Whether you know cars from engine to exterior or fancy a nice ride, the current exhibit at The Ultimate Driving Museum in Greer, SC has something for everyone. We joined Jackie Bechek + Christine Chabot from the BMW Car Club of America Foundation for a tour of the museum’s current exhibit, The Power of M: Celebrating 50 Years, which showcases a collection of BMW M model cars — from the series’ inception to its newest addition.
Keep reading to see how you can get behind the driver’s seat and Try This.
What we tried
We looked above the hood at 25 cars that showcase the last 50 years of BMW M, or BMW Motorsport, which has produced high-performance cars since its inception in 1972.
From the 1972 3.0CSL Batmobile, a 3.0CSL race car + this month’s featured model, to three special-edition M3 cars that were never sold in the US (like this one), to the 2015 F10 M5 30 Jahre (think: 30th anniversary model) that sold at auction for $700,000. Bonus: peep the 2022 BMW M 1000 RR, the first M Motorcycle, by the exhibit entrance.
What not to miss
Find the cars that are paired together — six being M race cars (all of which have won races or championships), and the others being the M street car version. All are M model cars, but each has unique features that make them ready for the race or the road. See if you can spot the differences. 👀
What we’re still talking about
While the collection of cars caught our eye first, we’re still talking about the memorabilia, like racing suits, trophies, and full engines — all part of the 80,000+ items in the museum’s library + archive. We couldn’t take our eyes off the artwork, like “The Blue Hero Story,” a mural by Adrian Mitu that illustrates the life of German racecar driver Jochen Neerpasch, who founded BMW Motorsport in 1972.
How you can experience this
The Ultimate Driving Museum is open to the public. Purchase tickets online to see The Power of M: Celebrating 50 Years now through Sat., Jan. 21, 2023.
Things to know if you go
- Ticket Price: $12 (adults 18 and older), $6 (kids 6-17), Free (kids under 5)
- Website: theultimatedrivingmuseum.org
- Address: 190 Manatee Ct., Greer, SC 29651
- Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. + Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (last museum admission is one hour before closing)
- Social: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube *
