BMW Advert 1986 - 635CSi, M6, E9 3.0 CSL, M1 - 'The latest in a short line of supercars...'

Another great advert from BMW, this time from 1986, promoting the benefits of their tuned straight-six power plants and their innovative (for the time!) use of four valves per cylinder. 24-valves were first seen in the E9 3.0 CSL 'Batmobile' in 1974, again in the M1 supercar in 1977 and finally making its way to the general consumer in the 1986 635CSi model E24 6er. 

As BMW discovered years ago, when you need extra power from an engine - on the race track for instance - just double the valves per cylinder.

The extra valves mean the the cylinders can take in more air and fuel on each stroke, burn it more efficiently and expel it quicker. So much so that 6 cylinders with 4 valves can produce more power than 12 cylinder with 2.

Take the three cars above, developed by BMW Motorsport.

The 3.5 litre CSL, affectionately known as the Batmobile, won the first of many races at the Saltzburgring in 1974, beating a 7 litre Camaro in the process.

A 192 mph version of the M1 won its class at Le Mans for the last 3 years. (At the Nurburgring in 1981 it won the race outright.)

The M635CSi, however, is merely a luxury road going coupe. Although it's capable of 158mph, it hasn't won a thing.

Except praise.

BMW UK Advertising Poster / Placard 1980 - M1, E21 320/6 + 6-cylinder engines

Nice 1980 placard from BMW UK advertising their family of 6-cylinder engines, from the later E21 320 to the M1's M88 and explaining the benefits of the. "Six cylinders where you'd expect to find four." in the compact 3-Series and "Six cylinders where you'd expect to find twelve." in the case of the supercar M1.

   BMW's dedication the six cylinder engine is not a recent phenomenon.

   It goes right back to BMW's original as a specialist engine-maker, rather than a car manufacturer.

   In fact, the first engines we ever built were six cylinder aircraft engines.

   Later, in the 1950's when conspicuous consumption was almost a status symbol, BMW preferred to stay with efficiency rather than extravagance and launched a six cylinder luxury car.

   Today, in the BMW 320, a car that's scarcely more than 14ft long, theres a sophisticated six cylinder power unit.

   And the BMW M1 on the right also needs no more than six cylinders. Even though in its most developed form, the engine can actually produce 800 bhp.

   It's not a blind dedication to six that makes us refuse the false economy of a four in the case of the 320. Or the wanton extravagence of a 12 in the case of the M1.

   Rather, we take our guidance from the laws of physics.

   According to those laws, it is not possible to build an engine that's perfectly balanced with less than six cylinders arranged in-line.

   Anything else, is a compromise that may help a car manufacturer balance its books. But won't help it balance its engines.

   Which is why every engine BMW make that's two litres or larger, is an in-line sic cylinder engine.

   Fortunately, there's no need for you to understand the laws of physics to discover the difference this makes.

   There's not a trace of roughness as you cruise. Or rawness as you accelerate.

   There's a smooth immediacy which motoring journalists normally describe as "turbine-like".

   And there's a flexibility which makes driving in traffic almost a pleasure. For with 85% of maximum torque at a mere 1900rpm you get a responsiveness in fourth gear that you might normally expect only in second gear.

   The BMW 320 costs £6,790.

   Which is scarcely more than cars whose manufacturers have chosen to compromise on their engines.

   And if they're prepared to compromise on the most important part of a car, where will those compromises stop?

BMW BTCC 60th Anniversary Poster - E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

2002Ti, Works team 1965 - 'Pop Art'
E9 3.0 CSL Alpina, Works team 1973 - 'Collage Art'
E30 M3, Mobil team Frank Sytner - 'Tech Noir'
E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design'
E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

Era: 2009
Car: E90 320Si
Driver: Colin Turkington
Team: RAC Racing
Style: Stencil Art
Artist: Katie Edwards
Resolution: 1191 x 1684

What is Stencil art? - Stencil Art Wiki here.

These are a bit out of date, but I think they're great and I've been after some higher resolution versions for a while. BMW UK had them designed in 2015 to mark 60 years of competing in the BTCC, Super Touring and World Touring Car series, with the posters evoking a popular art style from each decade. Here, post-millenil Stencil art and Colin Turkington's 320Si.

BMW BTCC 60th Anniversary Poster - E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design' - [1191x1684]

2002Ti, Works team 1965 - 'Pop Art'
E9 3.0 CSL Alpina, Works team 1973 - 'Collage Art'
E30 M3, Mobil team Frank Sytner - 'Tech Noir'
E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design'
E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

Era: 1993
Car: E36 318i SE
Driver: Steve Soper
Team: FINA Racing
Style: Memphis Design
Artist: Yukai Du

What is Memphis design? - Memphis design Wiki here.

These are a bit out of date, but I think they're great and I've been after some higher resolution versions for a while. BMW UK had them designed in 2015 to mark 60 years of competing in the BTCC, Super Touring and World Touring Car series, with the posters evoking a popular art style from each decade. Here, Memphis design from the 1990s and Steve Soper's almighty FINA 318i.

BMW BTCC 60th Anniversary Poster - E30 M3 DTM, Frank Sytner 1988 - 'Tech Noir'

2002Ti, Works team 1965 - 'Pop Art'
E9 3.0 CSL Alpina, Works team 1973 - 'Collage Art'
E30 M3, Mobil team Frank Sytner - 'Tech Noir'
E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design'
E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

Era: 1988
Car: E30 M3 DTM
Driver: Frank Sytner
Team: Mobil Racing
Style: Tech Noir
Artist: Van Orton
Resolution: 1191 x 1684

What is Tech Noir? - Tech Noir Wiki here.

These are a bit out of date, but I think they're great and I've been after some higher resolution versions for a while. BMW UK had them designed in 2015 to mark 60 years of competing in the BTCC, Super Touring and World Touring Car series, with the posters evoking a popular art style from each decade. Here, 1980s Tech Noir design and the awesome E30 M3 DTM.

BMW BTCC 60th Anniversary Poster - 3.0 CSL Alpina - 'Collage Art'

2002Ti, Works team 1965 - 'Pop Art'
E9 3.0 CSL Alpina, Works team 1973 - 'Collage Art'
E30 M3, Mobil team Frank Sytner - 'Tech Noir'
E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design'
E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

Era: 1973
Car: E9 3.0 CSL Alpina
Team: BMW Works
Style: Collage Art
Artist: Martin O'Neill
Resolution: 1191 x 1684

What is Collage art? - Collage Art Wiki here.

These are a bit out of date, but I think they're great and I've been after some higher resolution versions for a while. BMW UK had them designed in 2015 to mark 60 years of competing in the BTCC, Super Touring and World Touring Car series, with the posters evoking a popular art style from each decade. Here, Collage art from the 1970s and the 3.0 CSL.

BMW BTCC 60th Anniversary Poster - 2002Ti Works Touring Car 1965 - 'Pop Art'

2002Ti, Works team 1965 - 'Pop Art'
E9 3.0 CSL Alpina, Works team 1973 - 'Collage Art'
E30 M3, Mobil team Frank Sytner - 'Tech Noir'
E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design'
E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

Era: 1965
Car: 2002 Ti Works Touring Car
Team: Factory
Style: Pop Art
Artist: Garry Walton
Resolution: 1191 x 1684

What is Pop Art? - Pop Art Wiki here.

These are a bit out of date, but I think they're great and I've been after some higher resolution versions for a while. BMW UK had them designed in 2015 to mark 60 years of competing in the BTCC, Super Touring and World Touring Car series, with the posters evoking a popular art style from each decade. Here, Pop Art from the 1960s and the works 2002 Ti.