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History of the Neue Klasse

Ask anyone who knows some history about BMW - and even some people who don't - and they will tell you the Neue Klasse model was "the car that saved the company."

Sales of luxurious V8 cars were low.

In the late 1950s BMW was still struggling financially. Motorcycle sales had dropped from 30,000 a year to a little over 5,400 in 1957. The 3.2 liter Baroque Angel saloons reached a sales peak of 564 in 1958. Only 50 customers bought the 503 sports car in 1959, while 48 bought the 507.

BMW was producing luxury V8s and economy bubble cars, but nothing in between to appeal to the masses. BMW was one of the small automobile producers in Germany. Only Porsche produced fewer cars.

The economical 700 of the early 1960's

While the 700 model was an enormous success - 188,000 were sold between 1959 and 1964 - it was only a temporary solution to an ongoing problem. Money.

There was talk of a take-over by Mercedes Benz or, worse yet, filing bankruptcy. Yet small shareholders and dealerships across Germany held out for an "independent" BMW.

Aware of the problem in the late 1950s there was talk of producing a BMW that would appeal to West Germany's middle class. One of BMW's major stockholders was Herbert Quandt. He took a personal interest in making this model a reality. This family-sized car would be known as the Neue Klasse.

Alexander von Falkenhausen and a six-man team worked diligently to produce the new power train for this model. They created a 1499cc four-cylinder engine with five bearings and a chain-driven overhead camshaft. (Most cars during that period had pushrods and three-bearing crankshafts.) Rushed into production, the 1500 model had a solid engine, but the chassis and bodywork had problems.

1500

The New Class

In September 1961 BMW displayed the first New Class model, the 1500, at the Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. The public was enthusiastic about the 1500. Some sources say there were 20,000 orders - and deposits - by the end of 1961 for the model! Unfortunately, this "small" car company was ill-prepared to produce those quantities. Full production did not start until October of 1962 and BMW produced fewer than 2,000 of the 1500s in the first production year.

This was déjà vu for BMW. The 501 "Baroque Angel" model was introduced at the 1951 Frankfurt Auto Show when BMW returned to automobile production. The 501 received good press reports and considerable advanced orders. However, it took one year for BMW to gear up for production and start filling those orders.

BMW started to phase out their other models so they could focus on production of the 1500.

Car magazines praised the 1500, too. This four-door model started the tradition of the BMW "sports-sedan" and became the cornerstone of practically every BMW that would be produced over the next thirty years.

This basic model would remain unchanged for more than a decade. The interior was simple with plenty of space for people and luggage. Except for minor changes each year the exteriors remained untouched.

Designed for hours of cruising on the autobahns, its power plant was the first four-cylinder automobile engine that BMW had manufactured since the 1930s. With an aluminum head and five sturdy main bearings this engine would be subjected to changes in cylinder size, compression ratios, carburetors and camshafts as it moved forward through the years. Yes, it would lay the pattern for all BMW engines to follow.

New was the single overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine that displaced 1499cc. It was fitted to a four-speed manual transmission. The Frankfurt show model boasted 75hp, but that was increased to 80hp by the time production began in 1962. Top speed was 92 mph. The 1500 had front disc brakes and four-wheel independent suspension. The MacPherson strut front suspension - new to the 1500 - would continue indefinitely with BMW.

Initially, the BMW manufacturing plants could not keep up with middle class buyers' demands. However, BMW produced 23,807 of the 1500 model vehicles between 1962 and 1964, a three year period. By comparison, BMW had produced 9,973 six-cylinder cars and 12,777 V8s between 1951 and 1964; a total of 22,750 cars in 14 years!

The depleted bank reserves were filling up again and in 1963 shareholders received a six percent dividend. That was the first time the company had been able to pay a dividend in 20 years!

Although the 1500 was a success the German market was demanding a car with higher performance.

1800

In the fall of 1963 BMW introduced the 1800 model. The 1500 model's engine was bored and stroked to a 1733cc engine that produced 90hp and had a top speed of 103 mph. The 1800 could do 0-60 in thirteen seconds.

Burkard Bovensiepen, son of Dr. Rudolf Bovensiepen (founder of ALPINA office machines) had been developing engine modifications on a Fiat 1500. He realized that customers who had recently purchased a BMW 1500 model were of course disappointed with the introduction of the 1800. He saw an opportunity and started with the development of a Weber dual carburetor for the Neue Klasse 1500 model and the first BMW-Alpina tuning kit was born.

