BMW Mobile Tradition Live 03/2004
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History moves with us www.bmw-mobiletradition.com | Mobile Tradition | Year 02 | Issue 03 | October 2004 Mobile Tradition live Facts and background J. A. Cropp photographs BMW The photographer who found the right visual imagery for the BMW 700 and the New Class Page 10 – 13 Aero-engines for the Soviets BMW built “Russian engines” for the Red Army Page 14 – 17 50 years of BMW V8 engines The engine concept behind the BMW eight-cylinder was the most advanced of the 1950s Page 20 – 24 Hanns Grewenig A qualified submarine engineer built up BMW's dealer network after the war – initially without products Page 28 – 33 Speedy Brit Jock West's victories in motorcycle Sheer luxury with the BMW 502 – including a powerful V8 engine. Page 20 racing made BMW popular in Britain Page 36 – 39 BMW aircraft engines for the Red Army Victory in the Alps A spectacular racing success for the first BMW car in 1929 made a name for BMW Page 40 – 42 Left: Dornier “Whale” powered by BMW engines. Centre: The BMW VI. Right: “Russian engine” no. 300. BMW Operations Management At the end of the First World War, BMW aero-engines. These relations grew into a A flexible team ensures that BMW clas- faced a crisis: aviation engines were virtu- flourishing business for BMW. Up until sics can be experienced live around the ally unsaleable. The armed forces all-but 1931, 50 to 60 percent of its engine out- globe Page 44 – 47 vanished overnight as buyers. The Treaty put went to Russia. Page 14 of Versailles forbade Germany from main- taining an air force, while other nations BMW Classic Calendar 2005 Anniversaries in 2004 slashed their military budgets. Yet aero- engines nevertheless remained a crucial The 1950s start next 40 years ago First dividend after the line of production for BMW thanks to a year. We are pleased Second World War Page 08 surprise solution: in 1923, BMW was to present twelve sto- approached by aircraft manufacturers ries that revolve 25 years ago BMW's first hydrogen drive Page 08 Junkers. After much toing and froing, around mobility and BMW's General Manager Franz Josef joie de vivre: The 10 years ago Purchasing the Mini brand Popp travelled to Moscow in 1924 – and BMW Classic Page 09 came back with a contract in his pocket. Calendar 2005. BMW began supplying the Red Army with BMW Group Mobile Tradition Editorial BMW Group Mobile Tradition: Facts Facts Fakten Faits Fatti Dear Friends of the BMW Group, 2,000 kilometres through Germany Lime Rock Vintage Festival What are your recollections of the 1950s? Was it a time of upheaval? A time of excit- Lime Rock. BMW and BMW Mobile ed preparations for your first holiday in the sun – in your own car? Or is your image of Tradition once again played a pivotal role the 1950s mainly defined by what your parents told you? Whatever the case, the at this year's Lime Rock Rolex Vintage 1950s were certainly a radical decade – both for those who lived through it and for all Festival. From 3rd to 6th September, the the others who have experienced this legendary era at one remove. Rolex Vintage Festival presented by For BMW, above all, the 1950s were a crucial decade. It was a time of contrasts, as BMW in Lime Rock showcased the entire reflected in two iconic BMWs preparing to celebrate their 50th anniversary next year: spectrum of the company's racing and the BMW 507 and the BMW Isetta. It was also a decade of entrepreneurial challenges sports car heritage. Within this extensive in which BMW solved the company's financial crisis with a strategic realignment that event, which came under the banner of paved the way for its revival as a flourishing motor company. motor sport and the evolution of the car, In the Classic Calendar 2005, due out soon, we relate twelve stories from the 1950s that place our prod- more than 200 historic racers participat- ucts in a context with which many of you will be directly or indirectly familiar. I am sure you will relate to ed in nine racing groups. these stories and hope you enjoy them as much as the other fascinating pieces revolving around the The core of the festival was made up BMW heritage that we present in this issue of Mobile Tradition live. of historic racing cars and classic auto- mobiles. The bandwidth ranged from models going back to before the Second World War and popular racing machines from the late 1940s and the 1950s, to Classics upon classics: the 2,000 km through Germany rally at the Frankfurt staging point. more recent sports cars of the 1960s Holger Lapp and '70s. “2,000 km durch Deutschland” – it's the – as well as the Eisenach plant all sup- This year, BMW Mobile Tradition largest and most traditional of Ger- ported the rally and turned the staging once again brought a model from the Art many's vintage rallies. Not without justi- points into impressive BMW celebra- Car Series along to Lime Rock. The 635 fication is it referred to as “the German tions. Among the media personalities CSi designed by Robert Rauschenberg Director BMW Group Mobile Tradition Mille Miglia”. taking part were the well-known faces at in 1986 was on display at the BMW The rally took place from 17th to the wheel of the BMW 507 and BMW stand along with a replica of the original Spirit of the 1950s: the BMW Classic Calendar 25th July and involved 170 vehicles aged 328 Mille Miglia Roadster. As last year, BMW 328 Coupé that won the 1940 2005. 