unique overview of the product range provided by vehicle
manufacturers, specialist suppliers, dealers and collectors who are
dedicated to preserving vehicle history. This year, the stand of BMW
Group Classic in Hall 12 of Essen’s exhibition complex provides a
review of the story of mobility over an entire century. Visitors to
Techno Classica from 6 to 10 April 2016 will see an extraordinary
array of milestones from all the eras of automobile, motorcycle and
aero-engine construction to celebrate the anniversary of the company.
The selection of historic vehicles assembled by BMW Group Classic
together with the BMW and Mini Clubs includes dozens of highlights.
The exhibits encompass the 1930s with the BMW 326 convertible, a BMW
502 “Barockengell” from the post-war era, a saloon in the “New Class”
and a BMW M1, right through to the forward-looking, futuristic BMW i8
sports car. A bright spotlight will fall on the models in the BMW 02
Series, which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. The
exhibition salutes the history of the brands MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW
Motorrad with some very appealing exhibits. An ambassador of the first
products to bear the BMW logo literally floats over the exhibition
area: a Klemm L25 light aircraft, which was powered by a BMW
five-cylinder radial engine. BMW Group Classic commissioned a complete
restoration of the machine constructed in 1927, and it is regarded as
the oldest licensed aircraft in Germany.
Outlook: The activities in the anniversary year of the BMW
Group and the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2016.
100 years of the company’s existence is the central focus for the
press conference of BMW Group Classic on “Happy View Day” to launch
Techno Classica. On Wednesday 6 April starting at 3 p.m., journalists
will be introduced to the most important classic vehicles being
exhibited on the stand, and they will also be given a round-up of the
BMW Group’s activities during the centenary year.
The BMW Group also emphasises its commitment in the area of
automobile and motorcycle history as the organiser of the heritage
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. During a press conference held at
Techno Classica, the Head of BMW Group Classic, Ulrich Knieps, and the
Managing Director Villa d’Este Hotels, Danilo Zucchetti, presented the
programme of events for the latest edition of the beauty competition
for historic automobiles and motorcycles. This will be held on the
shores of Lake Como in Northern Italy and it invites visitors to go on
an exclusive journey through time from 20 to 22 May 2016 under the
slogan of “Back to the Future – the Journey continues”. The incumbent
victorious vehicle from the Corcorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is also
being shown at the stand of BMW Group Classic in Essen as an
impressive testimony to the distinguished field of participants. The
Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider Zagato from the year 1932 earned the award
of “Best of Show” with the Trofeo BMW Group last year, and it is
undoubtedly one of the most valuable vehicles presented at the Techno
Classica 2016.
Anniversary of the 02 Series: 50 years of sheer driving
pleasure in the compact two-door vehicle.
The centenary of the company’s existence is in the foreground, but
this year also marks the 50th birthday of BMW in 1966. The anniversary
back then provided an occasion for presenting the BMW 1600. This
automobile laid the foundation stone for the series subsequently
designated as the BMW 02. The new model was a dream designed for
customers with sporting ambitions. The combination of a compact
two-door notchback body with engine and chassis technology proven in
the four-door saloons of the “New Class” created the ideal enablers
for handling that was as agile as it was safe. The BMW 02 immediately
soared to become the epitome of the ultimate driving machine. This
aura was further enhanced as the years went by because the available
power was increased by upgrades in the range of engines supplied from
the original 85 hp in the BMW 1600, through 100 hp in the BMW 2002 and
130 hp in the BMW 2002 tii, up to 170 hp in the BMW 2002 turbo.
In 1973, the flagship version was the first European series
automobile to be powered by an engine with a turbocharger, and an
example of this car is being shown at Techno Classica 2016 alongside a
BMW 1600 convertible, a BMW 2002tii touring and a rally version of the
BMW 2002 TI. And two other exhibits are absolutely essential if one is
to appreciate the profound significance of the series: a vehicle from
the first generation of the BMW 3 Series as the successor to the BMW
02 from 1975, and a BMW M2, which continued the tradition of sheer
driving pleasure in a compact design with contemporary flair and
appealing intensity.
Fascinating eyewitnesses from the history of BMW Motorrad,
MINI and Rolls-Royce.
The brands BMW Motorrad, MINI and Rolls-Royce are also part of the
BMW Group and they are contributing to the centenary year of the
company with fascinating episodes from their history. Visitors to
Techno Classica are able to enjoy valuable and rare motorcycles from
the early days of motorcycle production. A BMW R 67/2 from the 1950s
prepared for the International Six Days Trial recalls legendary
motor-sport successes on two wheels, as does an example of the
successful BMW R 80 G/S which won the Paris-Dakar Rally four times
during the 1980s.
Sporting successes are also the focus of attention when we look back
at the history of the MINI brand. Additionally, the exhibits
demonstrate that open-air driving fun in the style of the British
brand also has a long tradition. A MINI Convertible from the latest
generation epitomises this spirit and it is presented side by side
with its precursors, which are now almost a quarter of a century old.
At the beginning of the 1990s, the German company Lamm launched an
open-top version of the small car, and the Rover Group responsible for
the brand in the United Kingdom followed suit soon afterwards.
Two automobiles are able to present the quintessential essence of the
Rolls-Royce brand. Each of them embodies in their own inimitable way
the concept of “strive for perfection”: a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
from 1923 and a Rolls-Royce Ghost from the current production facility
in Goodwood. The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost was originally given the
model designation of 40/50 hp and was built from 1907 to 1925. The
vehicle shown in Essen was styled with a roadster body built by
American coachbuilder Packard and it is powered by an 80 hp
six-cylinder engine. Right from the start, the Rolls-Royce Silver
Ghost enjoyed the reputation of being exceptionally advanced and
reliable. It was marketed as the best motor car in the world and this
cachet defined the company’s self-image at an early stage. This image
has continued to determine the character of the brand and its products
up to the present day.