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.”

It has has dualing head-units some random wires in the interior and some surface rust. We’re guessing this gets to around $12,000 before flattening out.

eBay Auction: 1980 Prototype 7 35i Wagon

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.

The ’88 has one huge thing going for it. Feel. It’s the thing that Dr. Kay Segler talked about at the introduction of the 1M and it’s the attribute that so many modern cars have lost in the name of comfort, isolation and efficiency.

Yes, but doesn’t the E90 M3 have feel? It has some along with amazing control and precision. But it also has performance levels that are so high you have to be in triple digits just to make things really interesting. It’s a great car. Some would argue too good to have fun within the limits of everyday life (not to mention the law). An E30 on the other hand can get interesting pretty quickly at nothing more than 20 mph. Add in a touch of moisture on the tarmac and some modest tires and things can get downright hoon-like.

Yes the slow car movement is growing. It’s a natural outgrowth of the further refinement of the automobile, regulations and increased social responsibility foist upon us all.

Many of us want something raw. Something that feels as exciting as it looks and at speeds that we can live with. For me the answer comes in the form of my (new to me) E28. For you it may be an E36 M3, E30 or even a 2002tii. Regardless, I can assure you the reward is far greater than the sum of the old parts.

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.

The second step in the 7 Series (E32) evolution was greeted to much fanfare when it was introduced in 1986. Car critics were pleased with the elegance, power, handling and use of technology. With this style came the worlds introduction to the long wheel base “L” which provided an increase of 4.5i inches in length and an increase in opulence as well. The first 7 Series models were equipped only with six-cylinder engines; this second generation would change that. In 1987, the first German produced twelve-cylinder sedan since the end of the 1930s was introduced as the BMW brands flagship model, the 750iL. At the time it utilized a 5.0l engine that produced 296 horsepower and almost as much torque. In 1992, BMW finally added 8 cylinder engines to the lineup (730i, 740i) bridging the gap between the 6 and 12 cylinder models. Over 300,000 of these cars were produced for customers during the production run.

The third installment of the 7er (E38) is one to marvel at. From the initial launch in 1994 to the end of production it was a car for the ages. Auto Motor und Sport described the car as “Slim and light on its feet”. It featured all of the amenities of a luxury sedan with the exhilarating drive characteristics of a smaller car. This car was the beginning of today’s luxury car, with modern technologies, comforts and exclusivity. It featured a wide range of engines and was the first luxury sedan to feature a diesel power plant (EU) since the 1980s Mercedes Benzes. The lineup ranged from 6 to 12 cylinder engine combinations world wide. After a total of 71/2 years around 327,000 cars were produced some of which you still see driving around today.

That brings us to the current model, known to as the E65/66. It has surpassed the sales records of the previous models in the 7 family and once again changed the face of the luxury car industry. With its release in late 2001 it was a car that grabbed people’s attention, for the good and the bad. It ushered in a new era in terms of BMW design thanks to the likes of Chris Bangle and his initially controversial “flame” surfacing as well as his take on the rear end of cars. Over time other brands have imitated the look and the public has realized they love it. Engines were vastly improved, suspension tuned and lightened (though the size of the car was increased along with overall weight) and oodles of technology was found throughout. Oh, the technology! That leads us to the wonders of iDrive. The car critics and press hated it (many still do or just choose not to understand/judge it in the latest form). This 7 series will long be remembered for the introduction of the do it all iDrive system. It revolutionized how we operate cars by removing countless buttons, knobs and sliders and placing all those controls in a menu guided computer-like interface. When released this car was the best driving, most opulent and technology-laden vehicle in its class.

BMW has also released two versions of this model that can be powered by hydrogen. One with a dual fuel setup that can also be run on traditional gasoline or a hydrogen only version.

While it has put up a good fight it has fallen off in the last few years but with the next generation to be released in the coming weeks you can rest assured the BMW 7 series will once again be the pinnacle of the class. For more information on the upcoming 7 please see here

Source: BMW Photos: BMW/After Midnight