We don’t get all teary-eyed and nostalgic about cars like the BMW 7-Series because it’s not the type of car to produce an emotional response, but it’s certainly an important car which represented a change in the way the German car maker was seen by the car buying public. This is the car that set the Bravarian firm onto the path to becoming the luxury car makerwe know today, so it represents an important milestone for the firm.
The 7-Series was the largest and most luxurious car BMW had ever brought to market when it was launched in 1977. This was the firm’s first attempt at rivalling the might of Mercedes-Benz and in order to get a leg up on the competition, BMW used the E23 7-Series as a showcase for their newest technology.
The car was so advanced for the time that the same model stayed in production for 10 years. Each car came with service interval indicators, check controls that alerted the driver to any faults and an advanced climate control system. An ABS system was optional in the early models but came as standard equipment later in the car’s production run. Airbags were available in the last couple of years of the E23’s production and full leather interior, different types of woodtrim, powered seats, mirrors and windows and heated seats made the cabin as comfortable as it was safe.
Over the decade it was in production 285,029 examples were built of BMW’s luxury saloon. Engines ranged from 148bhp in the earliest 725i to 249bhp in the 745i. This was the car that paved the way for a lot of the firm’s success so it’s worth a second look if you come across one on the road.
from Eurocarblog
