100 years of German quality from BMW

This year, one of the main German automakers is passing an important milestone: BMW (German: Bayerische Motoren Werke, Bavarian Motor Works) is celebrating its centenary.

It's not the oldest automaker - Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Ford, Renault and Fiat have all been around before - but BMW arguably produces more iconic vehicles than any other marque in its class.

Surprisingly, cars have not always been a core part of BMW's business. In 1916, the company began producing aircraft engines, in 1923 it switched to motorcycles, smoothly merging into the automotive industry only by 1928.

“Fun to drive” is more than just a slogan, it is a BMW philosophy. And we will continue to follow it,” said Ludwig Willisch, president of BMW North America.

Modern BMW models are selling better than ever, but the full value of the company's heritage can be traced back to classic models.

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Source: edition.cnn.com

The long history of creating excellent vehicles deserves respect.

The most famous owner of the coveted BMW 507 (1956-1959) was a young American musician named Elvis Presley. He even had two.

The knowledge that only 250 507s were built helped raise auction prices for well-preserved examples to $2 million apiece. This made the BMW 507 one of the most desirable models for collectors.

BMW 2002, produced from 1966 to 1977, has become one of the most beloved and affordable models of modern classics. Fans love to say that her amazing performance is one of the main selling points of the model.

The 3.0 CSL is valued for its fine design and racing prowess. It also became the first model in the acclaimed BMW Art Car series when famed American sculptor Alexander Calder decorated one of the cars in 1975.

The M1, which appeared in 1978, is still one of the most beautiful sports cars. Designed by legendary Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro, the influence of its wedge shape can be seen in the cutting-edge BMW i8.

The Z8 model joined Pierce Brosnan on the set of one of the films of the James Bond spy saga - The World Is Not Enough (1999). It is also highly regarded by collectors.

In 2011, the BMW concern, with its remarkable, dashing 328 Hommage concept, recalled the original BMW 328 model from the 1930s. This design triumph looks vintage and futuristic at the same time.

BMW 4, which became the continuation of BMW 3, one of the most successful BMW series in general, was introduced in 2014 and now fills the gap between the "three" and the "five".

The high-performance BMW M2, introduced this year and inspired by the tradition of sports bikes, received rave reviews. Die-hard BMW fans appreciated its relative affordability and excellent manual transmission.

The stunning 3.0 CSL Hommage R was created as a tribute to the BMW 3.0 CSL (also known as the "Batmobile") that won the famous 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race in 1975.

The X6M occupies the top position in BMW's sports rankings and brings in very good profits for the company. BMW launched this class in 1999 with the X5.

The hybrid i8, introduced in 2014, went from concept to real product pretty quickly and remains one of BMW's coolest and most popular vehicles.

The 7 Series is one of BMW's most luxurious models, powered by powerful 12-cylinder engines.

The new BMW 7 Series is also one of the most innovative vehicles in its class. It is equipped with options such as gesture control, wireless charging and electronic ignition keys with a display that shows all the important information before you even get behind the wheel.