The Petersen Museum in Los Angeles will display “BMW: 100 Years of Performance,” from September 1 through October 14th. The oldest car on display during this special exhibition is the 1970 Alpina 2002ti which had its original paint and body work restored in 2014. It has seen much track time at the hands of drivers such as Nick Craw, John Morton, Danica Patrick, Boris Said, Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner. It is powered by a 2.0 liter SOHC four-cylinder engine which is fed by dual two-barrel side draft Solex carburetors.
The 1977 IMSA-spec 320i Turbo racecar is one of BMW’s most wacky looking cars. However, the bizarre “Batmobile” E9 CSL is in the running. The 320i Turbo was powered by a Formula 2-based M12 turbocharged engine that was rumored to be putting out in excess of 650 horsepower. It was later used in Formula 1 where it was capable of making well over 1000 horsepower. This 320i Turbo was raced by British driver David Hobbs.
The exhibit will also have five of BMW’s most memorable race and street cars, including a 1970 ALPINA 2002ti racecar, a 1977 IMSA 320i Turbo race car (Hobbs again), and a 1979 M1. Introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1978, the 1979 Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed M1 was BMW’s first mid-engine production car. It was powered by a twin-cam, fuel-injected 3.5L straight six-cylinder engine and accelerated from 0-60 miles per hour in a brisk 5.4 seconds. Conceived and built for racing, the M1 received general homologation for the entire production series and was equipped with an elaborate suspension with double wishbones on each wheel, gas-pressure dampers and anti-roll bars.
There are also the 2000 FW22 Formula 1 car driven by Ralf Schumacher (above) and a 507 roadster.
The M3 GT2 BMW Art Car by Jeff Koons will join the museum’s existing display of BMW Art Cars for a limited time.
For more information on this exhibition or on the Petersen Museum see www.Petersen.org.
