Is This A Real 1600 Factory Picture?

[rey949]

Hey guys do any if you recognize the car in this ebay auction? It days factory photo, but I have never seen a 1600 that looks like this one... Has a coupe tail light configuration..thought it was interesting...

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=290960167971&globalID=EBAY-US

[adawil2002]

Never seen that before, must be a prototype, interesting.

[HBChris]

Maybe the South African built model that has been discussed here before?

[Mike Self]

I thought that picture might have been in the factory '02 (orange cover book) but it isn't, although I think I've seen it somewhere.  It's obviously a 1600 prototype--tail lights look like they're similar to a 2000CS, the shape of the backlight is different (look at the lower corners), the trunk lid is different, the knee height character line is much more pronounced and the contours on the sides and around the rear aren't quite the same as the final design.  There's some script above the left tail light, but it's not readable.   Also there doesn't appear to be a steering wheel or seats!  Thus it may be a full-scale clay model.

 

mike

Edited January 7, 2014 by mike

[HBChris]

Definitely not coupe tail lights, wrong shape.

[dlhoovler]

My guess is also that it's a clay model. My dad had a '57 Chevy and a book detailing the development of the '55-'57 models, and it showed some very interesting photos of clay models during the development process. It was fascinating to me how, even quite late in the development cycle, nearly complete-looking models would have significant differences from the final production cars. I wonder how close we were to "real BMWs have skinny tail lights"?

 

-Dave

[esty]

.

[HBChris]

Rey,

You need one of these.

http://www.bmwism.com/all_bmw/bmw_e23_735_limo_front_side_view.jpg

South African BMW 2004, similar lines and rear window shape.

http://www.bmwism.com/all_bmw/bmw_2004_rear_view.jpg

[ibjettin]

I thought that picture might have been in the factory '02 (orange cover book) but it isn't, although I think I've seen it somewhere.  It's obviously a 1600 prototype--tail lights look like they're similar to a 2000CS, the shape of the backlight is different (look at the lower corners), the trunk lid is different, the knee height character line is much more pronounced and the contours on the sides and around the rear aren't quite the same as the final design.  There's some script above the left tail light, but it's not readable.   Also there doesn't appear to be a steering wheel or seats!  Thus it may be a full-scale clay model.

 

mike

 

The dash and the back windshield are also different. Even has a roundel on the trunk as well as what looks like a gas filler on the right side by the tail light. Seems like a clay prototype or even early photo retouching.

Edited January 8, 2014 by ibjettin

[jgerock]

Cannot make out the LH badge- perhaps Ghia?

[LarsAlpina]

It is a factory photo and it comes from the times the design of the 02 was still developed. I would date it early 65, maybe still 64.

 

Within the process of designing several options for the look of the front and back end of the car were discussed - the pictured prototype shows a non-realized variant based on the Coupe 2000CS which was also created at that time (production start in June 1965).

 

Here is a picture from the same time showing the option that made it into production later on with some minor modifications. Same room, same number plate, same back window.

 

 

Badges on the left on the photo in the auction show BMW roundel and "1500". They still weren´t sure were to place the roundel and so they´ve put an additional one on the trunk like realized with the the late square light cars. "1500" is because at that time the car was still to be the smaller two-door brother of the then actual BMW 1500 NK - so to say 1500-2. With the production start of the 02 series the NK 1500 was already discontinued and with that the 02 became brother of the the actual BMW 1600 NK - the 1600-2 we all know.

 

Best regards, Lars.

 

 

[jgerock]

I thought that picture might have been in the factory '02 (orange cover book) but it isn't, although I think I've seen it somewhere.  It's obviously a 1600 prototype--tail lights look like they're similar to a 2000CS, the shape of the backlight is different (look at the lower corners), the trunk lid is different, the knee height character line is much more pronounced and the contours on the sides and around the rear aren't quite the same as the final design.  There's some script above the left tail light, but it's not readable.   Also there doesn't appear to be a steering wheel or seats!  Thus it may be a full-scale clay model.

 

mike

I just pulled my BMW Profiles book (orange cover) and...

 

Notice the rear glass shape, but the rear lights and bumper are more "02-like".  Also note the cabriolet trunk hinges, shaved tail panel, LH exhaust tip and no rear horizontal trim (also possibly no belt-line trim?).

 

 

Edited January 10, 2014 by jgerock

[jgerock]

The rear window reminds me of the Touring..(notice the LH exhaust and absence of horizontal trim just like the cabriolet). HMMM.

 

[tomscat1]

I just pulled my BMW Profiles book (orange cover) and...

 

Notice the rear glass shape, but the rear lights and bumper are more "02-like".  Also note the cabriolet trunk hinges, shaved tail panel, LH exhaust tip and no rear horizontal trim (also possibly no belt-line trim?).

 

 

Can you post more info on the book you refer to, please?  The orange covered BMW Profiles.  Much obliged.  

 

Is it this one?

BMW Profiles - Touring-Car Racing and Sports Cars Book 

• BMW Produced book, written by Stefan Knittel
• All about Sports and Touring Car racing - From the early days, to the 2002, E21 320i turbos / Grp 5, M1, E30 M3, E36 M3, E46, E90, and more.

[jgerock]

 

Can you post more info on the book you refer to, please?  The orange covered BMW Profiles.  Much obliged.  

 

Is it this one?

BMW Profiles - Touring-Car Racing and Sports Cars Book 

• BMW Produced book, written by Stefan Knittel
• All about Sports and Touring Car racing - From the early days, to the 2002, E21 320i turbos / Grp 5, M1, E30 M3, E36 M3, E46, E90, and more.

 

Tom - the one is BMW Profile # 3  "The BMW 02 Series..The cult car".   I found my copy on Amazon.com a few years ago. 

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