In the event you’ve frolicked in Munich, then you definately’ve absolutely seen that the Bavarian structure, the café life-style, and even the locals really feel a bit Italian—and that’s no coincidence. You possibly can drive from Munich to Turin in a day. That proximity helps clarify why the golden age of Italian automobile design within the Sixties and ’70s is so deeply entwined with BMW’s design historical past.
One of many greatest joys of researching the BMW Behind the Scenes ebook sequence was uncovering the story of the Bertone Garmisch—a long-forgotten BMW idea automobile spun off from the famed Italian stylist’s proposal for what turned the unique 3 Sequence.
Now, a brand new exhibit referred to as Belle Macchine on the BMW Museum places you face-to-face with the Garmisch and a shocking collection of one-offs and manufacturing BMWs designed in Italy. In case you have even a passing curiosity in Italian automotive design, Belle Macchine is an unmissable addition to the world’s high automobile exhibitions.
Contained in the Belle Macchine Exhibit on the BMW Museum
BMW Traditional has gone all-in right here. They’ve reimagined the spiral walkway contained in the Museum’s iconic “Granola Bowl” with projected visuals and ambient music that—not like Vegas—tastefully units the tone for the featured automobiles. Many previous displays on this house have been worthy, however admittedly a bit of dry. Not this one. It has all of the spectacle of the Bellagio however with extra cultural weight.
The exhibition took years of preparation, with BMW Traditional collaborating intently with BMW Design to pick out and place the automobiles. The payoff is evident. Take the Italdesign Ace of Hearts, for instance—on mortgage from Volkswagen, who now owns the famed design home. Simply steps away is the Nazca present automobile—a wildly futuristic proposal for a modern-day BMW M1. It sits a brief stroll up the spiral ramp from the Italdesign-built BMW M1 itself, and close by, the M1 Hommage ties the previous and future collectively. That’s the genius of the structure: these automobiles are organized in a manner that lets guests discover their relationships via proximity and context.
Naturally, the automobiles are the celebrities—however the exhibition’s actual power lies in the way it educates with out overwhelming. It opens by explaining the broader affect of Italian design, from style to product design, so even those that don’t dwell and breathe automobiles can join the dots. Many guests will race up the ramp to get to the {hardware}, however they shouldn’t. Early within the exhibit, a well-crafted introduction presents the seven Italian design studios that formed BMW’s historical past: Bertone, Pininfarina, Michelotti, Touring, Frua, Italdesign, and Zagato. This context makes it simpler to understand who did what—and when.
I’ve seen many exhibitions within the Granola Bowl over the a long time, however that is simply essentially the most compelling. The stability of storytelling and aesthetics invitations you to linger over the 20+ automobiles on show, soaking of their presence without having to slog via paragraphs of textual content. As an alternative, you get simply sufficient to grasp—and then you definately’re free to get pleasure from.
Showstoppers: Nazca, Garmisch, and the Ace of Hearts
Among the many highlights:
- The Italdesign Nazca M12, a priceless proposal for a future BMW M1. Guests strolling the spiral path can cease simply inches away from its wild, wedge-shaped bodywork.
- The BMW 328 Touring Coupé, which gained the Mille Miglia, is positioned reverse a 2006 idea automobile designed by Anders Warming, who as soon as led MINI and Rolls-Royce design and now heads BMW’s superior design staff.
- The Italdesign Ace of Diamonds, a really ’70s idea primarily based on the BMW 320i, exhibits Giugiaro’s effort to courtroom BMW shortly after his success with the VW Golf and Fiat Uno.
- A yellow E12 5 Sequence, initially styled by Marcello Gandini at Bertone and later completed by French design icon Paul Bracq, sits subsequent to a blue first-gen 3 Sequence. Close by is the one-off BMW 3200 CS Convertible, constructed by Bertone and introduced to main BMW shareholder Herbert Quandt.
Italy and Munich could also be separated by the Alps, however in BMW’s design DNA, they’re endlessly related. Belle Macchine is a standout exhibit that lastly provides that relationship its second within the highlight. And sure, admittance is free along with your BMW Museum ticket.
Having written about these automobiles within the BMW Behind the Scenes trilogy, I really feel like I’m visiting previous pals—a few of which I by no means anticipated to fulfill once more in particular person. Belle Macchine provides guests the prospect to understand them not simply in photographs or on the printed web page, however of their full three-dimensional, sculptural glory. It’s greater than a show—it’s a celebration.
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