The foundation of BMW's post-war resurgence was the four-door 1500 saloon and its derivatives - the 'New Class' - the company capitalising on their success by adding revised two-door models to the range in 1966.

Like the earlier cars, the new 1600 (later 1602) featured unitary construction, all-independent suspension and front disc brakes.

All variants came with the Munich firm's dependable, single-overhead-camshaft, four-cylinder M10 engine under the bonnet, which despite its humble origins would go on to form the basis of a turbo-charged 1,000-horsepower Grand Prix unit and Formula 1 World Championship winner.

New for 1963, the 1800 model used a 1,773cc 90bhp engine at first before rationalisation saw it replaced by an updated short-stroke 1,766cc unit in 1968.

Soon there was a more sporting version available – the 1800 Ti(Touring International) – which had been developed by the tuning company Alpina and came with two twin-choke Solex carburettors and a higher compression ratio, ...