BMW is the most remarkable phenomenon to hit the auto industry in a generation. Celebrated for its luxury sports cars, motorcycles, and aero engines in the pre-war era, it squandered its glamorous heritage in the 1950s; on its knees and near bankruptcy, it was rejected as a lost cause when offered by desperate banks to Mercedes-Benz. But thanks to a wealthy German aristocrat, a brilliant engineer, and a young and inspirational manager, Mercedes would soon regret not having scooped up the once-glorious firm. Pioneering the ...
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BMW is the most remarkable phenomenon to hit the auto industry in a generation. Celebrated for its luxury sports cars, motorcycles, and aero engines in the pre-war era, it squandered its glamorous heritage in the 1950s; on its knees and near bankruptcy, it was rejected as a lost cause when offered by desperate banks to Mercedes-Benz. But thanks to a wealthy German aristocrat, a brilliant engineer, and a young and inspirational manager, Mercedes would soon regret not having scooped up the once-glorious firm. Pioneering the concept of the compact, high-quality sports saloon, the visionary new team systematically built BMW into the spectacular success we know today. Through the most expressive medium of all--the cars themselves--"The Complete Book of BMW tells the story of one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the century, from the icon c 2002tii of the 1960s through the mighty M3 of the 1990s to today's horn-again MINI and the crowning glory of the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
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