In the car plant at Eisenach the British Austin Seven was built under license and was called “Dixie 3/15 PS”.
After BMW had bought the car plant to start with the production of cars, the Dixie was modified and from 1929 on sold as BMW 3/15 PS DA. “DA” meant “Deutsche Ausführung” (German construction).
The little car was quite popular and helped BMW to overcome the depression.
Austin Seven © flickr/exfordy
The BMW 3/15 PS had a steel body and was not only very reliable but also a pretty economical car to run. Due to the price of only 2,200 reichsmarks and the fact that it won the “International Alpenfahrt” (Alps Rally) in 1929 it the 3/15 became really popular.
The last car was sold in 1932 and its successor was the BMW 3/20 PS the first “real” BMW. It also had the “AM 1” for “automobile construction Munich”. The BMW 3/20 was more up to date than the Dixie, with overhead valve cylinder head, four-wheel brakes and front swing axle.
More pre-war models followed: The 303 in 1933, the 326 in 1935, the 328 Roadster in 1636 and the 327in 1937. The 328 was not only well constructed but also a pretty successful race car. The car was built under license in the UK.
BMW also became popular as a manufacturer of 6-cylinder engines.
Before and during WW2 the production of flight engines became more important again so that less motorcycles and cars were built.
BMW 503 Coupé © flickr/aldenjewell
After WW2 the car plant in Eisenach was under Russian occupation and the plant in Munich was severely damaged. During the first years only motorcycles, cooking pots and brakes were produced.
In 1951 the BMW 501 with a pre war 6-cylinder engine was presented. It was the first BMW car to be built after the war. Because of its shape it was called “baroque angel” (Barockengel). In 1954 the faster version of the 501, the 502, was available with a V8-engine, the first lightweight V8 engine in the world.
Financially the BMW 501/502 never was a success.
But as the V8-engine proved to be a suitable racing engine, the models 507 and 503 were built. They were presented on the IAA in 1955.
But even thought the 503 was one of the most beautiful sports cars of that time only 412 were built until the end of production in 1959.
Tags: Austin Seven, BMW, BMW 3/15 PS, BMW 501, car
