Prior to the introduction of the 7-Series as a 1978 model, the biggest BMWs available in the United States were insufficiently imposing 5- and 6-Series cars. The '78 733i was big and powerful, like a Cadillac or Mercedes-Benz, but BMW of North America wanted car shoppers to understand that it really was nothing like those "carefully crafted carriages" sold by the competition. Here's a magazine advertisement that spells it all out.
If you like lots of words in your automotive ads, BMW had you covered with this one.
