[BlackedOutBimmer]

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So I want to buy some die-cast models of some cars for my office...

I was thinking of 2 things...

Do a complete set of the "3-series" models through the years...

OR

Just do a lineup of "important" or "significant" cars that BMW has made over the years.. such as the first "M", that one long 2 DR deloren looking thing, etc etc...

I would have to do my homework on either as I do not know the history of BMW that well.

If I wanted to put a list of 5-6 cars to get a 1/43 or similiar scale model for my office, what would you go with?

[bimmerjph]

328 (the 30's roadster)
507
2002
E30 M3
E39 M5
1M

[iamcpap]

3.0csl
E28 M5
E30 M3
E36 M3 Ltw
M1 - Not 1m

[BlackedOutBimmer]

The e30 was the first "m3" ?

..the M1 is such a sexy car.

I will have to check out a couple of those other cars...

[richard313]

E9x 335 N54, due to the countless amount of VS M3 threads created - Because Race Car.

[GeeRam]

Just five cars is really difficult but after much deliberation.....

1) 327
2) 507
3) E9 CSL
4) E30 M3
5) E60 535d

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by iamcpap

3.0csl
E28 M5
E30 M3
E36 M3 Ltw
M1 - Not 1m

This comes closest to my own list. I'd swap the E36 M3 for the 2002 turbo, but otherwise spot on.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by bimmerjph

328 (the 30's roadster)
507
2002
E30 M3
E39 M5
1M

This is a great list.

What about i3 and i7? Also I think the first 3 series was significant too.

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

This is a great list.

What about i3 and i7? Also I think the first 3 series was significant too.

You said BMW history not future.

The problem with the E21 is that it was a good car between two greats (2002, E30).

[Fugly M3]

1. 2002- This car created a whole market segment and not only put BMW on the map but at the top of that segment- where it has stayed since.

2. E30- This car took the sport sedan from a niche segment to a ubiquitous class and helped in the conversion of baby boomers from hippies to yuppies.

3. E28- This car showed more affluent buyers that BMWs weren't just for uppity kids and that their daily car didn't have to be some big, boring Benz.

4. E38- Before this 7 series, the 7 series was just a big car because we need a big car too. With the E38 BMW knocked it out of the park and seriously stole Merc's thunder.

5. E65- Okay I know most of you are saying WTF, this guy is WHACK. But the fact is that the Bangle-butted 7 is probably the most copied car of the last half century. I mean pretty much every Asian lux car has a variant of the bangle butt. I don't like this car, not one bit. But I cannot ignore it's importance in BMWs history.

6. E9 CSL- this car is just f**cking cool and by far my favorite BMW ever.

This list does not include many models that are also important. However the first 5 cars particularly are probably the most important in terms of catapulting and transforming BMW from its fledging 1960s skeleton to the most valuable automobile brand on earth.

There was a time in the 50s/60s where BMW was literally days, if not hours, away from being bought out by Benz. This is why I picked the 2002 as number one. If that car didn't happen-and didn't take off in the US-BMW may not exist as we know it today. I bet you'll be hard pressed to find an automotive historian who wouldn't count this as fact.

[Efthreeoh]

I'd include the Z1 too. It was way ahead of its time.

Kind of ironic to have die-cast metal model of the real car that was made of plastic...

[GeeRam]

Well, I need to revise my list to include the BMW 700.

Not only BMW first all steel monocoque car, but the car that's success saved BMW from being merged into Damiler-Benz and promted the investment into the company by the Quandt family.

I didn't even know about the car and have just seen a gorgeous 700LS being thrashed around Goodwood circuit in the St.Mary's Trophy race driven by the great Jackie Oliver, and what a giant killing fabulous little car it is
I want one

[Dremerm6]

You have to get the Original M1, that's after all how the whole M history started.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Dremerm6

You have to get the Original M1, that's after all how the whole M history started.

Hardly. The 3.0 CSL and 2002tii were M GmbH cars long before the Lamborghini built M1.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Hardly. The 3.0 CSL and 2002tii were M GmbH cars long before the Lamborghini built M1.

Indeed, as was the 2002 Turbo.

And Lamborghini only built the first handful of M1's as by then they were in much financial trouble and BMW ///M built the remaining 98% of M1's made.