The history of the 1965 BMW 700 LS started with an Austrian BMW importer named Wolfgang Denzel. He pitched an idea to BMW about a small saloon car that was more upscale and more fun to drive – something that was peculiar at that time. The benchmark was the BMW 600 and he wanted to exceed what this car had to offer. BMW gave the idea a greenlight and Denzel developed a prototype with the Turin, Italy-based designer Michelotti. The end result was the BMW 700 and it did really well in terms of sales. It also inspired the creation of the cars that came after it.
The design of the BMW 700 influenced the German Automaker to create the Neue Klass cars which eventually led to the famous BMW 2002.
The BMW 700 was really peculiar. It was small and had two doors, with the engine at the rear. It provided a premium driving experience to families with enough space in the cabin and good looks. Moreover, the handling was super fun. It didn’t take long for the crowd to appreciate it.
This specific car is a BMW 700 LS (Long-Tail Sport). It is powered by a two-cylinder boxer engine that only made 32 hp in 1965 and is sitting on the rear. Paired with a four-speed manual transmission, it was capable of 0-60 mph in probably ten minutes. The car’s charm starts from the grille-less front end, big singular headlights and long tail. This car has been restored, so it’s in superb condition but it isn’t all original.