Forget “Ultimate Driving Machine” for a moment because “Joy” is a buzzword for BMW. There’s certainly enjoyment to be had carving up the mountain roads in a Z4 with its top down, but the best pleasure tends to be the forbidden kind. In this case, it’ll be a visit to the BMW Group Classic Collection.
Not to be confused with the BMW Museum located beside the company’s iconic cylinder tower, the Classic Collection is housed in an old four-storey building about 20 minutes from BMW’s sprawling Munich HQ near Olympiapark, and there is no signage anywhere to hint at the automotive treasures within.
The building contains around 400 or so vehicles. Whether it’s a production or race model, two wheels or four, as long as it had anything to do with the BMW Group, and that will include Mini, it’s here.
BMW’s Motorrad origins can be traced back to the days before the war, like this R23 from 1939.
On very, very special occasions, BMW will even allow the select guests to drive some of the cars in the Collection, but the chance to see, touch and even smell the vehicles on display is already a tremendous joy.
The vintage BMWs are obviously noteworthy and the race-winning examples parked on a dedicated floor are proof of BMW’s “Ultimate Driving Machine” tagline. From the old formula race cars to the 3 Series-based touring cars, sweet chequered-flag dreams were made of these.
Wind-in-hair motoring circa 1956, with the 507, the granddaddy of the modern Z4.
Just as important in the annals of BMW’s history were the humbler days represented by the Isetta, that 13bhp one-door, three-wheel Italian bubble car that BMW bought the rights to manufacture.
In another corner are the show cars – the ones made famous by Hollywood. This will be the time when BMW briefly replaced Aston Martin as the Bond car of choice. Remember the Z8? And wouldn’t you like to know just how Pierce Brosnan was able to control his 7 Series remotely with his Ericsson phone? It turns out that there was a stunt driver hiding on the floor in front of the back seat. The car’s controls had been relocated there so he could drive without being seen by the camera.
The steering and pedals in 007’s limo are located in the backseat area.
Motorcycles play a big part in BMW’s business and here, the range stretches from bikes dating to the pre-war days, to the avant-garde C1, which is a scooter with a roll cage. Wacky but true, and we hear that there are still a few units on our roads.
The slew of Art Cars that BMW commissioned since the 1970s are also represented here. If ever we need to justify a BMW M3 as art and not a machine, just cite the Ken Done example from 1991 as a case in point.
Based on the M1, this car looks even cooler than a DeLorean.
The stars in the collection (for me) are the ones that could have made production but never did. At some point, BMW – seemingly losing its mind at this time – created something called the Just 4/2. This concept was, in essence, BMW’s idea of the VW beach buggy. Powered by an engine from a motorbike and offering the weather protection of one, it was utterly pointless and hopelessly fun.
Remember the 8 Series coupe? BMW had actually built a convertible version. It never made it to the showrooms and the only one ever built can be found here. Then there was a very unique 7 Series (E38). Officially, the largest engine variant on that car would be the 750i with a V12. Here we find a E38 with 16 cylinders – yes, 16!
The E30 M3 is still one of the most iconic M cars ever.
Unfortunately, since Classic Collection is out of bounds to the public, the only chance to see the cars will be the instances when they lend them out for various publicity events.
