When gearheads globally think of German cars, specific brands and emotions come about. Whether it is the more common Volkswagen Golf GTI or the mind-blowing Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, there is something for every car aficionado coming from Germany. One brand that is very popular among gearheads with a sense of style is BMW.

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BMW has been aggressively improving its research and development in the last 40 years. While younger car fans may think that BMW started becoming relevant with the M3 E30, the Bavarian automaker had already been manufacturing insane sports cars almost 100 years ago. Several BMWs are the type of classic German cars every gearhead should drive at least once.

10 1936 BMW 328

1936 BMW 328 Cropped
Via rmsothebys.com

Bayerische Motoren Werk AG, most commonly known as BMW, was established in 1916 during the first world war. Originally purposed to build aircraft engines, the company would eventually try its luck in the motorcycle and passenger vehicle industries. The first batches of cars that rolled off BMW's assembly lines were not meant for high-earning individuals. Things would drastically change following two decades later.

1939 BMW 328 Cropped
Via en.wikipedia.org

The original 328 is one of the awesome BMWs piston heads would love to get their hands on. Equipped with a 2.0L M328 straight-six producing 79 hp at 5,000 rpm, it was one of the most remarkable sports cars made by BMW during that era. The 328 just is not a collectible, it is the inspiration for a variety of modern BMWs. The front kidney grille is very similar to what is now found on the latest 4-Series.

9 1939 BMW 327

1939 BMW 327 Cropped
Via press.bmwgroup.com

Between 1918 and 1933, BMW focused essentially on designing motorcycles and passenger cars. The cars that came out of the BMW factory during that time reflected Germany's socio-economic condition perfectly. If these cars were made today, they would have all been entry-level BMWs. Things started changing when Adolf Hitler became Germany's chancellor.

1939 BMW 327 2 Cropped
Via press.bmwgroup.com

The 327 was BMW's very first grand tourer. Built in good old BMW fashion, the 327 comes with a potent 2.0L M328 straight-six engine capable of pumping out 79 hp. The 327 was one of BMW's best-selling vehicles during that era. Although the war temporarily stopped the production of 327s, things went back to normal in 1945. Today a 327 in terrific shape can sell for over $200,000.

8 1941 BMW 335

1941 BMW 335 Cabriolet Cropped
Via en.wikipedia.org

By mid-1941, things were looking great for the Third Reich. Armies from France, Belgium, and the Netherlands had been annihilated by the Wehrmacht. The Nazi regime occupied most of Western and Central Europe. Those multiple successes showed in the passenger cars produced by German carmakers. Those cars were oftentimes gorgeous luxury vehicles that Nazi personalities would enjoy driving around.

1941 BMW 335 Cabriolet 2 Cropped
Via YouTube

To most car fans, the BMW 335 is a coupe fitted with a twin-turbocharged straight-six. Though it is partially accurate, the 335 nameplate was created back in the late 1930s. The original 335 came equipped with a 3.5L M335 straight-six engine that developed 90 hp at 3,500 rpm. Offered mainly as a sedan and a convertible, the 335 was BMW's first sports sedan.

7 1953 BMW 503

1953 BMW 503 2 Cropped
Via en.wikipedia.org

Following the end of World War 2, Germany was far away from being the utopic nation promoted by Hitler and his cronies. In fact, Germany was worse off than it was before Hitler came to power. To kickstart the European economy, the United States introduced the European Recovery Program. Commonly known as the Marshall Plan, the program was launched in 1948. Industries throughout Western Europe benefited from this 13 billion dollar package.

1953 BMW 503 Cropped
Via en.wikipedia.org

Following the release of several outstanding Mercedes cars in the 1950s, BMW wanted to strike back by releasing the 503. The grand tourer came with a 3.2L V8 producing 71 hp at 4,400 rpm and 96 lb-ft of torque at 2,750 rpm. Though nowhere as powerful as the cars offered by the competition, the 503 was still a decent car that generated a solid fan base despite its low production numbers.

6 1957 BMW 507

1957 BMW 507 Roadster Cropped
Via bringatrailer.com

Starting in the mid-50s, German carmakers were churning out one instant classic after the other. From the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing to the improved Porsche 356, it was practically impossible not to hear about the latest German two-door sports cars. Wanting a piece of the cake, BMW developed a roadster that would rival some of the most publicized German two-door sports cars.

