TOP GEAR: The best BMW years: the 70's...

Paul-Bracq-BMW · 11-09-2016, 10:53 PM

Great article (poetically written) about arguably the best decade in BMW history: the 70's, which produced legends such as the 3.0 CSL, the 2002 Turbo and the M1.

Enjoy the read!

Paul-Bracq-BMW · 11-09-2016, 10:57 PM

What I wouldn't do for a CSL or an M1: 2 of my most favourite cars ever!!

Germanauto · 11-13-2016, 12:18 PM

Will read more another time. Is the ///M1 even that loved? Doesn't seem to get a lot of attention in the supercar world.

Personally I feel BMW peaked as a brand in the mid 90s - early 00s. Seems like every model was gorgeous and a true driver's car. Sure, BMWs of today are still beautiful to look at with nicer interiors and tech, but they sure as hell don't drive like they used to. Better cars for sure; better BMWs? Not in a million years.

Paul-Bracq-BMW · 11-13-2016, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Will read more another time. Is the ///M1 even that loved? Doesn't seem to get a lot of attention in the supercar world.

Personally I feel BMW peaked as a brand in the mid 90s - early 00s. Seems like every model was gorgeous and a true driver's car. Sure, BMWs of today are still beautiful to look at with nicer interiors and tech, but they sure as hell don't drive like they used to. Better cars for sure; better BMWs? Not in a million years.

If you are into classic cars like I am, the 70's BMWs are the most valuable:

Average prices for the M1's are in the $500K, which means they are a must for serious car collectors (the ones who collect classic Ferraris, Lamborghinis etc.). To give you an idea, they have similar values as blue-chip 70's cars like the early Countach, and just below the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxers...

Average prices for the CSL's are in the $130K for the non-batmobile versions and close to $200K for the batmobiles.

Cheers.

GuidoK · 11-13-2016, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

the 70's BMWs are the most valuable:

Actually I think the 507 (a 50's car) is the most valuable.

Paul-Bracq-BMW · 11-13-2016, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Actually I think the 507 (a 50's car) is the most valuable.

It is, but I was talking about eras. The 70's have the most valuable BMW's in general. The 507 is the most valuable BMW no matter the period. They are also amongst the rarest of BMW's with only 252 produced and not too many have survived...

Fundguy1 · 11-13-2016, 07:16 PM

Saw a 507 on Route 60 near vero Beach. Did a triple take.

Paul-Bracq-BMW · 11-13-2016, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

Saw a 507 on Route 60 near vero Beach. Did a triple take.

The most beautiful BMW ever made IMO... looking as good with the hard top on, which is not common!

Fundguy1 · 11-13-2016, 07:35 PM

It had a hardtop on. Needed restoration.white

Fundguy1 · 11-13-2016, 07:37 PM

Jaguar XKSS is my favorite.

Paul-Bracq-BMW · 11-13-2016, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

Jaguar XKSS is my favorite.

To each our own... Mine, the Ferrari 250 GTO!

Paul-Bracq-BMW · 11-13-2016, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

It had a hardtop on. Needed restoration.white

Trend nowadays for these classics is to keep them as-is, but mechanically overhauled. a car is original only once ;-)

Dackelone · 11-13-2016, 09:08 PM

Nice article. I think we have Bob Lutz to thank for the better BMW's of the '70's and '80's. In the current issue of Bimmer Magazine - there is a great interview with Bob Lutz about his time at BMW.

PS: on a side note...(sorry to thread jack) ...I just heard Bimmer Magazine is going out of business. December is their last issue. Such a shame.

Law · 11-14-2016, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Nice article. I think we have Bob Lutz to thank for the better BMW's of the '70's and '80's. In the current issue of Bimmer Magazine - there is a great interview with Bob Lutz about his time at BMW.

PS: on a side note...(sorry to thread jack) ...I just heard Bimmer Magazine is going out of business. December is their last issue. Such a shame.

Don't forget he also saved the twin kidney grille, thank goodness.

GeeRam · 11-15-2016, 03:43 PM

Would be a choice between either the 2002 Turbo or the CSL for me........

Fundguy1 · 11-15-2016, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeeRam

Would be a choice between either the 2002 Turbo or the CSL for me........

2 good picks.

Maynard · 11-17-2016, 12:20 PM

Thanks for sharing this - or damn your hide for making me want to kick back with a dram of Laphroig to really enjoy the prose and great scenery (reading it on my lunchtime break).

The Batmobile CSL is probably the imprinting that left me a lifetime BMW fan - saw them as a kid in NYC, including two of the Art Cars. And I got a lot of shit for being the oddball who would add the M1 to those studyhall bench racing discussions of Countach vs. Testarossa (anybody who's ever seen those in person knows what clapped together POS they actually were, compared to the M1 that was actually a finished car - fast and beautiful, but really glorified design studies that were half-baked).

