Discussion
I am in the process of re-commissioning my TWR BMW 335i and wondered if anyone could help me with information about TWR and the BMW's it built and raced in the 70's and 80's? My own car was based on an e21 323i that was converted using Alpina parts and the engine from the 635csi. As far as I know only 3 cars were built and two remain. Mine is chassis number 3.
Any info / help / advice on TWR BMW's would be much appreciated.
This link will tell you a bit more about my car...
A chance look at the bay of e, and a subsequent e-mail and Miss Marple'esque detective session have brought about the purchase of a very rare e21. When I say very rare, what I really mean is very, very rare. In fact, it is one of 3 known cars and possibly one of only two known survivors. Anyway, the car in question is a TWR 335. A 323 converted to 3.5 m30 with a liberal sprinkling of Alpina parts.
The link below takes you to a write up from the era when the car was new.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4354348089_691...
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4355091964_c94...
The specification includes 3.5 m30 engine, Alpina gearbox casing and LSD with extended cooling fin cover. There are also Alpina spoilers and a Recaro interior. I still have work to do before it will be back on the road but it should be a bit of a beast with 240bhp and loads of torque.
The boot floor, rear turrets & beneath the rear screen are all spotless with no rust or rot.
The head has been removed to allow the bores to be inspected and there is no wear to speak of. There certainly no ridge at the top of the bores and the bores themselves are in great condition.
Before I fit the new front panel etc, I am going to take the chance to paint and detail the engine bay. The is a brand new custom rad all ready to slot in. There is a brand new head which I plan to have flowed before I fit the Schrick cam to compliment the bigger valves already fitted. It's being built up to 240bhp specification.
You can see just how little room is left between the block and the bulkhead. I'm going to fit a tubular manifold and exhaust system. Hopefully, I will be able to get http://www.christullettexhausts.com to fabricate it as they did a great job on MIB. I have plenty to do before I need to worry about that though.
Obviously there are staggered Alpina rims which will also be refurbished at some point. I'm not going to stress too much about cosmetics though. I'm more concerned with getting it mechanically sorted. The pretty stuff can wait.
I've decided to keep all the period ICE and fit it here rather than in MIB. I think it'll make a nice final touch to the mint Recaro interior.
The next job is bringing it home and putting it in my garage. As luck would have it, I've finally found one just around the corner! Once it's here I can start writing a massive ''to do'' list.
The interior is Recaro but they've trimmed the seats to match the doorcards etc. I was unsure about the authenticity of the steering wheel however, it seems it is the one supplied by TWR.
With regard to the period ICE, I have managed to get the final missing components and now have the amp and pre-amp to match. I just need to decide which speakers to go with although that's a way off yet.
If anyone can offer help / advice to aid getting my car back on the road I would love to hear from you.
Any info / help / advice on TWR BMW's would be much appreciated.
This link will tell you a bit more about my car...
A chance look at the bay of e, and a subsequent e-mail and Miss Marple'esque detective session have brought about the purchase of a very rare e21. When I say very rare, what I really mean is very, very rare. In fact, it is one of 3 known cars and possibly one of only two known survivors. Anyway, the car in question is a TWR 335. A 323 converted to 3.5 m30 with a liberal sprinkling of Alpina parts.
The link below takes you to a write up from the era when the car was new.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4354348089_691...
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4355091964_c94...
The specification includes 3.5 m30 engine, Alpina gearbox casing and LSD with extended cooling fin cover. There are also Alpina spoilers and a Recaro interior. I still have work to do before it will be back on the road but it should be a bit of a beast with 240bhp and loads of torque.
The boot floor, rear turrets & beneath the rear screen are all spotless with no rust or rot.
The head has been removed to allow the bores to be inspected and there is no wear to speak of. There certainly no ridge at the top of the bores and the bores themselves are in great condition.
Before I fit the new front panel etc, I am going to take the chance to paint and detail the engine bay. The is a brand new custom rad all ready to slot in. There is a brand new head which I plan to have flowed before I fit the Schrick cam to compliment the bigger valves already fitted. It's being built up to 240bhp specification.
You can see just how little room is left between the block and the bulkhead. I'm going to fit a tubular manifold and exhaust system. Hopefully, I will be able to get http://www.christullettexhausts.com to fabricate it as they did a great job on MIB. I have plenty to do before I need to worry about that though.
Obviously there are staggered Alpina rims which will also be refurbished at some point. I'm not going to stress too much about cosmetics though. I'm more concerned with getting it mechanically sorted. The pretty stuff can wait.
I've decided to keep all the period ICE and fit it here rather than in MIB. I think it'll make a nice final touch to the mint Recaro interior.
