By the end of the 1950s, BMW was in financial shambles. The German market had turned away from motorcycles, and the marque’s cars were struggling to turn a profit. The 501, 503, and 507 were simply too expensive, and the Isetta – BMW’s “economy car” of the day – didn’t have the margins to support the company. To bring the company back into the black would take a “hail Mary” of sorts, and luckily for us, the BMW Neue Klasse was born.
Amongst the BMW history gurus, it’s well-established that BMW’s Neue Klasse (New Class) saved the brand following World War II, and established its still-defining brand identity as a manufacturer of sports sedans. While the ’02 lineup is inarguably a crowd favorite, it’s the four-door counterparts that deserve the initial credit.
A History Lesson – The Car that Started it All: The BMW 2002
Mike BurroughsThere’s nothing worse than wild inaccuracies, and there’s no question that BMW fanatics are shaking their heads.