BMW launched its 'Neue Klasse' ('New Class') range of compact saloons and coup é s in 1962 and it is no exaggeration to say that they were the cars that saved the company.

Up to that point they had been best known for making beautifully engineered but incredibly complex and expensive machines that nobody outside of Germany could either afford or understand.

With its crisp, modernist styling, brilliant chassis dynamics and superb engineering, the Neue Klasse changed all that at a stroke and established BMW as a truly international brand.

Although it was the 'pocket rocket' 2-litre 2002 that everyone raved about, the smaller 1600-2 and 1500-2 were arguably better cars, being better balanced and cheaper to own and run.

An economy version of the 2002, the 1600-2 was launched at the Geneva Auto Show in March 1966 and was sold through 1975, with its name simplified to 1602 in 1971.

With 85bhp from its M10 engine, the 1602 won friends for its excellent dynamics and brilliant handling.

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