Home | News | Road Tests BMW Group Classic at Techno Classica 2009 Upper image: BMW 507 Lower image: BMW Z1 Home > News > BMW 6th April, 2009 This year BMW Group Classic marked several anniversaries at Techno Classica in Essen, Germany. BMW celebrated 80 years of automobile construction, the new BMW Z4 enjoys the distinguished company of the BMW Z1, Z3 and Z8, while the BMW 700 looked back 50 years to the time when it set the company back on track. The Mini brand, meanwhile, surveys a somewhat different history: it was 50 years ago that this small British car won over the 'hearts' of motorists. “Such a wide thematic range can only be covered with the help of the BMW and Mini clubs,” said Karl Baumer, Director of BMW Group Classic prior to the event, highlighting the role played by the club networks for both brands. “As on the road, here at the fair too it is the car owners who are the ambassadors of the brands.” To ensure that this sheer variety of models continues to grace the roads in future, BMW Group Classic is ramping up its spare parts supply. The range provided by Munich’s custodians of the past extends from the earliest pre-war parts all the way to spares for the second BMW 3 Series. In addition to parts supply, BMW Classic now also offers restoration work, servicing and vehicle certificates. “The aim was to expand our range and be able to offer our customers more services,” says Ralf Vierlein, responsible for development and technology at BMW Group Classic. The feedback has been very positive. “We are delighted at the huge response we are getting,” says Vierlein in a first positive review for this year. BMW Group Classic presents its latest range of services at Techno Classica with a workshop and a spare parts service. Exhibitions and models The entire spectrum of the 50 year brand history of Mini was at Techno Classica: from the Morris Mini Minor of 1959, to an early Cooper and a Cooper S in rally trim, all the way to the Cabrio and a stretch limousine. The Mini E, with its electric drive, provided a glimpse of the future. The 50th anniversary of the BMW 700 at Techno Classica shifted the focus to the late 1950s and early 1960s, with both a Cabrio and a late LS Coupé represented. The BMW 700 Sport and 700 RS sports racers also lined up. Next to them were their forerunners in the shape of the BMW 600 and the BMW Isetta with caravan. The BMW R 10 Roller Prototype and the motor cycle models BMW R 24, RS 54 sidecar combination and BMW R 51/3 stood for Munich’s two-wheeled production of the time. The widest diversity is covered by the exhibition on 80 years of BMW automobile construction. The oldest vehicle on the stand was provided by the Automobile Welt Eisenach museum: the BMW 3/15 DA2 dating back to 1929. It was joined by classics such as the BMW 335 and the 1950s star ensemble of the BMW 503 and 507. Following the BMW 02 Series are the 3.0 CSi and CSL Coupés as well as the forerunner of the 7 Series, the BMW 3.0Si. The BMW 5 Series was also represented, as was the 3 Series, the BMW 635CSi and the classic BMW M1. Hear Chris Goodsell Talk Motoring On Radio & Internet ..... more More BMW News ..... here More Historic Vehicle News ..... here About | Car Clubs | Home | News | Road Ramblings | Road Tests | Subscribe | Top Drive ©   2009   All rights reserved.   Next Car Pty. Ltd.