RELATED: These Are The 10 Best BMW Roadsters Ever

1957 BMW 507 Roadster (Black) - front
Via bringatrailer.com

Produced alongside the 503, the 507 was manufactured to rival the 300SL Gullwing. The 507 came with a 3.2L M507 V8 capable of developing 150 hp at 5,000 rpm and 173 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. Even if the 507 is a classic today, it almost bankrupted BMW. Both the 503 and 507 were development and commercial failures back in the '50s.

5 1974 BMW 2002 Turbo

1974 BMW 2002 Turbo Cropped
Via mecum.com

European carmakers are known for manufacturing some of the coolest cars in the world. They are also known for designing cars that are far smaller than their American counterparts. These cars are perfect for European major cities where parking is an absolute nightmare and roads are extremely narrow. Some of those compact cars are packing quite a mean punch.

RELATED: These Are The 10 Most Reliable Classic BMWs

1974 BMW 2002 Turbo 2 Cropped
via: Mecum

The 1974 BMW 2002 Turbo was a pioneer upon its release. The 2002 Turbo was Europe's and BMW's very first turbocharged mass-produced car. BMW used the same 2.0L M10 inline-four engine found on the 2002 cars released after 1971, but the turbocharger increased the power to 168 hp at 5,800 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Only 1,672 units were made.

4 1980 BMW M1

1980 BMW M1 AHG Cropped
Via mecum.com

Most car companies are actively striving to become track kings. Whether it is in NASCAR, JTCC, or DTM, automakers globally have tried to secure as many wins as possible. As the saying goes: win on Sunday. Sell on Monday. Back in the late 1970s, BMW made sure to win the constructor's title every season by creating its own championship.

RELATED: Here’s Why The M1 Is The Greatest BMW M Car

1980 BMW M1 AHG 2 Cropped
Via mecum.com

Being the centerpiece of the BMW M1 Procar Championship, the M1 was always designed with professional racing in mind. The naturally-aspirated 3.5L M88/1 inline-six powerplant pumps out 274 hp at 6,500 rpm and 243 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. The power is sent to the back wheels thanks to a five-speed manual transmission. Only 452 units were made between 1978 and 1981 since the M1 was essentially bound for the track.

3 1986 BMW M635CSI

1986 BMW M635CSI Cropped
Via bmw-m.com

Several outstanding cars fell under the radar or were only known by passionate petrol heads. These cars are plentiful and tend to have appreciated in value over time. At BMW, slightly-underrated cars tend to be beyond amazing. When it comes to retro BMWs, the cars that ended up being somewhat overlooked are now worth their weight in gold.

1986 BMW M635CSI 2 Cropped
Via bmw-m.com

After being improved by the M division, the first generation 6-Series ended up being a true road-legal beast. The grand tourer comes with a 3.5L M88/3 inline-six engine that pumps out 282 hp at 6,500 rpm and 246 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. The M635CSI, also known as the M6 in the United States, received an S38 unit rated at 256 hp. The BMW M635CSI is an epic machine that can go for over $100,000 these days.

2 1990 BMW M3 E30 Sport Evolution

1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution Cropped
Via collectingcars.com

Since BMW was founded in 1916, the company has manufactured numerous emblematic vehicles. From the risky 507 to the innovative and ambitious i8, BMW has shown multiple times that German engineering is among the best in the world. With all that said, there is one BMW that trumps them all. This particular BMW is, of course, the legendary M3.

1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution 2 Cropped
Via collectingcars.com

The M3 E30 is one of the most game-changing German cars of all time. The M3 is the very first M car to ever be released by BMW. Being the first of its kind, the M3 E30 underwent several transformations. One of the most memorable remains the Sport Evolution. The 2.0L S14B25 inline-four engine churns out 235 hp at 7,000 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. Only 600 units were ever made.

1 1991 BMW Z1

1991 BMW Z1 2 Cropped
Via janzen-klassik.de

By the early 1990s, Japanese carmakers were successfully established in the North American and European markets. Japanese car companies started offering more luxurious and powerful cars that could compete with high-end German ones. BMW felt the heat when Mazda released the Mazda MX-5 Miata. It was around this time that another BMW legend was born.

1991 BMW Z1 Cropped
Via janzen-klassik.de

Produced solely to rival the Mazda Miata, the Z1 is one of the BMW convertibles every gearhead should drive. The first generation was a terrific car. However, it did not include as much technology as the Z1. The first thing gearheads will notice is the sliding doors. While the doors are quite interesting, they are nowhere as remarkable as the 2.5L M20B25 inline-six engine. With a power output of 168 hp at 5,800 rpm and 163 lb-ft of torque at 4,3000 rpm. Power is sent to the back wheels thanks to a five-speed Getrag manual transmission.