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By
DAVID PIKE
n 1957 BMW introduced the model 600 which was a four-seat alternative to
the Isetta, a mini-car designed around a 247cc BMW motorcycle engine.
The 600 was a move in the direction of `real cars' after Europe began to
slowly return to normal following World War II
when it became apparent that the market for
semi-autos like the Isetta and Goggomobile was beginning to dry
up. The 600 had a two cylinder motorcycle engine and the first
form of rear suspension with semi-trailing arms that became a
normal engineering feature on BMWs for the years ahead.
The 700 had an air-cooled twin-cylinder engine
behind the rear wheels but with an increased bore and stroke
providing a 697cc engine developing 30hp. It retained the front
and rear suspension as used on the 600 but with a larger wheelbase
and track. Unlike the Isetta and 600 that went before it, the 700
was never marketed nor thought of by the public as a motorcycle
substitute. It was, in fact, the first BMW to have a steel unit
body-chassis and was initially designed as a coupe which went into
production in 1959. From this BMW developed a two-door sedan
released at the end of 1959 and early in 1961 a deluxe sedan
version came onto the market.
Only available as a four-speed manual, the 700 had
drum brakes and rack and pinion steering and was capable of
125km/hour. BMW's interior designers gave it very thin front seats
so as to allow maximum leg room in the rear, but they were by no
means uncomfortable. The gear lever was positioned between the two
front seats in a way typical for rear-engined cars. The car was
very popular and in all 23,892 coupes were produced together with
55,707 sedans.
A longer wheelbase sedan, the 700 LS was released
in 1962. Initially only the deluxe version was available but later
a more basic version joined the line-up. Also a coupe body style
was released using the longer wheelbase but very few of these were
built.This 700 LS utilised its additional length in providing for
more space for rear seat passengers; luggage space did not benefit
from the increased rear overhang. The traditional BMW grille
hadn't yet come into existence.
The BMW 700 Sport was first introduced in a coupe
version; then a cabriolet was added, built by Baur. The Sport's
main distinguishing feature was a twin-carburettor, 40 hp engine
that was then carried over to the 700 LS coupe. To improve the
handling of the cars which were promoted as true sports cars these
models were fitted with a new anti-roll bar. These small, fast
cars were popular in the early Sixties, paving the way for BMW's
competition comeback. In 1963-4 the BMW 700 Sport was known as the
700CS.
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