BMW Garmisch

BMW Garmisch
Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	BMW Garmisch
Manufacturer	BMW
Production	1965 (concept)
Designer	Eugen Enns; design studio Bertone under Nuccio Bertone
Class	Concept car
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related	BMW 3200 CS

BMW Garmisch The BMW Garmisch was a 1965 concept coupé developed by BMW in collaboration with Bertone and stylist Eugen Enns; shown alongside contemporaries from Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo, and Porsche at European motor shows. It combined aesthetic cues that referenced the BMW 507, the BMW 3200 CS, and coachbuilt tradition epitomized by Pininfarina and Ghia. The car influenced later design language within BMW while intersecting with the careers of designers and firms such as Giorgetto Giugiaro and Carrozzeria Touring.

Design and Development

The Garmisch originated during an era when design houses like Bertone, Pininfarina, and Italdesign collaborated with manufacturers including BMW, Fiat, and Renault to produce show cars for venues such as the Frankfurt Motor Show and the Geneva Motor Show. Commissioned by executives from BMW AG amid market shifts following models like the BMW 507 and the BMW 700, the project engaged stylist Eugen Enns and the Bertone workshop led by Nuccio Bertone, whose studio had worked with Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and Ferrari. Influences cited include the sculptural surfaces of Michelotti designs and the clean profiles associated with Pininfarina coupés. Its name referenced the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, connecting BMW’s Bavarian identity to alpine sporting heritage represented by events like the Winter Olympics held there in 1936. Prototype development brought together engineers versed in chassis layout from projects like the BMW 3200 CS and coachbuilders familiar with hand-formed aluminum and steel used by Touring Superleggera.

Technical Specifications

The concept used mechanical components derived from series models of the mid-1960s, following drivetrain traditions established by BMW models that shared engineering with NSU and cooperative suppliers such as ZF Friedrichshafen. The layout was front-engine, rear-wheel-drive consistent with contemporaries like the Mercedes-Benz 230SL and the Porsche 911 (early)—integrating suspension technology influenced by developments at Bilstein and braking systems reflecting innovations from Brembo-adjacent suppliers. The powerplant was based on BMW straight-six architecture similar to engines in the BMW 3200 CS and BMW New Class derivatives; transmissions paralleled units used by ZF and Getrag in 1960s touring cars. Chassis construction featured a tubular subframe and monocoque elements resonant with techniques from Alfa Romeo and Jaguar coachwork. Interior appointments mirrored luxury appointments found in vehicles by Rolls-Royce and Bentley of the period, employing leather by artisans connected to houses supplying Iso Rivolta and trim workshops associated with Bertone.

Variants and Prototypes

Only a single Garmisch prototype was constructed by Bertone in collaboration with BMW’s design office, joining an era of one-off concepts like the Alfa Romeo junior Z, Fiat 8V Supersonic, and Lancia Florida. Documentation suggests multiple body studies and iterations, akin to processes used for the Jaguar XJ13 and Ferrari 250 GT prototypes, with exploratory proposals for alternative powertrains and roof configurations. A potential open-top variant was considered, reflecting trends set by the Mercedes-Benz SL series and the Austin-Healey roadsters. Some prototype elements—trim pieces, glass, and hardware—were repurposed in restoration projects linked to BMW Classic and collectors in the circles of museums such as the BMW Museum and Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile.

Reception and Legacy

Lauded by journalists from publications like Autocar, Motor Trend, and Road & Track for its proportions and surface treatment, the Garmisch was also compared in show reports to the works of Giorgetto Giugiaro and the output of Pininfarina. While never entering production, it influenced subsequent BMW coupé aesthetics, with echoes visible in later designs including the BMW E9 and the BMW New Class Coupé studies. The car became a reference point among collectors and historians specializing in coachbuilt prototypes similar to the Bertone Stratos and Ghia Gilda, prompting scholarly articles in periodicals associated with the Society of Automotive Historians and exhibitions at institutions like the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Production and Rarity

As a lone show car built in the mid-1960s, the Garmisch is among a cadre of unique prototypes whose rarity parallels pieces such as the Ferrari 512S Modulo and the Lamborghini Marzal. Ownership history has involved private collectors, restoration specialists with ties to BMW Classic, and corporate displays at events organized by groups like Techno-Classica and auction houses including Bonhams and RM Sotheby's that handle one-off coachbuilt automobiles. Its singular status, original Bertone construction, and provenance linking BMW and Italian coachbuilding underscore its value to museums and private collections focused on 20th-century automotive design.

Category:BMW concept cars Category:One-off automobiles