Thursday 8th December 2016

BMW 635 Group 2 Touring Car: You Know You Want To

If you think the pictures make you want it, wait until you read the spec...

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While this may be a bold place to begin, there's an argument to be made that this BMW 635 could be the perfect historic touring car. Or very close, at least. Think about it: this isn't an original competition car, meaning you don't have to worry about originality and can actually get on with driving it. There are FIA papers meaning it's eligible to race as well. But it's built to a spec that authentically replicates the original Eggenberger cars, meaning you can get the experience of those without worrying about its significance. This in addition to the 6 Series being a fairly recent build, so there shouldn't be much to do to have it race ready. And a Group 2 6 Series tends to sound a bit like this.

Oh good grief

So there's that to it. There's also the fact that this 635 might just be one of the best looking touring cars ever made. The E24 6 Series always made for a very tasty tin top, but the meticulousness of this car's build moves it on again. The wheels, the stance and the livery are all spot on, the immaculate interior matched if not surpassed by the flawless bonnet-off view. That's what an engine should look like!

The advert says that this is "a very rewarding car to drive with fantastic handling", a statement we're not going to contest. This is a lightweight(ish), rear-wheel drive, straight-six BMW from the 80s, after all. Look at the kind of races it can (hopefully) compete in as well: the Historic Touring Car Challenge goes to Portimao, the Silverstone Classic, Spa and Donington, with Camaros, SD1s, Capris and XJSs competing. And who wouldn't fancy a go in that?

Even the wheel is gorgeous!

Alright, there will be cheaper ways into historic motorsport; 175,000 euros (or just under £150,000) is a lot of money, particularly when a genuine BTCC BMW (albeit 'just' an M3) is only a little more expensive. More favourable comparisons can be found with Porsches (can't they always?), with this 911 T now on offer at £140,000 having been converted to S/T spec. The historic racer choice is made more difficult with the Ford alternatives though: this Mustang is more powerful than the BMW and this Sierra RS500 is noticeably cheaper.

Despite all that, there remains something incredibly tempting about this 635. It must be one of the best available, and the combination of the looks with that engine is perhaps even more exciting than it was 30-odd years ago. It almost seems a shame to sully such a pristine car with race grime, but that will surely all be forgotten after the sideways lap. Or six.

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BMW 635 GROUP 2
Price: 175,000 euros
Why you should: Look at it!
Why you shouldn't: Er, um... There has to be something, doesn't there?

See the original advert here.

[sutts]

You're right. I do want to.

[jameswsb]

Like most older BMW's these just get better looking with age. Worth every penny!

[Evilex]

I like it, too.
However, with BIG money to spend (which I don't have!), I'd head for a 3.0 CSL "Bat mobile" or an M1 Pro Car first...

[geeks]

KimJongHealthy said:

Honey, remember that account we put all the money from the house sale on? Well, where do I start...

Not sure a drunken ebay excuse would wash

[geeks]

KimJongHealthy said:

geeks said:

KimJongHealthy said:

Honey, remember that account we put all the money from the house sale on? Well, where do I start...

Not sure a drunken ebay excuse would wash

On the plus side, I get to sleep in a touring BMW.

Indeed! Ever cloud and all that...

[MikeGoodwin]

God where did these design languages disappear to?

[J4CKO]

MikeGoodwin said:

God where did these design languages disappear to?

I think a big part of it is strength, those dainty pillars would never meet modern crash standards, the sharp edge front would never pass pedestrian regulations.

Cars of this era werent as constrained, styling wise so things like this looked right from every angle and now, as we have so many quite big and chunky designs, these seem so delicate and unusual, can see any six series like this going daft price wise now, not just M635i's.

[V8 FOU]

Buy an M6 and convert it.
Cost would be circa £60K all done...

[geeks]

V8 FOU said:

Buy an M6 and convert it.
Cost would be circa £60K all done...

60k to get it like that? I think you are being a touch optimistic!

[g3org3y]

KimJongHealthy said:

geeks said:

KimJongHealthy said:

Honey, remember that account we put all the money from the house sale on? Well, where do I start...

Not sure a drunken ebay excuse would wash

On the plus side, I get to sleep in a touring BMW.

[derin100]

Hmmm...How many people here really have £150,000 to spend on a 'replica' of an '80s racing car and then would genuinely drive it like that?

[Gruber]

Oooooh, matron!

[donkmeister]

Controversial viewpoint i reckon, but i never liked the 6's of this era. I used to walk past an M635csi (or similar arrangement of letters) every day around 1998/99 and always thought "yuck".
I'm certain it was a fine machine and a great drive but the styling to me doesn't work. Too few corners to carry off the straight lines perhaps?

[binnerboy]

pure unmitigated filth

love it

and that was before I watched the video

need a lie down

[Shakermaker]

Yes, I do want to as well. Miss my old E24, don't have £150k though...

[Ahonen]

geeks said:

V8 FOU said:

Buy an M6 and convert it.
Cost would be circa £60K all done...

60k to get it like that? I think you are being a touch optimistic!

Indeed. It was costing around £75k to build a Mk1 Lotus Cortina for the Masters series around 5 or 6 years ago and I know that if you want to build a 'proper' Group 2 2002 replica the costs are mental.

Having said that, I think £150k for this is a bit strong. Being a replica it doesn't have any period history, like many of the Lotus Cortinas and replica Group A cars out there - however most of those have some sort of recent historic racing pedigree and that does add value. There doesn't seem to be any reference to its recent results, so it might be lacking in that department.

[soad]