German Motor Show Highlights Presence of BMWs, VWs, and Mercs - 64 Years Later
Volkswagen's 1961 Frankfurt Show News: The New 1500
The 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show was a significant event in automotive history, and one of the stars of the show was Volkswagen with its new 1500, also known as the Type 3.
Volkswagen had already made a mark in the cabriolet market with the well-styled Karmann Ghia. However, the new 1500 version of the Karmann Ghia, on display at the show, was easily distinguished by two extra front lights. Sadly, the smart-looking cabriolet version was not produced.
The 1500, a Neue Klasse saloon, received a tremendous reception at the show. Designed by Michelotti, the 1500 had an estimated price of £760 (equivalent to £14,650 in today's money). With a dry weight of 1005kg, the 1500 offered a promising drive.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz also made a splash at the show with the introduction of the new 190 (W110) and 300 SE (W112) saloons. The 300 SE was expensive at £2150, but its specification had a big sales appeal. The 190, on the other hand, was praised for being 'very good value for money' at £890, a price that can be compared to the modern E-Class.
Mercedes-Benz also presented a new cabriolet, a rag-top version of its six-cylinder 220 SE coupe (W111 generation). Yet, it was Volkswagen that was the center of attention at the show with its own new 1500.
BMW's stand at the show was not lacking in excitement either. The company introduced the 3200 CS luxury coupé, designed by Bertone and powered by a 160bhp 3.2-litre V8. The 3200 CS luxury coupé cost £2650.
Fast forward to modern times, and BMW is once again making headlines. The company recently revealed its new iX3 SUV at the Munich motor show, marking the beginning of BMW's 'Neue Klasse' of EVs. Just like BMW's 'Neue Klasse' is critical for the company's future, the original 'Neue Klasse' of mid-sized saloons, introduced at the 1961 Frankfurt show, was a game-changer in the automotive industry.
Historically, the Neue Klasse (New Class) models were developed under the leadership of the engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut and his team at Mercedes-Benz in the 1950s and 1960s. However, the constructor of the first Mercedes-Benz Neue Klasse model presented at the cooperative exhibition was not explicitly mentioned in the provided search results.
In conclusion, the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show was a pivotal moment in automotive history, with Volkswagen's new 1500 stealing the show and setting the stage for future developments in the industry.
