When Two Cylinders Were Enough

 

One of the few '60s/'70s BMW models I never got to drive when I worked for the UK importer 45 years ago was the 700.  I could kick myself now, as I’m sure I had the opportunity a time or two, but with youthful arrogance was too preoccupied with getting behind the wheel of such glamorous things as the 3.0CSL and the 2002 Turbo.  At that time I was still running for fun my Saab 96 Two Stroke, an early influencer in my now lifelong liking for small, stubby cars.  More like an addiction actually, and one fed just the other day by the sight and sounds of this characterful 700 Coupe at Lydden – see above.  It looked superb out on the circuit and was quick enough for a 950cc, 62 year old car, qualifying 7th (of 15) for the Jack Sears Trophy despite being the only car with a sub-1 litre engine.  And the noise it made whilst doing this was great – gruff and quite coarse, just as I like, and entirely befitting a twin cylinder, air cooled unit.  Such small, ‘unusual’ engines are very appealing in all senses, and can give rise to aesthetically pleasing gems such as this cutaway:


Styled by Michelotti, the 700 was much more successful than its predecessor, the 600, (bubblecar style, but with 4 wheels).  Sales were sufficiently strong to induce the investment from the Quandt family which laid the foundation for BMW’s remarkable growth through the seventies and eighties. 

These are views of the car whilst in its previous ownership, (photography by Bobby Peters and Drew Gibson):



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