The Charm of German Engineering: Legends of the Autobahn 2024

August 22, 2024Performance Technic

In the realm of German car fanaticism, few events capture the essence of the culture like Legends of the Autobahn. This renowned event, hosted by the BMW Car Club of America, Audi Club of America, and Mercedes-Benz Club of America, is a celebration of the rich heritage and enduring allure of German engineering.

This is a Car Week event that we have been attending for the last several years, and it never seems to disappoint. While the venue changes from year to year, the quality of entrants only grows stronger.

The event stands as a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship of BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. This show isn't just an exhibition—it's a gathering of aficionados who share a deep appreciation for these iconic brands.

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One standout feature is the event's focus on bringing together not just cars, but also people. Legends highlights the community aspect of these marques, emphasizing the opportunity for car enthusiasts to connect, share stories, and celebrate their passion for these German makes.

If you have been a part of this community for any notable amount of time, you know that new faces don’t stay new for long. Some of the most important friendships grow from meeting likeminded enthusiasts at events like Legends. It is by far one of the most wonderful aspects of this lifestyle.

Legends of the Autobahn is more than just a car show; it is a celebration of a shared passion for automotive excellence. It serves as a reminder of the timeless appeal of German engineering and the vibrant community that keeps the legacy of these vehicles alive.

This year’s event showcased a focus on the heritage of the BMW M5. We know that many of our customers are big fans of this platform, so this display is sure to have been exciting for anyone who got to see it in person. With the release of the newest M5, as well as the introduction of the new M5 Touring in the US, we have no doubt that we will be seeing a lot of M5 lovin’ in the years to come.

Legends is an event that we are delighted to return to year after year. If you attended, we would love to hear your thoughts on the 2024 installment.

tags BMW, BMW Classic, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Legends of the Autobahn

Legends of the Autobahn 2017

September 01, 2017Performance Technic

To continue our coverage of Monterey Car Week events, we attended Legends of the Autobahn to catch up with fellow enthusiasts. The turnout was great (as it is every year), especially on the 2002 front. There was also a great group of E9s, as well as an unexpected number of E30 M3s.

Many of the attendees you may recognize from local shows like the Bay Area 02 Show & Swap Meet. We always enjoy seeing both familiar and new faces, and it's fun to watch how the cars evolve over the years. With the market values of these classics constantly changing, and lately growing very steadily, it will be interesting to see what future events hold. Below are the photos we shot throughout the morning, featuring some of our favorite cars on display. If you attended Legends this year, let us know if you had a favorite in the comments below.

tags Legends of the Autobahn, events, BMW

Legends of the Autobahn: BMW's 100th Birthday

August 26, 2016Performance Technic

Each year, Monterey Car Week is what many would call the highlight of their summer automotive experiences. Whether it’s parade laps down Cannery Row, or the Pebble Beach Concourse, there’s something for almost everyone, if you know where to look. This year, we took a trip down to the prestigious Nicklaus Club in Monterey, which is the host site for Legends of the Autobahn.

Upon arriving, we were immediately bombarded with an expansive lawn, where row after row of vintage BMWs were displayed. Against the foggy, obscured landscape around the course, waves of color burst through from the generally loud 2002 crowd. Most of the first lawn was comprised of 02s, with sprinkles of other classics loitering about.

We were pleasantly surprised to see a lot of familiar cars in the first display lawn. Many of the 2002s that were present were the same cars that turned up for Bay Area 02 just a few months ago.

Ranging from immaculate Turbos to completely original and untouched TIIs, the selection covered all bases. Whether you’re an old fashioned purist or have a penchant for widebodied, rally-inspired builds, it was guaranteed that there would be something for all tastes. Both the rare and the common all congregated for the universal enthusiast celebration.

Moving through the first group of cars brought us to the center lawn, which is where BMW displayed some of their rarest and most coveted machines. The first display we were met with was Michelin’s unique platform booth, where they had set out various modern M cars. Each car, naturally, was sporting its own set of Michelins, suited for the vehicle depending on type and use.

Overlooking the extensive Mercedes and Audi population, at the center, BMW Group Classic had their own booth. Beneath the tent was an impeccable 2002, alongside a vertical display of original parts. Here, vintage owners and enthusiasts could sign up with BMWGC for newsletters and information regarding their classics.

Surrounding the Classic tent was what we would call a sensory overload of fantastic vehicles. From the 30s to the 90s, icons of all types were on display.

The white 507 was outlined by Bavarias, the McLaren F1, LeMans Prototype, a few DTM race cars, M1, E30 Touring, and many others. Going way back with two 1930s models—a 309 and a 329—was a treat as well.

To the side of this area was a line of more show cars, which led toward the Michelin booth. These were all nearly flawless, leading class examples of their models. Among the lineup was an LTW E36 M3, boasting only 86,000 miles. In the ten years of ownership, the car’s owner, William Broeder, has driven it 79 miles. No, we aren't missing any numbers there. A beautiful E24 M6, two E46 M3s—one of which was converted to a fully Individual Cinnamon interior—and Byron’s incredibly low mileage Estoril Z3M Coupe made up the rest of the row.

The third and final area that we explored is what we’ve dubbed The Shark Tank. This was located in a lower lawn bed, and was where all of the Alpinas, M2s, an abundance of E31s, E24/8s, and even the M4 GTS could be found. A lone M1 rested at the center of an audience of E24s.

The Alpina section of Legends was spectacular. At its center was a gleaming B7 S Turbo, owned directly by Alpina, and transported to Monterey from Germany.

The sun broke through the Monterey fog toward midday, which was perfectly timed for the awards ceremony. Our remaining coverage in this blog covers mostly bonus images and a few other notable cars in attendance. Because this year’s Legends event was so large, covering it all in detail makes for a rather long story. The announcer stated that this year’s turnout was three times more than what it has been in the past.

To finish off our Legends recap, we’ve included some bonus images below. Did you attend the show this year? If so, what was your favorite car?