BMW Aims High

BMW's only antique classic?

BMW was a little out of its league this past weekend.

The Concorso D'Eleganza Villa d'Este held in Bella Italia was sponsored by the Bavarian automaker. And to be sure, few antique Bimmers (or contemporary models for that matter) win any category in vintage shows.

Last year the marque did manage one victory at the Concorso - a 1957 BMW 507 won the Tropheo del Presidente della FIVA.

What other BMW could have?

So, who were this year's winners? The usual suspects: Bugatti, Ferrari, Isotta Fraschini, Rolls-Royce, etc.

BMW is typically outgunned at the Concorso

BMW started making cars relatively late in the game (1929). Compared to Mercedes-Benz, the Munich manufacturer is as much an upstart in this category of cars as Lexus was to the contemporary luxury segment in 1990.

So in effect, BMW is pulling a Japanese move by insinuating that their cars are both classic and of long standing heritage by parking itself amongst ultra-distinguished company.

Now don't get me wrong. BMW is one of my all time favorites - they still produce some of the best cars ever (even if most of the contemporary lineup is sinfully ugly). And true, the company does now own Rolls-Royce.

But if BMW were to claim that it owns Rolls-Royce's history, it would be as ludicrous as Ford claiming that it had something to do with the E-Type's production.

It is with rare exception indeed that one can point to a classic BMW from the 50s or 60s and declare it to be as beautiful, collectible, or as desirable as an example from Jaguar or Mercedes-Benz of the same era.

I challenge you, dear reader, to disagree.