BMW - BMW 1500 & 1600
Introduced in 1961/2 the BMW 1500 was to be the postwar model that was the saviour of the company, and the start of the "Neue Klasse" BMW range designed from scratch, starting a fresh beginning for the company with new financial backers with the great Fritz Fiedler brought back in charge of engineering, not so long after he had been working in Britain assisting Bristol and Frazer Nash. The new single over head cam "M10" 1500cc was used in the first model, called unsurprisingly, the BMW1500. This BMW got a marginally larger engine in 1964 to make the BMW 1600 which then spawned a range of BMW two door models. Production of the BMW1500 and 1600 continued to 1966.
Tyre size for the BMW 1500 and BMW 1600 models was originally 6.00x14, and later radial option 165SR14 from the showroom. Blockley produces a fantastic quality steel belted 165HR14 tyre with period correct tread pattern - details below. For those wanting a wider tyre of the same diameter there is also a Blockley 185/70VR14 tyre size, but unless it is for competition work we would suggest sticking with the original 165HR14 size. See full details of these tyres at the links below:
