BMW

The company was established from two factories in Munich, mainly producing aircraft engines: BFW czyli Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG, founded in 1916 r., Oraz Rapp Motor Works, founded in 1913 r. The boom in the aviation industry during World War I increased Rapp's production, which evolved into a joint stock company under the name of BMW GmbH. Share capital in the amount of 12 Millions of marks were brought in by the Viennese banker Castiglioni. After the Treaty of Versailles entered into force, both companies were looking for a replacement production program. BFW produced mopeds and office furniture. BMW has obtained an order to produce Knorr air brakes.

Castiglioni did not come into possession of the company until 20 May 1922 r. New plant, located on Lerchenauer Strasse in Munich, was named Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. The blue and white factory mark shows a rotating propeller.

The production of cars begins at these plants in 1922 r., when the designer Max Fritz developed a new engine concept - flat, air-cooled two-cylinder boxer, designed for industrial engines, but also used in motorcycles and cars.

However, the actual production of cars began only in 1928 r. BMW then bought from Gothaer Wagenfabrik AG. Dixi Werke's plant in Eisenach, where a car under the name of Dixi was produced under license from Austin Seven. Type soon followed 315 with a six-cylinder engine. W 1936 r. typ 326 launched a new radiator hood, which continues to this day. The rear axle suspension was original, using torsion bars, and a fully synchronized gearbox. A variation of this type was also a beautiful convertible 327 with a two-liter engine with power 40 kW (35 KM) followed by the most successful sports car - type 328.