BMW Group Classic Patronage of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

With over one hundred years of company history, the BMW Group can look back on a rich, historical heritage – from aircraft engine construction to the globally renowned company that it is today.

The four brands – BMW, BMW Motorrad, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars – have created a unique success story.

The BMW Group Classic at its listed building near the BMW Group headquarters has, in addition, set out to preserve and document the diverse facets of this company history, and to support enthusiastic owners of historical vehicles with any advice and help they may need. The BMW Group Classic consists of three areas: the BMW Museum, BMW Group Classic Services and BMW Group Archive.

THE BMW MUSEUM.

Technology and history you can almost touch. Close to the BMW Group headquarters and BMW Welt, the BMW Museum has developed into one of the most visited industrial museums in Germany. In addition to the permanent exhibition, which features 125 original exhibits, exceptional temporary and special exhibitions are held in a unique listed building of special architectural interest.

BMW GROUP CLASSIC SERVICES.

The BMW Group Classic Center is the first point of contact for all classic BMW vehicles. We maintain, service, repair and restore your vehicle – authenticity is a matter of course. BMW authorised dealers create the opportunity globally to be as close as possible to fans and owners of BMW classics. Original BMW parts can also be ordered online from a comprehensive range of parts. We also offer selected classics to buy or to rent.

BMW GROUP ARCHIVE.

The BMW Group Archive possesses unique documentation dating back to when the company was founded in 1916. Technical drawings, spare parts catalogues, repair instructions or colour and equipment patterns ensure faithful restorations and customised reproductions of parts. A large proportion of the stock is publicly accessible, for example conveniently so via the Internet. Individual certificates can be issued for individual vehicles.

The BMW Group Classic keeps the fascination with the four brands of BMW, BMW Motorrad, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars alive.

The future needs heritage
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este held in the beautiful surroundings of Lake Como in Cernobbio is the most traditional Concours d’Elegance in the world. Its year of birth, 1929, also marked the start of BMW automobile production and, finally, more than a century has passed since Charles Rolls and Henry Royce joined forces to build the best cars in the world and founded the Rolls-Royce brand which today is the top make of the BMW Group. Within the scope of the Concorso d’Eleganza there are many superlative automobiles to marvel at, bearing witness as they do to the remarkable history of the companies and designers – names that have left their stamp on the motoring world in a variety of ways.

It seems apposite that the following statement by French writer André Malraux appears to apply to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW and Rolls-Royce alike:

If you want to design the future, you must leaf through the past. André Malraux

The Organising Committee of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este never loses sight of the worthy tradition in which the event is rooted, and together with the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este the BMW Group works unceasingly to develop it further.

The introduction of the Design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes means that contemporary concept cars complement the range of vehicles on display and take the Concorso back to its origins. The inclusion of design discussions is further evidence of creativity and the high standards of the event. Special shows, such as BMW Art Cars exhibitions, celebrations of anniversaries and automobile club presentations complete the programme. The Organising Committee will continue to shape the future of the Concorso as an extraordinary event for people who love the most beautiful classic automobiles in the world and the most progressive designs of contemporary concept cars and prototypes. They will never forget their visit.