The Alpina tuning kits raised performance of the 1500 to parity with the newer 1800 and received support of BMW's R&D Department after they tested it. BMW's approval meant that the installation of an Alpina system did not void the BMW warranty. Suddenly all BMW-loving, speed-loving young men wanted a BMW Alpina!

Not stopping with the 1500 model , Mr. Bovensiepen addressed the 1800 model and changed the top, cam, and pistons.

In 1964 the stockholders' dividend was up to ten percent and BMW produced 40,000 vehicles that year. In 1965 BMW was employing approximately 12,000 people - double the work force it had in 1959 - and produced 58,524 vehicles!

In 1966 a three-speed automatic was introduced as an option. BMW produced 102,090 of the 1800 model vehicles between 1963 and 1968.

1800ti

In 1964 BMW introduced the 1800ti (Touring Internationale), a higher performance model fitted with engine components identical to those that had been developed by Alpina. This would be BMW's initial attempt at creating high performance variations from their standard engines. The factory returned to European racing in 1964 with the 1800ti and it proved very successful in the inaugural season. With dual side draft Solex 40 PHH carburetors (thus the "ti" designation) replacing the single barrel Solex down draft carburetor and a compression ratio increased from 8.6:1 to 9.5:1 the 1800ti produced 110hp. BMW produced 19,663 1800ti model vehicles between 1964 and 1966.

1800 TI/SA

In 1964 BMW introduced the 1800 TI/SA model. This was a pure racer. Only 200 models were produced and they were initially offered only to licensed, competitive drivers. Forty-four pounds lighter than the 1800ti, the 1800 TI/SA was fitted with dual side draft Weber 45 DCOE carburetors. It had an increased compression ratio of 10.5:1 and produced 130hp. To improve cornering sway bars front and rear were standard and an optional limited slip differential was available. Rear end choices were 4.11, 4.22, 4.75 or 5.86. This was the only Neue Klasse model that was fitted with a Getrag five-speed gearbox, the first on a postwar BMW. The 1800 TI/SA could do 0-60 in nine seconds, quite remarkable for the period, and had a top speed in excess of 120 mph. In 1965 a TI/SA took first place in the Spa 24 Hours race!

1600

In the spring of 1964 BMW introduced the 1600 model. Utilizing the 1500 engine, the 1600 saw a 2mm bore increase that added 3hp. Top speed was 96 mph. The only external difference was the model badge. BMW produced only 9,728 1600 model vehicles between 1964 and 1966. Some sources say 10,278 vehicles were produced. Either way production levels were low for the 1500 and 1600 models clearly because of the 1800 model's popularity.

2000

In February of 1966 BMW introduced the 2000 model. This sedan had the 1990cc engine that was later used in the 2002 models. Fitted with a single-barrel Solex 40 PDSI down draft carburetor and 8.5:1 compression, the 2000 model produced 100hp and had a top speed of 104 mph. The 2000 model was easily distinguished from the other models by its wide-band headlights and horizontal taillights. An optional ZF three-speed automatic transmission was available and announced by the special "Automatic" script on the rear. BMW produced 120,495 2000 model vehicles between 1966 and 1972.

2000 ti & tilux

In 1966 a 2000TI broke the lap record on the Nurburgring.

In 1966 BMW introduced the 2000 ti & 2000 tilux. With an increased compression ratio of 9.3:1 and dual side draft Solex 40 PHH carburetors these models produced 120hp and had a top speed of 111 mph. The 2000 tilux had a walnut dash with upscale interior trim. BMW produced 17,440 of these model vehicles between 1966 and 1970.

2000 tii

In the latter part of 1969 BMW introduced its final Neue Klasse model, the 2000 tii. The twin Solexes on the 2000 ti and tilux were replaced on this model with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection. Yes, this was BMW's first fuel-injected model! With the compression increased to 9.5:1 and 130hp this model had a top speed of 115 mph. BMW produced 1,922 of the 2000 tii model vehicles between 1969 and 1972.

In 1972 the five-series replaced the Neue Klasse sedans.

The last Neue Klasse models were produced in 1972. Altogether 364,378 Neue Klasse BMWs were produced in eleven years. The rest is history.

So the next time you're out driving and enjoying your BMW, think about the Neue Klasse. If there had not been any Neue Klasse would you be driving that car today? Sure you would; it just wouldn't have a BMW roundel on the hood.

Neue Klasse Sedans