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1963 BMW 700 LS Luxus Saloon(Long Version)

Rare vehicle, left hand drive Italian market BMW
Recently imported from a dry climate in Italy
Extremly original BMW with one recent respray, interior iscompletelyoriginal
Correct white over Capri Green exterior and ivory/gray interior
Rearmounted 697cc flat twocylinder engine producing 32HP (47 mpg)
Fourspeed manual transmission
The first BMW to use a steel monocoque structure
Very nice original undercarriage
Produced in West Germany

Forty years before BMW unveiled its Mini, the company made its first foray into small but sporty models, predating the famous 2002 model. MotoeXotica Classic Cars has an example of this early sporty rear engine BMW , which you may not have seen before unless youve been to classic BMW museums. We are pleased to present this rarely seen and very original 1963 BMW 700 LS Luxus twodoor saloon. This BMW is a rare left hand drive Italian market car that was recently imported from the United States from a very dry climate of Italy. Other than a recent correct respray, this car is very original and hard to come by in such a survivor state

Finished in correct white over Capri Green, the cars paint and trim are in overall good condition. The cars windows are clear and intact, as are the cars lights, including its Fintailstyle taillamps.

This wee BMW rides on vintage Michelin radials, size 5.2012 at all four corners. The tires are old and do show dry rot in the sidewalls

This cars bodywork is straight, including the hood in the rear overall very presentable, rare example with some bubbling in the paint. The engine bay is tidy, the battery appears new, the front cargo area is in good condition and the bumpers fit well though the rear one evidences some blemishes upon close inspection. The undercarriage is completely original, plus very dry and tidy.

Under that rear hood is the correct 697cc flat twocylinder engine using a Solex 34PCI singlebarrel carburetor mated to a fourspeed manual transmission producing 32 HP with achievable mpg in the mid 40's.

Inside, the cars ivory and gray interior is in overall decent condition especially for being completely original. The thinbacked front bucket seats are in fair order, with the drivers seat showing blemishes and wear but the material is correct and original. There is no carpeting; instead, the floor is covered in the hard to find BMW rubber matting that is in decent order. The headliner is in overall fair shape but does show some blemishes. The instrument panel, with its VDO gauges, is in good order, as is the factory, twospoke steering wheel, inner door panels, mirror glass and shift lever are all in good shape. This is a radio delete model and the horn is inoperable.

The 700 models were a sales success at a time when BMW was close to financial ruin. More than 188,000 were sold before production ended in November 1965. Upon discontinuing the 700, BMW left the economy car market and did not return until 2002 with theMini.

Wolfgang Denzel, the distributor of BMW cars in Austria, commissionedGiovanni Michelottito prepare concept sketches based on a lengthened BMW 600 chassis.In January 1958, Denzel was awarded a development contract for the 700. Denzel presented a prototype to BMW's management in July 1958.The concept, a 2door coupe with a slanted roof, was generally well received, but objections were raised about the limited passenger space. BMW decided to produce two versions, the coupe, and a twodoor sedan with a taller, longer roof.

The engineer responsible for the chassis and suspension was Willy Black, who had designed and engineered the 600. The drivetrain and suspension were similar to those of the 600, with a rearmountedflattwin enginepowering the rear wheels,leading armsuspension at the front, andsemi trailing armsuspension at the rear. The 700 used a steelmonocoquestructure and it was the first BMW automobile to do so.

These 700s are special cars for lots of reasons in addition to helping save BMW from being bought and picked clean by Mercedes Benz. That did not happen because the Quandt family stepped in to help keep BMW independent.Thankfully BMW remained independent, otherwise we would have had more bloated sedans for captains of industry instead of the M3, the M5, and now the M2, M4, Z series, and all those great handling small sedans powered by what were sometimes detuned race engines.

The engine was an enlarged version of that used in theR67motorcycle and the 600. With a bore of 3.1inches and 2.9inches of stroke, the engine displaced 697 cubic centimeters. The engine originally used a single Solex 34PCI carburetor and had acompression ratioof 7.5:1. The 700 LS, a simplified Luxus with a lower price, was introduced in 1963.

If you're looking to add to your BMW collection or just looking for a unique European city car, make sure to come by our facility soon and look this one over for yourself. We guarantee you will be the only one with this model at your local BMW meets

Competition to the BMW 700 in 1963 included Alfa Romeos Dauphine, DKWs Junior De Luxe, Fords Anglia Deluxe and Hillmans Minx De Luxe Saloon.

This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 25,541 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE

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VIN: 41777

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