BMW 700 697 cm³, 78,0 * 73,0 mm, Flat-2, Rear engine, longitudinal, 7,5 : 1, ohv, Blower cooling, 50 Nm 3400/4500/min, 23,5/29 kW (32/40 PS) 5000/5700 rpm, 4-speed synchronised, Swinging arms, longitudinal, Coil springs, Semi-trailing arms, Drum brakes hydraulical, Drums f/r, 5.20-12, 3,86/2,28/1,48/1,36 m, Tank 33 l, 640 (340) kg, 120 km/h, 1959-65

Already at the birth of the BMW 600, the successor was ordered. Perhaps they already suspected that its design would not meet with undivided approval. So while Isetta and 600 bear witness to an external kinship, the 700 has been completely changed in design. However, the differences under the sheet metal are much smaller.

And if we now venture a comparison with the VW Beetle, you will perhaps also be amazed at the similarities. Let's start at the very back, where in the BMW 700 naturally two cylinders are missing. Otherwise, fan cooling prevails, in the BMW axially by a fan wheel on the crankshaft ending, in the VW radially by a fan box. One cylinder each on the left and right side are easier to air-cool than two.

In principle, the engine design is very similar, except that in the BMW the camshaft is located above the crankshaft and in the VW below. Both are driven by gear wheels and give their movement by push rods and rocker arms to the valves suspended in the cylinder heads.

Much earlier than with the VW, BMW introduced the system with two carburettors, which is urgently needed for higher power delivery. This is urgently necessary here because of the only half of the total cubic capacity, in order to increase the performance of the VW engine. VW, on the other hand, sticks to the principle of the throttle engine, which gives one and a half times the torque at half the speed of the BMW.

However, the VW Beetle is also about 100 kg heavier. Both have dry clutches, but the BMW already has clutches with diaphragm springs. A reversed world: The BMW has Porsche synchronisation, the VW the better bevel gear synchronisation. The synchronization of all gears in the BMW is only available in the VW in the more expensive export version.

The Beetle is ahead on the front axle, because the longer crank arms compared to the BMW are counted among the suspended masses. Here the 700 suffers despite more advanced rack and pinion steering on the contaminated site of the Isetta. This gives more spring travel, but also a little less possible wheel angle. At the rear it is the other way round, because BMW has been using a kind of Inclined control arm axle with wheels that never have a positive camber.

The VW Beetle can only dream of this, but with only one permanently oil-lubricated joint on each side it has the clearly more durable drive shafts. We know from the Beetle that its body is not self-sustaining. The BMW is mentioned with this technology, although the difference to the 600 is almost only that two longitudinal beams have been omitted.

The last argument against the BMW can be the much smaller wheels compared to the VW. For the potential buyer group, however, the most important thing is that the 700 is again as a car looks like. If one asks in today's time for famous oldtimers of the brand, then the 700er is named, too, because of its sport successes, the Isetta and the 600er rather not. The manufacturer simply considers unbrandeds models which are considered to be unsporting.

Whether the trapezoid line, which was established by the 700 at BMW, is perhaps due to the simple circumstance that the spare wheel had to be accommodated tilted forward in order to provide sufficient space for the luggage? That's a bold thesis. And the BMW kidney is already not realized in the company's third product. Main shareholder Quandt is said to have insisted on it in the 'New Class'. Of course, it only makes sense again with the front engine.

BMW 700 Racing Coupé 697 cm³ (78,0 * 73,0), Flat-2, Rear engine, longitudinal, 7,5 : 1, ohv, Blower cooling, 50 Nm 3400/min, 44 kW (60 PS) 7000/min, 4-speed synchronised, Swinging arms, longitudinal, Coil springs, Semi-trailing arms, Drum brakes hydraulical, Drums f/r, 5.20-10 (3,5"), 3,86/2,28/1,48/1,36 m, Coupé-wheelbase 2,12 m, Tank 33 l, 550 kg, 135 km/h, 1960