BMW was put on the map in America by its small, sporty 1968-76 2002 coupe. Many still consider it the best BMW ever sold in this country. Nearly 380,000 were sold in America, so a good number are offered at reasonable prices.
BMW had sold low-volume cars in this country on an erratic basis from the 1950s, but it wasn't until import car genius Max Hoffman began selling the slick little BMW 1600 two-door coupe here in 1966 that things began taking off for the German automaker.
An Austrian emigre, Hoffman ran Hoffman Motors from a unique Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building on New York's posh Park Avenue. He instinctively knew what type of foreign cars trend-setting Americans would buy in the 1950s, when such autos -- mostly sports cars -- were new to most here. He handled such makes as Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, besides really exotic cars such as Delahaye.
Hoffman was so influential that he persuaded prestigious European automakers to build special models for America, such as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL with its flip-up doors, and the sexy Porsche Speedster. Both now are costly collector's items.
Hoffman had a warm spot in his heart for BMW and knew it finally had a winner for this country when he saw its 1966 1600 coupe. The light car was stylish and had 100-mph performance and nimble handling that made it a kick to drive. It also was beautifully built and had a practical four-seat interior.
Highlights were a rugged 1.6-liter overhead-camshaft four-cylinder engine, solid suspension and oversized brakes. It also had a fairly low price, which put it within reach of a larger range of buyers.
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