zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Culture
/
This Is Every BMW That Was Sold Without Kidney Grilles
This Is Every BMW That Was Sold Without Kidney Grilles-November 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:12:39

Image for article titled This Is Every BMW That Was Sold Without Kidney Grilles

It would be pretty unthinkable for modern-day BMW to sell a car that did not feature its trademark kidney grilles prominently on the front. Even for their electric cars that require no traditional radiator grille like the i3 and i8, BMW still managed to work those organ-that-makes-pee-shaped elements into the cars’ faces. But BMW hasn’t always been so strict about this. There have been a few kidney-less BMW holdouts, and for your edification, I’ve compiled them into a handy chart. You’re welcome.

The 1933 BMW 303 was the first BMW to feature the kidney grille design, which is why two of BMW’s earlier cars didn’t feature the grille—it didn’t exist yet.

BMW was very consistent with the grille design until after WWII, when they licensed the Iso Isetta design for the BMW Isetta, which had a door on the front, and an engine in the back and no grille.

The Isetta-derived BMW 600 and the later, much more conventional-looking BMW 700 followed, and also avoided the kidneys.

When BMW bought out German automaker Glas, they brought over two Glas models—one of which was retrofitted with a little pair of kidneys, the other not.

Why am I telling you all this? It’s all here:

Image for article titled This Is Every BMW That Was Sold Without Kidney Grilles

There, see! As far as I can tell, it’s just these six models that got BMW badges and no kidneys. I’m not counting racing-specific cars or concepts and one-offs, just production cars.

I do have one I’m not sure of, though:

Image for article titled This Is Every BMW That Was Sold Without Kidney Grilles

Right after WWII, BMW’s factory was on the other side of the wall, and under Soviet control. The factory was cut off from the rest of BMW in what became West Germany, but for a while, before the factory changed its name to EMW, some BMW 340s were built at the factory, and some were built with updated styling that lacked the kidney grilles.

In fact, since the other factories weren’t able to produce cars right away, all 1945 to 1951 “BMWs” were built at this factory that wasn’t exactly still a BMW factory.

These weren’t technically from BMW as we now know it, and were closer to Wartburg ancestors, but they’re still kidney-grille-free cars with BMW roundels. So do they count? Maybe?

Did I miss any? I know you’ll tell me if I did, but it never hurts to ask.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Culture
2024 Kia EV9: What Do You Want To Know?
2024 Kia EV9: What Do You Want To Know?
At long last, we are about to get behind the wheel of for the first time. Sure, , and sure, , and sure , but hey — what can you do? Anyway, before we get behind the wheel of this three-row electric beast, we want to know what you...
Nov 6, 2025
I Can't Get Enough Of This YouTuber Who Builds Tiny, Fully Functional Scale-Model Cars
I Can't Get Enough Of This YouTuber Who Builds Tiny, Fully Functional Scale-Model Cars
I love tiny, of . I have a that is roughly half the size of a normal cat, and she’s perfect. I own a 2013 , which is like the miniature version of a normal-sized vehicle (at least here in Texas) — but beyond that, I also own a Hot...
Nov 6, 2025
Watch ABS Fail When MotorWeek Tests A 1997 Chevy S-10
Watch ABS Fail When MotorWeek Tests A 1997 Chevy S-10
MotorWeek’s is some of the on the internet. The long-running automotive news magazine has a treasure trove of tests after being on the air for over 40 years. Where else can you find detailed instrumented testing of long-forgotten cars like the or a ? MotorWeek’s recent Retro Review upload is...
Nov 6, 2025
Toyota Is Moving A Prewar 700-Ton Press Machine Halfway Around The World
Toyota Is Moving A Prewar 700-Ton Press Machine Halfway Around The World
closed its São Bernardo Plant in November 2023, marking the end of its first overseas production facility. The closure caps off a period of continuous car production in São Paolo, , lasting over 60 years. The plant was home to a Komatsu 700-ton press that predates itself. And now...
Nov 6, 2025
Subaru Had It Right All Along
Subaru Had It Right All Along
When first came to the United States, it sold small funky cars that were decidedly un-American. As the company grew its own identity and became more established in the U.S., it became the first automaker to offer an all-wheel-drive passenger car in 1975. Subaru was also an early-adopter of...
Nov 6, 2025
I Entered My Lifted Miata In A Real Off-Road Race, Here's What Happened
I Entered My Lifted Miata In A Real Off-Road Race, Here's What Happened
I have two automotive loves: The first is the Miata, the second is off-road racing. For a while I raced air-cooled Volkswagens in the deserts of California and Nevada and I was lucky enough to co-drive in a class 11 stock bug in the Baja 1000 a few years...
Nov 6, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved