Development of the new mid-size car was hampered by poor finances, but by the turn of the decade, aided by a cash injection from new investor and major shareholder Herbert Quandt, the "New Class" 1500 took shape as a four-door five-seater, with sporting suspension, an all-new straight-four engine (80bhp, 93mph) and a well-finished cabin. Styled by Michelotti but featuring a distinctively angled join of the C-pillar to the body, known later as the "Hofmeister kink" in tribute to BMW's then head of design, it made its debut at the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show alongside the Bertone-styled 3200 CS coupe (an updated 503 under the surface), and formed the basis of BMW's whole new line-up. 1800 (1.8-litre, 90bhp), 1600 and 2000 versions followed in '62, '64 and '66; elegant 2000 C and CS coupes on the same platform went on sale in 1965, six-cylinder 2500 and 2800 saloons and coupes in 1968 and the car which set the template for a whole new class of sporting small saloons, the fuel-injected 2000 tii, joined the range in 1969. The 150bhp 2.5-litre and 170bhp 2.8 engines were class-leading, and by the time the 'New Class' model series was finally discontinued in 1972, BMW had turned its fortunes round and was recognised again as a high-quality manufacturer of prestigious, performance-oriented vehicles. 'New Class'-based cars had also triumphed in circuit racing, including the ETCC, and rally championships throughout the '60s and early 1970s.
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| Over 300k 2002s sold before advent of 3-Series |
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The forerunner to the modern 3-Series came along in 1966, in the shape of two-door derivatives of the 1500. The 02-series models had a roof 4cm lower, a flatter windscreen, round headlamps and circular taillights, emphasising their sportiness. Unveiled at the Bavarian State Opera House in March 1966, the first 1600-2 had an 85bhp, 1573cc engine, front disc brakes (a first in class) and suspension similar to the New Class cars. It wasn't cheap - 8650DM - but was one of the fastest cars of its type, doing 103mph and 0-60 in 13 seconds. In its first year, BMW built nearly 13,250 1600-2s, with over 38,500 made in '67. The 2.0-litre 2002 (100bhp, 106mph) of 1968 went on to be the best-selling 02-series model, and by 1975 when the 3-Series was launched, over 339,092 2002s were produced. 1971 brought BMW's first hatchback with split-folding seats, the 02-based Touring, and 1973 the first production car fitted with a turbocharger, the 170bhp 130mph 2002 Turbo.
