24 June 2019

The unforgettable car chase involving three Minis through Turin’s inner city is legendary. Numerous other beautiful cars meet fiery ends or are otherwise destroyed during the epic chase. The comedy caper film entitled “The Italian Job” first screened in 1969 has become a cult film in the United Kingdom. 50 years later – and 60 years after the premiere of the classic Mini – there was a glittering celebration at the MINI plant Oxford with a stunt driver recreating some of the stunts from the film, a meticulously restored Lamborghini Miura and a special message from crime boss Sir Michael Caine. The film is an absolute must for MINI fans, but it is not very well known in Germany. Perhaps that was due to the German interpretation of the title: “Charlie staubt Millionen ab” or “Charlie steals millions”. 

Bond, James Bond, was the first person to be given the opportunity to drive it. In 1999, Pierce Brosnan was at the wheel of a pre-series BMW Z8 starring in “The World Is Not Enough”. This car went into hand-crafted series production in 2000 and combined elements of classic and modern. The aesthetic styling of the open-top roadster continued the line from the legendary BMW 507 presented in 1956, with a long bonnet, short rear end, and perfect contours. It remains a dream automobile to this day and a classic of tomorrow.

Twice a month, fans of classic vehicles meet at BMW Group Classic in Moosacher Straße 66 to enjoy white veal sausages – a Bavarian breakfast classic. On 6 July, there will be a very special celebration. Drivers of the English classic will have places of honour in celebration of the 60th birthday of the MINI brand and they will enjoy typical snacks from the island kingdom (yes, there will still be traditional Bavarian white sausages). Naturally, classic beauties of all marques are invited as always. Their owners will be able to admire the vehicles, talk shop and visit the historic vehicle hall.

Replacement parts made of plastic are everyday occurrences in the Parts Shop of BMW Group Classic. Actually, this material has played a key role for many decades, though the Z1 is a special case. This is due to the ingenious design of the roadster presented in 1987: a galvanised steel frame with outstanding characteristics for torsion and durability, thermoplastic elements for all the body panels, from the engine bonnet, through the front and rear aprons, to the vertically sliding doors. All the components can be supplied by the BMW Classic Parts Shop.