[Video] The start of BMW’s winning ways | GRR
BMW’s positioning of itself as the provider of the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ was based on a time-honoured formula: front mounted engine (preferably a straight-six), manual transmission and rear-wheel-drive. Preferably wrapped in a handsome coupe body featuring the trademark kidney grilles and Hofmeister Kink.
The trope was established by the 2002 and CS models of the ‘60s and ‘70s and has continued in largely the same vein to the present day M3 and M5 monsters. Before that though came something very different. BMW had rebuilt its post-war capacity with bubble cars and microcars including the rear-engined, four-seater 600. Not a sales success, it was the basis for the 700 you see here. With an engine from the BMW R67 motorcycle enlarged and rear-mounted, the firm’s first monocoque and a very pretty Michelotti-designed body available as a saloon, coupe or convertible, the 700 was a huge success.
Lightweight, rear-wheel-drive and agile, it was little surprise that the 700 became a motorsport success story. Hans Stuck used one to win the 1960 German Hillclimb Championship and partnered Sepp Grieger to a class win at the Hockenheim 12-hour race the same year. Walter Schneider used one to win the German Saloon car title a year later. So obviously we were excited to see this little beauty announced in the St. Mary’s line-up at the 2021 Revival and just had to find out more.