The next job is bringing it home and putting it in my garage. As luck would have it, I've finally found one just around the corner! Once it's here I can start writing a massive ''to do'' list.
The interior is Recaro but they've trimmed the seats to match the doorcards etc. I was unsure about the authenticity of the steering wheel however, it seems it is the one supplied by TWR.
With regard to the period ICE, I have managed to get the final missing components and now have the amp and pre-amp to match. I just need to decide which speakers to go with although that's a way off yet.
If anyone can offer help / advice to aid getting my car back on the road I would love to hear from you.
Well on Friday evening, despite the M25 and all the traffic, I managed to get to collect the TWR on a trailer and take it to the workshop where the re-commissioning will be done. This was actually the first time that I had got to see the car outside and not while stuck in the corner of someone elses garage! It seems it is even better than I first thought and the bodyshell is arrow straight down both sides with no rust issues etc. I'm really happy with the purchase. Anyway, there was also a whole host of spares included along with body panels etc. I may well sell some of this stuff in an effort to raise funds for the work that does need doing? Sadly it was too dark to take any photos but I shall take a load next week when we go right through the car and parts, to write up a plan of attack. I would like to think that we will have an MOT by June 18th 2011 which is 29 years to the day since the car was built by TWR.
Now that I have what history there is, I was able to start tracing previous owners etc. The first discovery, and incredible co-incidence, is that the car was actually supplied with the exact same Pioneer ICE as I bought for it at an autojumble a few weeks back! I'm really glad to be able to put the car back to how it was originally supplied all those years ago.
It also transpired that the car was originally supplied as an Alpina C1.
Anyway, I will continue to post information as and when I find it but I have managed to trace the original Service Manager that worked on the car and he remembers it well. Best of all, he was able to confirm exactly what parts were Alpina and which were Hartge, the only other people doing a 3.5 conversion as far as I am aware?
Now that I have what history there is, I was able to start tracing previous owners etc. The first discovery, and incredible co-incidence, is that the car was actually supplied with the exact same Pioneer ICE as I bought for it at an autojumble a few weeks back! I'm really glad to be able to put the car back to how it was originally supplied all those years ago.
It also transpired that the car was originally supplied as an Alpina C1.
Anyway, I will continue to post information as and when I find it but I have managed to trace the original Service Manager that worked on the car and he remembers it well. Best of all, he was able to confirm exactly what parts were Alpina and which were Hartge, the only other people doing a 3.5 conversion as far as I am aware?
I know. This was a step further taken by Tom Walkinshaw Racing who were UK agents for Alpina prior to Sytners taking over in around 1983 when TWR concentrated on their affiliation with Rover and Jaguar. My car started as an Alpina C1 prior to its conversion to 335 spec. If you check the links above it confirms that TWR took the e21 further than Alpinas B6.
Hi e21BMW, you have already made contact, but for the record, I confirm that I own Chassis No.1 which is currently with Austec Racing being rebuilt. This is the car that appeared in a Tuning Tests article in Motor Sport for August 1982. I've owned the car since 1997 and only drove it for 3 months before I had to take it off the road, but I remember it as a very quick but stable car which had benefitted from the various suspension and brake upgrades necessary to go with the enhanced performance. I haven't actually seen my car for some while (must chase Austec!) so don't recall too many technical details but I do remember that there was a massive finned diff and a gearbox which contained, I believe, a combination of 6 and 7 series ratios. It has a front strut brace and an extra fuel tank located in the boot. The engine block I seem to recall is stamped TWR001.
I'm sure that I was informed a couple of years ago that Chassis 2 was written off by fire.
John Turner
I'm sure that I was informed a couple of years ago that Chassis 2 was written off by fire.
John Turner
Edited by DP215 on Sunday 26th September 17:13
Edited by DP215 on Sunday 26th September 17:13
Hi John,
After your last mail I spoke to the guys at Auztec and they told me about the extensive work your car is having done. In fact, they said the shell was almost complete and ready for paint. I believe yours is the car that my cars original owner drove? He was so impressed he asked them to convert his C1 straight away. He would have bought your car but it just wasn't for sale! Ken Hosken, the service manager at TWR, remembers the cars well and was pleased to hear they still survive. I also heard that chassis number 2 was destroyed by fire too. Ken was also able to give me some technical details. It seems that not only did they use an Alpina gearbox, but they also used the Hartge item. He said the Hartge had a longer throw gearlever. He is also going to try and find any relevant history that he has in his loft. I shall obviously keep you posted John.
