History of BBS's

[Itsablurr]

In 1970, Heinrich Baumgartner and Klaus Brand set up a modest production workshop in Schiltach, Germany, to produce high-quality fiberglass components for racing touring cars produced by BMW and Ford. The initials of the founders and of the city where they established their business formed the simple but memorable company name, “BBS”—three letters which have become synonymous with sophisticated, pioneering automotive engineering and no-compromise quality.

A short time after founding their company, a new type of three-part racing rim was developed that involved the use of a totally new technology which, within only a few years, had become an established foundation for the company’s success. The idea factory developed into a thriving manufacturing enterprise.

In 1979, Martin Braungart joined the firm and became the third managing partner with responsibility for engineering. The factory continued to expand at an astounding rate, with a new counterpressure casting technique, co-developed by BBS, marking an important milestone in the company’s development. In the late 1970s, BBS products were also being sold in the United States through an independent importer.

BBS products continued to fly off the shelves, and in 1980, as many as 220,000 wheels were produced. By 1983, the finishing touches were completed on the three-part racing rim for series production, which eventually exceeded all expectations and triggered a regular boom. That same year, BBS distribution centers were established in the U.S. and Japan.

On January 1, 1987, the company changed its legal form from a limited partnership to a public company—BBS Kraftfahrzeug AG. Klaus Brand took a seat on the Supervisory Board, Heinrich Baumgartner became Chairman of the Board, and Martin Braungart became Board Member for Engineering. During this year, a new state-of-the-art production facility, plant four, was also introduced, and was later hailed as a model of modern process engineering.

In the 1990s, BBS continues to play an important role in the market, becoming a supplier to car manufacturers Audi, BMW, Daimler-Chrysler, Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche, and Volkswagen, as well as for many racing teams worldwide. Then in 1994, wins in the Formula 1, American Indy Car Series, German Touring Championship, and the ADAC Touring cup—all on BBS wheels—establish BBS as a true world leader in high-performance wheel production.

-bbs.com



Some history and the BBS wheel manufacturing process:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-sjOg9Dyww

[gateguardian]

Matt...

[Sneezy]

[tb0ne]

lulz

[GEN3RIC]

This thread is better

[LinearX]

Ironically my old love of Bulletin Board Systems did influence me a little to get BBS wheels for my car.

Too bad they went bankrupt and were bought out by the Belgians.

[cencalballer]

much better than other one

[KMFDM26]

Nice!

[ken_vs_ryu]

I thought this was about geeking out.

[rocketwagon]

I came here expecting stories of 300 baud modems, CompuServe accounts, and Commodore VIC 20s.

[Sneezy]

I thought this was about geeking out.

[SpasticDwarf]

This thread is so much better.

[thedaddy]

I totally have these on my car.