First BMW Car
MUNICH, Germany--For many BMW fans, this large Bavarian town--home to the company's headquarters and the place where many of its cars are made--is the center of the universe. And it's also where Bavarian Motor Works showcases what may be the most important and/or beautiful cars, motorcycles, and engines in its history: The BMW Museum.
First opened in 1973, it was enlarged and redesigned in 2008 as part of a larger brand expansion that also includes the adjacent production plant and the famous "BMW Welt," a massive glass masterpiece where anyone can come and see just about everything the manufacturer is up to today.
Inside the museum, BMW lovingly lays out its many decades of automotive craftsmanship. For example, this is the first BMW model of car, a 3/15 PS, made from 1929 to 1932. "Although basically a British Austin Seven built under license," a sign at the museum reads, "BMW's engineers were able to incorporate many improvements such as four-wheel brakes, a larger all-steal body, and a higher standard of interior equipment and trim."
