BMW 700 Saloon

One of the most significant BMWs of all time, the cute little 700 Saloon was the car that literally saved the company. 

By 1959 BMW was in crisis – while the big 502 and 503 V8 models were fine cars, they were far too expensive for all but a handful of customers. The quirky Isetta and 600 were also well-received, as were the range of motorcycles, but the profits they generated were insubstantial. It was the 700 that provided the vital sales boost that brought prominent financier Dr Herbert Quandt on board and prevented the banks from foreclosing on their loans and bankrupting the Munich firm which had been operating since 1916.

Designed by Michelotti, the 700 was a compact two-door saloon powered by an air-cooled, rear-mounted version of the 697cc R67 motorcycle boxer engine. With clean, handsome styling and a roomy boot up front, it could carry four adults in comfort and cruise at 70mph. A more sporty Coupe was also offered and highly tuned versions were soon scooping up trophies on hillclimbs and race tracks. A big sales success, some 188,100 were sold (31,000 of them saloons) before the 700 was replaced by the 1500 in 1965 – enough to put BMW on the secure financial footing that it has continued to build on to this day.

Dating from 1961, this particular 700 Saloon spent its first 30 years in the sunny climate of Malta, hence the remarkable state of preservation. Imported to the UK in 1992, it has been dry stored and largely unused since then and must surely be one of the most original examples in existence.

In the summer of 2012 it was invited to the Goodwood Revival where it was put on display in the 'Blue and White Garages used car department' at the back of the main paddock. Said to run well, it has just been issued with a fresh MOT but will doubtless benefit from some precautionary recommissioning before being put back into use.

This affordable classic has plenty of scope to climb in value as a vital part of BMW's early motoring history. With just one registered keeper in the UK to date, it comes with a V5 plus the original owner’s instruction manual and service book. The vendor believes that you would be hard pressed to find a better, more original example anywhere and we have to agree with him. One for the serious BMW collector.