For years, BMW resisted the thought of a station wagon. The corporate had constructed its fame on sporty sedans and coupes, believing that wagons had been too utilitarian and out of sync with the model’s picture. However within the mid-Nineteen Eighties, one man modified that—not via company technique or market analysis, however by constructing one himself.
That man was Max Reisböck, a BMW prototype engineer who, in 1984, discovered himself in want of a much bigger automotive. With a rising household and two younger youngsters, his beloved E30 3 Collection sedan not had the house for household holidays. He wanted one thing extra sensible however refused to sacrifice the driving dynamics that made a BMW a BMW. The issue was that BMW had no plans to make a Touring mannequin. So, Reisböck determined to take issues into his personal palms.
A Downside That Wanted Fixing
On the time, BMW’s 3 Collection lineup consisted of two- and four-door sedans, coupes, and convertibles. There was no station wagon, and executives noticed no cause to construct one. However Reisböck, considering forward to lengthy street journeys full of bicycles, tricycles, and baggage, knew he wanted a automotive that didn’t exist.
His resolution? Construct one himself.
With none official backing, he purchased a wrecked E30 323i sedan and moved it right into a pal’s storage. He had no blueprints and no manufacturing facility help—simply his engineering experience and an concept in his head. Over the subsequent six months, he meticulously reworked the sedan right into a wagon, transferring the C-pillars again to increase the roofline and fabricating a rear hatch utilizing current BMW physique panels. He trimmed the rear facet home windows from an E30 coupe to suit, making certain the automotive appeared as if it had been designed by BMW itself.
One among his largest challenges was discovering an appropriate rear windscreen. As a result of rules required licensed glass, he couldn’t simply fabricate one himself. After weeks of looking, he discovered that the Volkswagen Passat had a rear window that was the right match, fixing one of many ultimate design hurdles.
By the point he completed, Reisböck had created a completely purposeful and factory-quality station wagon—one which appeared so polished that even BMW engineers assumed it was an official prototype.
BMW Takes Discover
Whereas Reisböck’s Touring was initially constructed for private use, it rapidly turned the topic of curiosity at BMW headquarters. His contract strictly prohibited him from constructing unauthorized autos, so earlier than placing it on the street, he determined to indicate it to BMW’s administration.
Their response was quick. Executives had been shocked by how well-executed the automotive was. Phrase rapidly unfold, and the subsequent morning, senior board members arrived to see the do-it-yourself Touring for themselves. Inside hours, BMW decided: they had been retaining the automotive.
Reisböck’s Touring was taken to BMW’s analysis and improvement division for additional analysis. What had began as a private undertaking was now an official BMW prototype—and it was about to vary the corporate’s future.
From One-Off Undertaking to Manufacturing Mannequin
Recognizing the potential of Reisböck’s creation, BMW’s board moved rapidly. With a full-scale working mannequin already in entrance of them, improvement progressed a lot quicker than a typical new mannequin.
The manufacturing E30 3 Collection Touring debuted in 1987, simply three years after Reisböck accomplished his prototype. Surprisingly, BMW saved the design virtually an identical to his unique automotive. The one important modification was an prolonged tailgate that reached almost to the rear bumper, making it simpler to load and unload cargo.
When the three Collection Touring lastly hit the market, it proved that BMW had underestimated the demand for a sporty, premium station wagon. Over 104,000 models of the E30 Touring had been constructed between 1987 and 1993, making it considered one of BMW’s most profitable area of interest fashions of the period. Whereas it was by no means formally offered in the USA, the E30 Touring turned a favourite in Europe, influencing each BMW wagon that adopted.
Reisböck continued working for BMW till 2008, main the prototype engineering group accountable for each BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce earlier than manufacturing.
