Where the emblem on our cars was created...

[Maluco]

[32.5i]

cool dudes

[Jand3rson]

Yeah, people are usually pretty surprised to learn that BMW used to build airplane engines for the German Luftwaffe in WWI and WWII.

[JPL]

its crazy to see those old bi-planes with the iron cross on them

[benDASHDASH]

cool mustaches

[Jonathan M3]

The Guiness boys would've fit right in.

[Jscotty]

Das Jahmans!

I actually read that many years ago when I got this book on the history of cars.. and one thing that was mentioned was about how the BMW logo represents the spinning propeller of the airplaine engines that they used to build. In fact I think that Hewlett-Packard was in aviation also.. at least before they started making crappy printers that had $60 cartridges.

[Apex381]

a white propellor on a blue sky

[FL318is]

And the tradition lives on.

http://www.white1foundation.org/

[Nick]

Also, blue and white are the colors of the Bavarian flag.

[Maluco]

The Short Version....

BMW was established in 1916 when the two Munich companies "Rapp Motorenwerke AG" and "Gustav Flugmaschinenfabrik" merged to form "Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG", which was shortly afterwards renamed "Bayerische Motoren Werke AG" (BMW). In its first production halls, next to the Munich airport of the day and now the site of the Olympic Park, BMW developed and built aircraft engines, branching out into motorcycles from 1923 on. BMW built its first cars in 1928. BMW initially made a name for itself through its reliable, high-performance engines, with the sporting success of its motorcycles and cars adding to its worldwide renown and prestige. Today BMW is the only European car manufacturer which also produces motorcycles and aero engines.

[dom]

The Guiness boys would've fit right in.

HAHAHAHA

[YAN-3]

dude thanks for sharing the 2 photos, any more pics? lint to were you found them? thanks.

[AndrewBird]

Anyone ever seen the movie "Finding Forester"? There is a part in it where the main character is explaining to this arrogant BMW driver where the emblem came from. Pretty funny scene.

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

that got me thinking.... all the hoodride and aircoolers use the "iron cross".... which I think now would better belong on bimmer... esp. old school!