2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

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e12euro
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2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by e12euro »

This really deserves its own thread. It's the 2000CS coupe unveiled at the 1965 International Frankfurt Autoshow. Legendary BMW marketing director H.W. Bonsch talks about the coupe, which was the first model BMW ever officially exported and whose launch coincided with the company's 50th birthday. The year they made their 50,000 th car!

The 2000CS is demonstrated on the autobahn, including top speed, by no less than Hans Stuck Snr!

Testers in America bitched mightily about the car's slow electric windows, but they weren't that bad, and this car has the full set of 4 electric windows, the rears were standard. A power sunroof was optional and all these toys made 12 volts electrics necessary, a BMW first. The 2000CS also had a short lived exclusive on the new 2 liter engine, the coupe's launch coincided with the new 1800 automatic sedan also displayed. With both the 1800 and 2000CS, this was the first time you could get a BMW with automatic transmission. A real luxury feature in Europe at the time, same with all the electric assists.

2000CS at 1965 Frankfurt Autoshow
Last edited by e12euro on Jan 29, 2021 10:37 PM, edited 1 time in total.
davintosh
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by davintosh »

That's pretty cool! I just wish my Deutsch was better.
BMWCCA2
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by BMWCCA2 »

e12euro wrote: Jan 29, 2021 1:58 PM...all these toys made 12 volts electrics necessary, a BMW first.
I don't see how that's a "first". All of my Isettas and all of my 700 Convertibles are 12V systems. Those range from 1956 to 1964.

Cool story, though.
e12euro
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by e12euro »

BMWCCA2 wrote: Jan 29, 2021 8:39 PM
e12euro wrote: Jan 29, 2021 1:58 PM...all these toys made 12 volts electrics necessary, a BMW first.
I don't see how that's a "first". All of my Isettas and all of my 700 Convertibles are 12V systems. Those range from 1956 to 1964.

Cool story, though.
I guess for a New Class era car, the Isetta was originally from ISO. ;) 700 was a 100% BMW design though. :cool:
BMWCCA2
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by BMWCCA2 »

e12euro wrote: Jan 29, 2021 10:12 PM
BMWCCA2 wrote: Jan 29, 2021 8:39 PM
e12euro wrote: Jan 29, 2021 1:58 PM...all these toys made 12 volts electrics necessary, a BMW first.
I don't see how that's a "first". All of my Isettas and all of my 700 Convertibles are 12V systems. Those range from 1956 to 1964.

Cool story, though.
I guess for a New Class era car, the Isetta was originally from ISO. ;) 700 was a 100% BMW design though. :cool:
Isetta was licensed from an Iso design but none of the powertrain or even body parts came from Iso. Motorcycle engine and transmission just like the 600 and 700.

Probably more correct to say the 2000CS was likely the first BMW with 12v electrical system powered by an alternator rather than a generator?
e12euro
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by e12euro »

Isetta was licensed from an Iso design but none of the powertrain or even body parts came from Iso. Motorcycle engine and transmission just like the 600 and 700.

Probably more correct to say the 2000CS was likely the first BMW with 12v electrical system powered by an alternator rather than a generator?
Yes, you would expect BMW's motorcycle experience to be used. I like the look of the 600s the best, racing versions had 35 hp, std 19.5 hp! Must have been enough to hit 80 mph.

Yup, the alternator is the historical clincher. Apparently the next BMW car after the 2000CS to go 12 volt + alternator was the 2000 sedan. The 1600 2 door was still using 6 volt & generator. This legacy seemed to live on. If you notice the dash battery warning light on e3, e9 and early e12 it says generator!
BMWCCA2
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by BMWCCA2 »

e12euro wrote: Jan 30, 2021 12:45 PMYup, the alternator is the historical clincher. Apparently the next BMW car after the 2000CS to go 12 volt + alternator was the 2000 sedan. The 1600 2 door was still using 6 volt & generator. This legacy seemed to live on. If you notice the dash battery warning light on e3, e9 and early e12 it says generator!
I think 2002 used "L" for Ladung or "load"?
e12euro
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by e12euro »

BMWCCA2 wrote: Jan 30, 2021 8:40 PM
e12euro wrote: Jan 30, 2021 12:45 PMYup, the alternator is the historical clincher. Apparently the next BMW car after the 2000CS to go 12 volt + alternator was the 2000 sedan. The 1600 2 door was still using 6 volt & generator. This legacy seemed to live on. If you notice the dash battery warning light on e3, e9 and early e12 it says generator!
I think 2002 used "L" for Ladung or "load"?
Yeah, they probably lacked space, even generator was abbreviated on the younger cars. Then after 1976 they went to international symbols. For export they used English shorthand before 1977, although some German words remained.
garageboy
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by garageboy »

davintosh wrote: Jan 29, 2021 8:31 PM That's pretty cool! I just wish my Deutsch was better.
You can change it to Closed Captions to read the German. My German is not good enough to keep up with the captions, either, but It's a bit easier. And in fact, you can set the CC to translate to English. It's not terrible. You should try it.

Thank you, e12euro, for posting this video! That was the father of Hans Stuck that we all know and love? What amazing lives that family has had. Wow.
e12euro
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by e12euro »

garageboy wrote: Jan 31, 2021 8:57 AM
davintosh wrote: Jan 29, 2021 8:31 PM That's pretty cool! I just wish my Deutsch was better.
You can change it to Closed Captions to read the German. My German is not good enough to keep up with the captions, either, but It's a bit easier. And in fact, you can set the CC to translate to English. It's not terrible. You should try it.

Thank you, e12euro, for posting this video! That was the father of Hans Stuck that we all know and love? What amazing lives that family has had. Wow.
Yes, Hans Stuck Snr was famous in pre WWII racing. :cool:
stuartinmn
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by stuartinmn »

A 1967 2000CS sold for $38k at the Barrett-Jackson auction today.
e12euro
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Re: 2000CS at the 1965 Frankfurt Int. Autoshow

Post by e12euro »

stuartinmn wrote: Mar 24, 2021 9:22 PM A 1967 2000CS sold for $38k at the Barrett-Jackson auction today.
Cool, they are rare, and getting up there in price. Car Life magazine November 1967 said the 2000CS was an outstanding example of a true Grand Touring automobile.

One enthusiast I saw had Alpina Borani wire wheels fitted, a period option. Also saw a car for sale in Japan where they were demonstrating the 4 powered windows, very cool. :cool: Normally the cars only had the rear ones standard.
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