Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
The BMW 1500 Coupé Michelotti.
The BMW 1500 Coupé Michelotti was a refined and stylish concept car developed in the early 1960s, following the successful launch of the BMW “Neue Klasse” sedan series. Designed by the renowned Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, this one-off coupé was envisioned as a sporty and elegant extension of the 1500 model, aimed at expanding BMW’s growing reputation for producing dynamic, driver-oriented cars. Michelotti’s vision took the fundamental elements of the Neue Klasse and reimagined them in a sleek two-door form. The result was a slender, graceful coupé with a distinctly BMW character, most notably expressed in the sharp arrow-shaped front fascia—an evolution of the brand’s signature kidney grilles—and a bold, angular rear that gave the car a striking presence. Though named the 1500 Coupé, the prototype was powered by the more robust 1800cc engine, offering improved performance that matched its sporty appearance. The interior likely reflected Michelotti’s typical attention to detail, balancing modernist simplicity with functional elegance. The car maintained the Neue Klasse’s spirit of practicality and innovation, wrapped in a more emotionally engaging design. Despite its appealing aesthetics and the credibility of Michelotti’s craftsmanship, BMW management ultimately decided not to move forward with production. At the time, the company was carefully managing its resources and focused on models with higher commercial potential. As a result, the 1500 Coupé Michelotti remained a one-off prototype, never making it into the official BMW lineup.
Discover how Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti helped rescue BMW from bankruptcy in the 1950s and 60s with his stylish, innovative car designs—from the humble BMW 700 to the iconic Neue Klasse sedans—shaping the brand’s modern identity.
In the intricate tapestry of automotive design, few names resonate as harmoniously as Giovanni Michelotti.
Da notare la somiglianza della coda con altri modelli targati Michelotti come la Silver Ray, la Ferrari 330 e la FIAT 2300 Coupé