30 and over – including motorcycles. popular TV host Jean Pütz was driving Mille Miglia. Contents Issue 03.2004 BMW Mobile Tradition used the event as his favourite BMW, a red 507, while BMW BMW of North America also had fur- a major showcase for the 75-year history Motorsport representatives took it in ther interesting exhibits and programme Glittering launch of the BMW Museum Exhibition: of BMW automobiles. A number of mod- turns to steer the Mille Miglia Roadster. items lined up for the four-day Lime Rock Exhibition opens at the Olympic Tower Page 05 els from the BMW collection were com- BMW Motorsport Director Dr Mario Festival, which also celebrated the “75 J.A. Cropp shoots for BMW: plemented by numerous private BMWs, Theissen and two of his highly success- Years of BMW Automobiles” anniversary. mostly owned by BMW club members, ful touring car racing drivers, Dirk and New visuals for the BMW 700 and the New Class Page 10 ensuring that every decade of BMW's Jörg Müller, had a whale of a time with Aero-engines for the Red Army: automotive past was represented. this historic racing car and instantly BMW supplies the Soviets after the First World War Page 14 BMW's automobile anniversary not pledged that they would take part again Stunning new acquisition: only beamed down from all the posters: any time. The R 90 S Superbike completes the vehicle collection Page 18 the BMW subsidiaries along the route – in The winners of the main prizes pro- 50 years of BMW V8 engines: Frankfurt, Leipzig, Berlin and Dortmund vided by BMW for the “Classic fans have In 1954, a state-of-the-art engine sets a new trend Page 20 a heart” prize draw were particularly The 1950s – embracing mobility and life: happy. A chance to take part in the rally in BMW Classic Calendar 2005 Page 26 a BMW 328 went to a delightful couple from Göppingen – owners, incidentally, Hanns Grewenig – the businessman: of a BMW 3-litre coupé – while a gentle- An engineer builds up the post-war dealer network Page 28 man from Mönchengladbach earned his Jock West – a Brit on BMW: place in the passenger seat of the Mille Biker triumphs in British motorcycle racing Page 36 Publication Details Miglia Roadster beside the famous BMW Victory in the Alps: Responsible: Holger Lapp (see below for address) racing drivers at the wheel. BMW Group Mobile Tradition Spectacular racing triumph for BMW's first car Page 40 The crowning finale of the colourful Schleissheimer Strasse 416 / BMW Allee event was the overall victory claimed by On the move for Mobile Tradition: D-80935 München Delighted with their trophy: TV host Jean Pütz Team Burgdorf in a BMW 327/328 Sport Operations Management spans all continents Page 44 www.bmw-mobiletradition.com The models provided by BMW Mobile (left) and Jörg-Dieter Hübner, Head of Concept / Realization: von Quadt & Company Tradition drew plenty of attention. Cabriolet. Communications at BMW Mobile Tradition. Page 02 Mobile Tradition live / Issue 03.2004 Page 03 Facts Fakten Faits Fatti Facts Fakten Faits Fatti Glittering launch of the BMW Museum Exhibition Veterans meeting in Saarbrücken Goodwood 2004 After 30 years of successful exhibitions, the BMW Museum closed in April 2004 for a comprehensive refurbishment programme that includes the “four-cylinder” office tower. 2007 will see the New Museum open its doors to the public with an exhibition space around five times its previous size. Saarbrücken. Everything München/Goodwood. For BMW Mobile Until then, changing displays at the BMW Museum Exhibition next to the Olympic Towerwill keep the BMW heritage alive. shone except the sun. At Tradition, the 2004 Festival of Speed at the big 28th International Goodwood came under the theme of “75 BMW Veteranentreffen to Years of BMW Automobiles – 75 Years of be held in Saarbrücken BMW Motorsport on Four Wheels”. After by Sinja Lohse from 20th to 23rd May, an all, the first port of call for BMW engi- illustrious selection of glea- neers and their new products has always ming BMW classics and a been where real performance is put distinguished international through its paces: the race track.