The BMW 700 was a small rear-engined car produced by BMW from 1959 to 1965, based on the BMW 600 (which was based on the Isetta). It was powered by a 2-cylinder, air-cooled engine of 697cc from the BMW R67 motorcycle. Styling was by Giovanni Michelotti – the car is sometimes compared with his other popular design of the same period, the Triumph Herald. A coupé and a cabriolet was also produced. The car was renamed "LS" in its later years.
The 700 RS was a highly tuned version for racing. It had special, lightweight, aerodynamic bodywork and an engine tuned to 70 PS. Hans Stuck campaigned the car with success. Jacky Ickx also raced in 700s.
About 180,000 were made in total.
After production ended, BMW did not enter production of very small cars again, although there was an electric concept car, the BMW E1, presented to the public in 1991. After their acquisition of the Mini brand in 1994, it seems likely that BMW would brand all their modern small cars as Mini.
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