I hope to go take detailed photos of my car this week. Fortunately, it remains pretty much rust free and doesn't require too much bodywork. The engine, however, needs a rebuild and will be blueprinted and built to 240bhp specification as it was originally. Meanwhile, I'm going to use an e12 M535 engine I have sat waiting. I need to find out what exhaust system was used though? I have a 6 branch manifold being made now but am unsure if a twin, 323 style system was retained or not?
It seems very few people knew the TWR 335 even existed and it's certainly way rarer than the Alpina B6 too. I believe they were only available in LHD too?
My next task is to try and trace Dru Montagu, the original owner. If anyone has any knowledge of him please let me know?
After your last mail I spoke to the guys at Auztec and they told me about the extensive work your car is having done. In fact, they said the shell was almost complete and ready for paint. I believe yours is the car that my cars original owner drove? He was so impressed he asked them to convert his C1 straight away. He would have bought your car but it just wasn't for sale! Ken Hosken, the service manager at TWR, remembers the cars well and was pleased to hear they still survive. I also heard that chassis number 2 was destroyed by fire too. Ken was also able to give me some technical details. It seems that not only did they use an Alpina gearbox, but they also used the Hartge item. He said the Hartge had a longer throw gearlever. He is also going to try and find any relevant history that he has in his loft. I shall obviously keep you posted John.
I hope to go take detailed photos of my car this week. Fortunately, it remains pretty much rust free and doesn't require too much bodywork. The engine, however, needs a rebuild and will be blueprinted and built to 240bhp specification as it was originally. Meanwhile, I'm going to use an e12 M535 engine I have sat waiting. I need to find out what exhaust system was used though? I have a 6 branch manifold being made now but am unsure if a twin, 323 style system was retained or not?
It seems very few people knew the TWR 335 even existed and it's certainly way rarer than the Alpina B6 too. I believe they were only available in LHD too?
My next task is to try and trace Dru Montagu, the original owner. If anyone has any knowledge of him please let me know?
The race series was called the Bmw County Challenge, with dealers from different counties running cars, which (i thinnk) were road legal 323's circuit prepared, and I think TWR prepared all the cars.
A friend of my dad used to race in the that series and I remember as a kid watching my dad take it out for a few laps at a test session at Ingliston. I doubt many of the race cars would have survived to this day.
A friend of my dad used to race in the that series and I remember as a kid watching my dad take it out for a few laps at a test session at Ingliston. I doubt many of the race cars would have survived to this day.
Nice car and great thread.I owned a TWR e21 C1 Alpina a few years ago and that was running circa 180bhp when i had it and went like stink.Its since been supercharged(see youtube link).Yours will be some car when its finished...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luYOGkZztPk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luYOGkZztPk
Fantastic car chap. Really rare and I love the fact that you're giving it the treatment it deserves.
My dad had an E21 323i in 1983 (he part exchanged a Triumph Dolomite Sprint for it - now that was a car too!) and my memories of that car are 1) the piping on the seats bit into my legs (I was only a nipper!) and he got it sideways alot in the wet (and most of the time unintentionally)! If that went sideways easily god help you with 240bhp under your right foot!! Brilliant.
He eventually swapped that for a black Saab 900 turbo (had a bigger boot but wasn't a patch on the beemer.) which he did 176,000 miles in. He sold that and bought a new Sapphire Cosworth in '87 which he then sent to Brodie Britain Racing to have breathed on. Now that was a quick car . That burnt to the ground in '91 I think (outside the chippy in Menai Bridge!). E525TCS. I'll never forget that car. So damn quick. Vivid memories of Dad overtaking lines of cars in that through the mountains in Snowdonia.
Anywas I digress - that E21 was the start of something for me and I think what you're doing is great to preserve some deserved rare history of the marque.
My dad had an E21 323i in 1983 (he part exchanged a Triumph Dolomite Sprint for it - now that was a car too!) and my memories of that car are 1) the piping on the seats bit into my legs (I was only a nipper!) and he got it sideways alot in the wet (and most of the time unintentionally)! If that went sideways easily god help you with 240bhp under your right foot!! Brilliant.
He eventually swapped that for a black Saab 900 turbo (had a bigger boot but wasn't a patch on the beemer.) which he did 176,000 miles in. He sold that and bought a new Sapphire Cosworth in '87 which he then sent to Brodie Britain Racing to have breathed on. Now that was a quick car . That burnt to the ground in '91 I think (outside the chippy in Menai Bridge!). E525TCS. I'll never forget that car. So damn quick. Vivid memories of Dad overtaking lines of cars in that through the mountains in Snowdonia.
Anywas I digress - that E21 was the start of something for me and I think what you're doing is great to preserve some deserved rare history of the marque.
