3 February 2020

The idea of “dream” or “fantasy” leagues is hugely successful in the realm of virtual sport. Teams selected by individuals are pitted against each other. If that happens to be your thing, the movers and shakers of the GP Ice Race at Zell am See transformed this principle into reality last weekend. For example, the replica of the classic Mini Cooper S in the Rally version, one of three vehicles nominated by BMW Group Classic, raced against an Alfa Romeo 8 C from the pre-war era and a VW Beetle. An absolutely dream combination for any rally fan with oodles of imagination, just like the entries of the first-generation BMW M3 in the rally version and the MINI ALL4 Racing competing on ice at Zell am See. You can find out on Instagram what it really looked like.

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We have exhausted our hyperbolic superlatives for describing the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, taking place on the shores of Lake Como this year from 22 to 24 May – it is quite simply the pinnacle of historic automobile glamour. And it’s certainly no easy matter to conjure up an appropriate prequel to get you in the mood. But voilà, here it is: the “Grand Tour”, a three-day road trip from Verona to Cernobbio on the shoreline of Lake Como, a veritable delight to be experienced on appealing routes, accompanied by carefully selected stopovers and driving exquisitely curated classic cars. The choice of vehicles for the drive through the epic cultural landscapes of Northern Italy includes the famed BMW 328 roadster from the 1930s and the exquisite BMW 507 from the era of the Economic Miracle. After arriving at Villa d’Este on the Friday, the dazzling party can ascend to another dimension, for example with the “Friends of the Concorso” package encompassing entry to events, overnight accommodation and dinner at the world-famous hotel. Anybody craving further indulgence or indeed wanting to book can mail the address below for registrations:

John Bolster was already a motor-sport legend when he was given custody of one of the first newly minted classic Minis for test purposes in 1959. His reputation was primarily based on his self-conceived “Bloody Mary” racing special that he had built together with his brother. In the pre-war years, it was the scourge of scores of hillclimb and sprint competitions. Perhaps it was the Mini’s classic understatement, maybe the utterly unconventional concept – whatever the reason, the now famous journalist immediately fell in love with his classic Mini, and he was one of the first people to recognise the sporting potential of this pint-sized car. After three months, Bolster was absolutely set on purchasing the press car he had been loaned to test and the company exceptionally granted his wish.

Vehicles of the BMW brand quite rightly have the reputation of being seen rather often from the rear – this makes the exhaust a key element defining the overall profile. And the tailpipe trim, as it is correctly known, has always been designed most carefully with this in mind, for example the oval profile gracing the back end of the BMW Z3 roadster, which is now available as a replacement part from BMW Group Classic. Over the coming months, a number of these tail-end business cards for classic models have come back to the Parts Shop, starting with the BMW 02, continuing with the coupé in the big series from the 1960s to the 1970s, the first-generation BMW 6 Series and BMW 5 Series from the second generation, and including numerous other models.