BMW 3 Series: a Journey through the Generations | BMW.com

An Eye-Catching Tail End

The first generation of the BMW 3 Series was famous for its distinctive profile with its raised tail section and the crease line along the body. Seen from behind, the rear section wasn’t to everyone’s taste, especially the part between the tail lights. Only a few months after the start of production, the designers added a black plastic trim to the rear.

The first models in the BMW 3 Series range were a sedan – and the legendary Baur Topcabriolet (1977-1982). Stuttgart-based Baur GmbH was in charge of the transformation of 4,595 BMW 3 Series into convertibles, which featured a rollover bar and fixed roof frame.

A Standard Feature was Born

The first-generation BMW 3 Series included one innovation that was to become a standard feature in all BMW models: a dashboard angled toward the driver.

Other design details – such as the short overhang at the front, the double-kidney grille, the crease line along the body, the twin headlamps found on several models, and the Hofmeister kink at the C-pillar – have lived on as stylistic features in subsequent generations.