Thanks for the positive comments guys.
I'm off to the workshop on Monday and we shall be getting the car up on the lift for a thorough inspection. A previous owner had intended to track the car so removed all the underseal. As a result we will be able to see any corrosion although, so far, there seems to be nothing to worry about. I am currently researching which products to use to protect the underneath, chassis rails etc?
I have managed to track down all the parts needed to complete the build including a mint headlining and carpet. I am going to order fresh windscreen and rear screen rubbers too. Fortunately, the interior has survived really well and the Recaros are pretty much mint.
The 6 branch is being made by a company in Somerset and I plan to just fit twin silencers like the original Alpina C1 system. I would like to use race spec silencers though.
Anyway, I'll post more photos and info as I get it.
I'm off to the workshop on Monday and we shall be getting the car up on the lift for a thorough inspection. A previous owner had intended to track the car so removed all the underseal. As a result we will be able to see any corrosion although, so far, there seems to be nothing to worry about. I am currently researching which products to use to protect the underneath, chassis rails etc?
I have managed to track down all the parts needed to complete the build including a mint headlining and carpet. I am going to order fresh windscreen and rear screen rubbers too. Fortunately, the interior has survived really well and the Recaros are pretty much mint.
The 6 branch is being made by a company in Somerset and I plan to just fit twin silencers like the original Alpina C1 system. I would like to use race spec silencers though.
Anyway, I'll post more photos and info as I get it.
Well I was able to get over to M-tech this morning and Dave got the TWR up on his ramp so that we could go over it with a fine tooth comb. Apologies for the picture quality and poor light and an i phone camera are a bad mix.
Anyway, the whole shell is 100% rust free. In fact, it has to be one of the most solid E21's I have come across personally. The fact that a previous owner has laboriously
removed all the underseal with a scraper means that there are no hidden surprises.
This is the only blemish along with a rear corner of the bonnet that has a little ding that's happened whilst in storage. Certainly nothing to worry about.
The metal around the diff remains rust free and the cover and fins should clean up nicely. Obviously the LSD with get fresh oil.
The suspension all seems to be in good order and looks to have been fully refurbished in recent years. The springs are progressive rate.
The brakes look awesome too. I'm guessing the fronts were taken from the 635 that donated its engine. The hoses with be replaced with braided items along with new fluid & pads.
The gearbox will obviously get fresh oil too. The internals are a combination of 6 and 7 series ratios combined with the standard 3.45 diff.
The bootlid has been replaced for some reason but this is also mint so just needs painting. Apart from this and some localized repairs, that should be about the only paintwork needed. The gutter trims, rear windows etc all need to be replaced and / or re-fitted.
All the wheel arches are spotless as are the doors. In fact, the doors look factory fresh inside and out.
The boot currently contains a load of parts. There's a brand new head, polished rocker cover, polished inlet manifold and assorted other bits and pieces.
There a brand new cam and the original Alpina strut brace remains too.
There are certain bits I am still in need of but that's mainly interior trim. Dave @ E21 Revival has supplied me with a decent carpet ( thanks Dave ) and I have an early Alpina steering wheel as was originally fitted.
The staggered Alpina wheels will get new rubber once the wheels themselves have been refurbished.
Rather than just fit the engine I got from Jason, we have decided to rebuild the original, blueprinted TWR engine instead. If, further down the line, it looks as if it's too far gone we can always revert to the original plan. It just makes sense to get the original engine up and running again. As soon as the cars running we can get the front end on and think about the first M.O.T in 21 years!
Anyway, the whole shell is 100% rust free. In fact, it has to be one of the most solid E21's I have come across personally. The fact that a previous owner has laboriously
removed all the underseal with a scraper means that there are no hidden surprises.
This is the only blemish along with a rear corner of the bonnet that has a little ding that's happened whilst in storage. Certainly nothing to worry about.
The metal around the diff remains rust free and the cover and fins should clean up nicely. Obviously the LSD with get fresh oil.
The suspension all seems to be in good order and looks to have been fully refurbished in recent years. The springs are progressive rate.
The brakes look awesome too. I'm guessing the fronts were taken from the 635 that donated its engine. The hoses with be replaced with braided items along with new fluid & pads.
The gearbox will obviously get fresh oil too. The internals are a combination of 6 and 7 series ratios combined with the standard 3.45 diff.
The bootlid has been replaced for some reason but this is also mint so just needs painting. Apart from this and some localized repairs, that should be about the only paintwork needed. The gutter trims, rear windows etc all need to be replaced and / or re-fitted.