Paul-Bracq-BMW · 11-17-2016, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maynard

Thanks for sharing this - or damn your hide for making me want to kick back with a dram of Laphroig to really enjoy the prose and great scenery (reading it on my lunchtime break).

The Batmobile CSL is probably the imprinting that left me a lifetime BMW fan - saw them as a kid in NYC, including two of the Art Cars. And I got a lot of shit for being the oddball who would add the M1 to those studyhall bench racing discussions of Countach vs. Testarossa (anybody who's ever seen those in person knows what clapped together POS they actually were, compared to the M1 that was actually a finished car - fast and beautiful, but really glorified design studies that were half-baked).

Both the Batmobile and M1 are now recognised by classic car lovers as benchmarks, and are now worth on par with their contemporaries... Their values IMO end any debates about how good they are...

GuidoK · 11-17-2016, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Nice article. I think we have Bob Lutz to thank for the better BMW's of the '70's and '80's.

Or this guy:

Or we may even have to thank him to kill off the better bmw's from the 70's

11-09-2016, 10:53 PM	#1
Paul-Bracq-BMW Moderator 4097 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: 1981 323i, sports M5, LSD Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	TOP GEAR: The best BMW years: the 70's... Great article (poetically written) about arguably the best decade in BMW history: the 70's, which produced legends such as the 3.0 CSL, the 2002 Turbo and the M1. Enjoy the read! Attached Images __________________ 1981 323i, 143 Kashmir-Metallic, 0094 Pergament, Sports M5, LSD. Last edited by Paul-Bracq-BMW; 11-09-2016 at 11:00 PM..
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11-09-2016, 10:57 PM	#2
Paul-Bracq-BMW Moderator 4097 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: 1981 323i, sports M5, LSD Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	What I wouldn't do for a CSL or an M1: 2 of my most favourite cars ever!! __________________ 1981 323i, 143 Kashmir-Metallic, 0094 Pergament, Sports M5, LSD.
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11-13-2016, 12:18 PM	#3
Germanauto Major General 9698 Rep 6,082 Posts Drives: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Rosso Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	Will read more another time. Is the ///M1 even that loved? Doesn't seem to get a lot of attention in the supercar world. Personally I feel BMW peaked as a brand in the mid 90s - early 00s. Seems like every model was gorgeous and a true driver's car. Sure, BMWs of today are still beautiful to look at with nicer interiors and tech, but they sure as hell don't drive like they used to. Better cars for sure; better BMWs? Not in a million years.
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11-13-2016, 07:16 PM	#7
Fundguy1 Major General 2032 Rep 8,339 Posts Drives: 335 e93 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando, fl iTrader: (0)	Saw a 507 on Route 60 near vero Beach. Did a triple take.
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11-13-2016, 07:35 PM	#9
Fundguy1 Major General 2032 Rep 8,339 Posts Drives: 335 e93 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando, fl iTrader: (0)	It had a hardtop on. Needed restoration.white
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11-13-2016, 07:37 PM	#10
Fundguy1 Major General 2032 Rep 8,339 Posts Drives: 335 e93 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando, fl iTrader: (0)	Jaguar XKSS is my favorite.
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11-13-2016, 09:08 PM	#13
Dackelone European Editor 10532 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Danke Bob Lutz... Nice article. I think we have Bob Lutz to thank for the better BMW's of the '70's and '80's. In the current issue of Bimmer Magazine - there is a great interview with Bob Lutz about his time at BMW. PS: on a side note...(sorry to thread jack) ...I just heard Bimmer Magazine is going out of business. December is their last issue. Such a shame. __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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11-15-2016, 03:43 PM	#15
GeeRam Major 195 Rep 1,317 Posts Drives: X5 40d SE Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Berkshire,UK iTrader: (0)	Would be a choice between either the 2002 Turbo or the CSL for me........ __________________ 2017 X5 4.0dSE ~ Atlas Cedar:Ind.Amaro Brown Merino&Piano Blk, Sport Auto, DHP, Comfort seats, Cold weather pack, HK audio, Electric towbar, Sun protection glass.
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11-17-2016, 12:20 PM	#17
Maynard Colonel 3847 Rep 2,872 Posts Drives: 228iX & M2C Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (1)	Thanks for sharing this - or damn your hide for making me want to kick back with a dram of Laphroig to really enjoy the prose and great scenery (reading it on my lunchtime break). The Batmobile CSL is probably the imprinting that left me a lifetime BMW fan - saw them as a kid in NYC, including two of the Art Cars. And I got a lot of shit for being the oddball who would add the M1 to those studyhall bench racing discussions of Countach vs. Testarossa (anybody who's ever seen those in person knows what clapped together POS they actually were, compared to the M1 that was actually a finished car - fast and beautiful, but really glorified design studies that were half-baked).
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