Anyone up for some post Christmas shopping? The 1980 prototype wagon we featured a few months ago has made its way to eBay and currently resting with a $7,000 bid. Here’s the auction description:
“this car was built on the BMW production line for display at the Frankfurt Auto Show. There were only two cars made like this. It was built on the 735i chassis – and is a European model. This was never a production car. Details include – - 8,179 original miles, tan cloth interior, a manual sunroof and windows, roof rack, alloy wheels & automatic transmission. The car was imported to the US and brought up to DOT and EPA standards in Ohio.”
This a 733i wagon. According to Jalopnik this one-off was made on the assembly line for display at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Featuring later 2002 square taillights a custom roof and a host of awkward viewing angles. It sold for only $6,000 despite only having 9,000 miles on it. Oddly the future owner specifically asked that the auctioneer not start the car.
GQ columnist (and one of this authors favorite authors) Jamie Kitman recently wrote a piece on what he has termed the ‘slow-car movement’. It’s an idea that takes some of the principles of the slow food movement and translates them into what many of us have been doing for years; driving our asses off in well worn (barely) vintage cars. It’s a simple concept and one I can articulate very well within my own garage.
Compare my ’88 535is to the new 535i for instance. Even with a manual and sports package the modern 5er doesn’t stand a chance in getting my attention if I want to actually drive. But if I simply want to be transported in effortless style with technology catering to my every whim I’d choose the 2011 5 Series. The difference comes down to involvement in the car and in the process of driving. There is little question that the new 5 Series is faster in every way imaginable. It’s safer, it stops better (way better) and will carry four in a level of comfort not even imagined in 1988. It is a better car in all the modern ways of measuring success.
As you might have picked up by my recent review of the 1988 535is, we’re fans of vintage BMWs here at BF. Apparently we aren’t the only ones. Automobilesdeluxe.tv has just finished a video review of the often forgotten E23 733i. It’s an impressive step back into a time when owning a 7 Series BMW made you (for lack of a better term) different than your average executive. It was also a time when you could get a manual transmission in an executive saloon.
With the upcoming release of the next generation BMW 7 Series we thought a nice stroll down memory lane would be in order. We have compiled a brief history of the model line since the inception of the 7 moniker in 1977.
The first 7 Series followed the BMW design that was introduced in the 1977 6 Series coupe. It combined an elegant exterior along with new technical innovations. This original 7 (E23) was designed to provide the sporty handling of a BMW along with powerful refined engines in a package for the upper class of society. The initial flagship of this first 7 series was released in 1980 as the 745i. Interestingly enough the car’s designation did not indicate displacement (and many thought today’s models started that trend!) it was powered by a 3.2 litre turbo 6-cylinder engine. It was one of the performance leaders in the sedan segment at the time. Over the 9-year span it was built (1977-1986) about 280,000 of this model were produced. It was a huge success for BMW.
BimmerFile is dedicated to bringing you the most interesting news, links and reviews related to the BMW brand and it's vehicles.
We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
In short, we can't get enough of BMWs. This is BimmerFile.
Sections: E23 7 Series Dec 27th, 2010 1 Comment 
