Press Release
It's a binding commitment which BMW Group Mobile Tradition needs no persuading to meet. Techno Classica is Europe's premier gathering place for classic car and motorcycle fans at the start of the season. Year 2003 will once again see BMW Group Mobile Tradition exhibiting on over 2,000 square meters in Hall 12 in anticipation of 100,000-plus visitors.
Bavarian Open: BMW Group Mobile Tradition Kicks Off the Convertible Season
Under the slogan of "Bavarian Open" the stand will present a selection of treasures from the rich tradition of BMW convertibles. The range extends from a BMW 3/15 DA 4 Kabriolett, with 15 horsepower propelling it to a top speed of 75 km/h, all the way to the first BMW M3 convertible, which in the 1980s boasted top speeds far in excess of 230 km/h. The major highlight is a genuine one-off - the BMW 3200 CS Cabriolet. This model was a gift of the Board of Directors to Herbert Quandt, the major shareholder who had secured the Munich company's independence thanks to his intervention in 1959. This V8 coup?????????????????? was adapted into a convertible by Bertone, and it clocked around 60,000 kilometres during its ownership by the Quandt family. Recently restored by BMW Group Mobile Tradition, it is a further jewel in the collection that now numbers some 400 automobiles.
Anniversary, Anniversary, Anniversary: BMW Group to Celebrate Three Times in 2003
Another main focus of the BMW Group stand are three anniversaries which exemplify the scope of the company's activities. BMW has been building motorcycles for 80 years, the BMW M1 was unveiled 25 years ago, and in 1983 Nelson Piquet won the Formula One World Championship with the F1 Brabham BMW Turbo BT52. These milestones in the company's history are also reflected in the exhibits on display at Techno Classica.
BMW's first two-wheeled model, the 1923 R 32, featuring a Boxer engine and shaft drive, is displayed on the stand along with the latest machine built by BMW Motorrad: an R 1150 Rockster based on the same design principle. This motorcycle will be available in a special "80 Years" anniversary edition. The collection will now boast a new highlight - the BMW Kompressor. This supercharged model, formerly owned by John Surtees, is the only known model of its kind that still survives in its original pre-war condition. It is a worthy addition to the extensive collection of sports motorcycles in the BMW Group Mobile Tradition's collection.
The BMW M1 heritage is represented by a production model and two Procar versions. Standing for the extraordinarily successful Formula One involvement of the BMW Group are the winning model of the 1983 World Championship, an Brabyham BT 52 - BMW Turbo F1, as well as a current Formula One model of the BMW WilliamsF1 Team.
Parts Go Online: The Parts Catalog of BMW Group Mobile Tradition Is Now on The Net
The parts catalogue of BMW Group Mobile Tradition has been available on CD-ROM for some years, proving an indispensable reference tool for collectors of classic BMW cars and motorcycles. As of April 2003, searching for parts will become even easier. At
www.bmwmobiletradition.de, there will be 20,000 parts to choose from. Making the catalogue available on the internet brings with it the advantage of rapid updating, since the parts supply service offered by BMW Group Mobile Tradition introduces more than 1,000 new parts every year. Thanks to online access, users can call up a complete updated overview of all the available parts for BMW cars and motorcycles at any time. At the Techno Classica stand, an elaborate exhibit of the BMW 02 demonstrates how comprehensive Mobile Tradition's parts service is. For the BMW 02 series, around 90 per cent of all components are now once again available through BMW Group Mobile Tradition.
BMW Mobile Tradition is Online in New Guise at www.mobiletradition.de
BMW Mobile Tradition's communications presence will also be unveiled in a new format at Techno Classica. A completely redesigned homepage can be visited at
www.bmwmobiletradition.de , which presents all centres of competence of the BMW Mobile Tradition. Besides the parts catalogue, this includes the search engine of the historical archives, the historical collection of cars and motorcycles, the rental programme for BMW classics, the "News" tool and information on the BMW Clubs, the BMW Museum, accessories and publications.
Also celebrating its debut at Techno Classica is a new information brochure by BMW Group Mobile Tradition. "Mobile Tradition live" is a quarterly magazine providing information on the latest developments, facts and key issues revolving around the BMW Group's classic models.
The Accessories Catalog has already become a tradition, and its latest edition will be out in time for Techno Classica. Extending to some 130 pages, it offers fans of classic BMW cars and motorcycles 182 different accessories to choose from. More than 40 new items have been added to the range, including a BMW 328 Mille Miglia wristwatch and a BMW 328 travel bag.
Complementing the presence of BMW Group Mobile Tradition once again will be exhibits by BMW Club Europe e.V., Mini Club Deutschand, the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club and the Eisenach vehicle museum. They can also be found in Hall 12.
Press Conference on April 10, 2003 at the BMW Group Mobile Tradition Stand
This year the BMW Group Mobile Tradition press conference will begin at 14.30 hrs in Hall 12. In addition to this press conference, an Auto Talk Special with the heads of the classic divisions of DaimlerChrysler, Audi and Porsche, as well the BMW Group, will take place at 16.00 hrs on the same day. On Friday, 11th April, another Auto Talk Special will be held at the BMW Group stand. The focus will be on the involvement of the supply industry in providing spare parts for classic cars.
