Zentrum #AtoZChallenge

We have come to the end of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge with the letter "Z" and a rare Sunday post.  Normally, we in the Challenge don't blog on Sundays, but, this year's calendar dictated otherwise.  

Let's return to South Carolina one last time and visit a museum near Greer, South Carolina.  

The full name of the car maker we popularly know as BMW is "Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH", which translates, roughly (according to BMW's website)  to "Bavarian Engine Works Company".  

BMW started out as an engine manufacturing company in 1913.  During World War I they supplied aircraft engines to the German military.  But the treaty that Germany had to sign as part of their defeat in World War I forbade Germany from manufacturing aircraft engines.  Eventually, manufacturing shifted to other products, including motorcycles and, eventually, automobiles.

BMW is still headquartered in Munich but has a manufacturing plant near Greer, South Carolina.  It's an extensive campus.  We had hoped to take one of the available tours, but they were all booked up.

The next best thing was visiting the Zentrum.

"Zentrum" means "Center" in German.  It's a combination meeting/events center, cafeteria, and what they call a living museum.

If you want to tour the history of BMWs (and see a short looping film taken on the manufacturing floor), this is the place.  And, it's free, unlike the BMW cars, which cost way above my budget.

Let's go in and look at some of the BMWs you will find on display at the Zentrum.

Helpfully, for "Z" day,  a number of BMW models begin with Z.

The Z1 (1989). 

James Bond (well, the actor playing him)  drove a BMW Z8 in "The World is Not Enough".

The last of this model to be produced, the people on the assembly line who helped build it signed the vehicle. 

If you like older vehicles, here is a BMW from 1930.

A 1934 BMW, complete with my reflection.

There were also a couple of electric vehicles on display (didn't take pictures).  One can dream....

We had quite an enjoyable conversation with an employee at the gift shop (of course there's a gift shop).  He tried to get us on a tour (just in case there had been a cancellation) but, it just wasn't to be. He told us that every vehicle that comes of the Greer assembly line has already been purchased, and is customized to the buyer's wants. 

What a way to end the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  I hope you've enjoyed my posts, and have also visited some of the other participants.  And now, back to my New York home (and reality).

"Z" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme:  Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States.