BMW

During the 1950s, the BMW line-up consisted of luxury cars with displacements of two litres or more and economy cars powered by motorcycle engines. With their luxury cars becoming increasingly outdated and unprofitable and their economy cars becoming less attractive to an increasingly affluent society, BMW needed a car in the 1.5 to 2 litre class to become competitive. The prototype of the Neue Klasse was introduced in September 1961 at the Internationale automobil-Ausstellung as the BMW 1500. The car entered production in October 1962 and was praised for its styling and performance. It was a successful and profitable model and helped to establish the identity of BMW automobiles as sports sedans.

1962

1963

In December 1964 the engine displacement grew to 1,573 cc. so the car was now named BMW 1600. The 1,499 cc engine however, was still available in markets where capacities greater than 1,500 cc incurred higher tax rates. In 1966 the 1600 continued in a shortened two-door version as the 1600-2 (later named 1602) and remained in production until early 1971.