Germany is home to some of the greatest car manufacturers in the world, and some of the largest as well. There is of course Porsche, renowned for the 911 and of course famous for its wins at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Then we have Mercedes-Benz, perhaps the giant of Germany and the company that has swept all before it in Formula 1 for the last seven years. Then we have Audi, a staple German company that makes incredibly dependable machines, as does Volkswagen. Then of course we have BMW, perhaps the most charismatic of all the car companies in Germany.

BMW has been around since 1916, and among other things has produced cars such as the M3, competed in Formula 1, and also built aircraft engines. It's one of the largest and most recognizable car, and motorcycle, manufacturers in the world. Believe it or not, though, there was a time when things did not look great for BMW. These were the years no longer after the conclusion of the second world war, and the company needed to save itself. And then came the BMW 700 Coupe. This is quite possibly the car that saved the company and perhaps BMW’s most important car.

The Backstory of The 700

BMW Isetta Bubble Car In White And Blue
via BMW

The backstory to the BMW 700 begins in the early 1950s. Things were not looking good, and the company was on the verge of collapse, as motorcycle production figures also looked to decrease. BMW then tried to fill in the slump by creating the Isetta bubble car, hoping it would be small enough and practical enough for many customers. But times were changing, and customers wanted something bigger and more comfortable than the bubble car. Customers simply started to expect much, much more.

BMW 600 Larger Bubble Car
via BMW

BMW had to go back to the driving board. They then created the BMW 600. This was in effect a larger Isetta and the company hoped this would reverse their fortunes, but it turned into a bit of a flop. The bubble car concept was well and truly dead and buried. BMW then came up with a plan to create a much more conventional car, whilst using as many components from the ‘600 as possible to carry some good bits over. Under the guidance of Wilhelm Hofmeister and Wolfgang Denzel, BMW was eventually able to create an all-new car, the BMW 700 Coupe, a car unlike anything the company had ever built

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The 700 Coupe Was a Winner

BMW 700 Front View Studio Shot
via BMW

The car's brand-new design was certainly eye-catching, and it was a massive departure from the bubble cars that had come before it, even if it did retain some of the ‘600s components. But the styling itself was perhaps not the most impressive part of this car. The BMW 700 had become the first BMW to be designed with a monocoque body. This had been chosen to save around 30 kg in weight, lower the whole car and streamline the entire production process.

BMW 700 Production Line
via BMW

When the BMW 700 was first revealed to the world in Feldafing near Munich, it was met with a very warm reception and a round of applause. Under the hood of the ‘700 was a two-cylinder petrol engine that developed a maximum of 30 hp, and it could take six liters for 100 kilometers of range, roughly giving an average of 40 MPG. Remarkably, this meant that the BMW 700 offered the same levels of performance as its predecessor, the BMW 327 touring sports car, and its driving capabilities, handling, and design were instant hits, helping make the car a fantastic sales success with around 188,000 being sold before production finished in 1965.

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The 700 Racing Legend

BMW 700 RS Racing Car
via BMW

Remarkably, the BMW 700 also became a bit of a motorsport legend, just like its predecessor. BMW 700s became the favored vehicle of choice for many racing drivers, with Hans Stuck winning the 1960 German Hill climb Championship in one such car. The car also took class victories at the 1960 Hockenheim 12 Hours and the Nürburgring Six Hours touring car race, with Walter Schneider winning the 1961 German Saloon Car Title in the BMW 700. A special racing version, the 700 RS, was even created, and it was driven to plenty of success by Hans Stuck.

A Vital Car In BMW’s History

BMW 700 Atop A Mountain
via BMW

There is absolutely no denying that this car pretty much saved BMW from the brink of collapse. At one point, the BMW 700 accounted for around 58% of the company’s overall revenues, an astonishing achievement for a car that was, remember, very different from anything BMW had produced previously. The BMW 700 was a breakthrough for the company, helping take it out of the doldrums and put it on the slow path to rebuilding, and ultimately helping the company become the automotive giant that it is today. It really is not an exaggeration to say that, without this car, BMW simply might not exist in 2021. That means the BMW 700 could well be the most important car in the company’s history.

Source: BMW