BMW has recreated its once-lost 2200ti Garmisch Concept and brought it to the Villa d’Este and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Let us give this one-off automotive work of art the good, long look it deserves.
On the outside, the Garmisch looks like your run-of-the-mill retro car. Its spiritual ancestor debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show in 1970 and was highly praised by the automotive community, but proceeded to vanish without a trace shortly afterwards. Half a century later, the Bavarian carmaker resolved to recreate the car based on the surviving blueprints and photos.
The new Garmisch is nigh identical to its predecessor in terms of looks, and looks only. Its entire body, from the door panels to the headlights and air vents, is an homage to the German automobile industry of the 1970s era. The cabin, with its analog instrument cluster and glove compartment with a pop-up mirror, also feels acutely nostalgic.
The BMW 2200ti Garmisch Concept will never make it into series, which is a shame, considering that it would probably fetch a small fortune as a collector’s car.