All the wheel arches are spotless as are the doors. In fact, the doors look factory fresh inside and out.
The boot currently contains a load of parts. There's a brand new head, polished rocker cover, polished inlet manifold and assorted other bits and pieces.
There a brand new cam and the original Alpina strut brace remains too.
There are certain bits I am still in need of but that's mainly interior trim. Dave @ E21 Revival has supplied me with a decent carpet ( thanks Dave ) and I have an early Alpina steering wheel as was originally fitted.
The staggered Alpina wheels will get new rubber once the wheels themselves have been refurbished.
Rather than just fit the engine I got from Jason, we have decided to rebuild the original, blueprinted TWR engine instead. If, further down the line, it looks as if it's too far gone we can always revert to the original plan. It just makes sense to get the original engine up and running again. As soon as the cars running we can get the front end on and think about the first M.O.T in 21 years!
As it's raining and I'm stuck at my desk I thought I would do a bit more research on the cars history and it's previous owners.
I'm having the head pressure tested prior to having it flowed this week. I'm leaning towards having e34 inlet valves fitted but as I know very little about M30 engines I am having to rely on other people.
This was the bill given when the car was returned as a C1. The conversion to 335 was another £8K.
TWR's factory back in the day. Spot the C1 in the background. It looks like an early car going by the chrome door mirror?
I spy the 2 County Championship cars over there in the back-ground. Those rear wings were rather large. I've managed to contact someone who bought all of TWR's parts stock when they'd finished working with the E21. It seems as though all those ''identical'' 323 engines might not have been all they appeared.
I'm having the head pressure tested prior to having it flowed this week. I'm leaning towards having e34 inlet valves fitted but as I know very little about M30 engines I am having to rely on other people.
This was the bill given when the car was returned as a C1. The conversion to 335 was another £8K.
TWR's factory back in the day. Spot the C1 in the background. It looks like an early car going by the chrome door mirror?
I spy the 2 County Championship cars over there in the back-ground. Those rear wings were rather large. I've managed to contact someone who bought all of TWR's parts stock when they'd finished working with the E21. It seems as though all those ''identical'' 323 engines might not have been all they appeared.
I found this yesterday...
Some of the drivers race suit patches.
Never mind the cars even the badge is rusting!
Some BMW press releases with race results, championship standings, prize money etc.
They were the days...
When I get a bit more time I will type everything out but here's the car specifications to be going on with...
Anatomy of the BMW County Championship
The BMW 323i's which are representing their respective counties in this year's BMW County Championship initially started life as standard road cars. They were transported straight from BMW Munich where they were taken to Tom Walkinshaw Racing at Kidlington, Oxford. Tom, together with Hugo Tippet, the team manager and 6 racing technicians then modified the cars to racing specifications which were as follows :-
BMW 323i - County Car Specification
Some of the drivers race suit patches.
Never mind the cars even the badge is rusting!
Some BMW press releases with race results, championship standings, prize money etc.
They were the days...
When I get a bit more time I will type everything out but here's the car specifications to be going on with...
Anatomy of the BMW County Championship
The BMW 323i's which are representing their respective counties in this year's BMW County Championship initially started life as standard road cars. They were transported straight from BMW Munich where they were taken to Tom Walkinshaw Racing at Kidlington, Oxford. Tom, together with Hugo Tippet, the team manager and 6 racing technicians then modified the cars to racing specifications which were as follows :-
BMW 323i - County Car Specification
- 2.3 litre engine balanced throughout
- Gas flowed cylinder head polished and raised compression to 9.8:1
- Brake tested to deliver 170bhp
- Heavy duty clutch
- Front struts specially rebuilt to TWR Racing settings, with stiffer springs and adjustable abutments.
- Competition rear dampers have adjustable bump and rebound settings with stiffer springs.
- Adjustable front anti roll bar of 24mm fitted in addition to standard one.
- Rear one of 19mm also fitted.
- Limited Slip Differential fitted with reinforced rear crossmember mountings.
- Racing brake pads front and rear have been specially made with additional ventilation to the discs.
- Mahle wheels 6Jx13 are fitted with Dunlop racing tyres.
- Body stripped of all interior trim, fitted with FIA roll cage front and rear, competition high back driving seat, BMW Motorsport steering wheel, four point racing harness, 2.5 kilo FE1301 plubed in extinguishing system, battery cut off switch and reinforced fuel tank.
- Specially made fibreglass bonnet and boot lids fitted. The boot lid carries a rear wing and there is a special racing air dam at the front.
- A special free flow exhaust system is fitted complying with the 1980 RAC noise regulations.
Edited by e21BMW on Saturday 9th October 14:24
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