VintagEuro #018
If You Want a Practical Classic, Find Yourself an ‘80s-era BMW
Let’s be honest. Most of us will never own ALL the cars we dreamed about in our youth. But if we’re lucky, we might just get to own one or two of them, whether early in their life while they’re still fresh or later once they’re classics. The question for this audience then is, “What classics are worth owning today?”
There’s no wrong answer, but it probably depends on when you grew up. If you came of age in the 1980s, however, there’s a good chance a BMW is on your list. From the iconic E30 325i coupe Andrew McCarthy’s character drove in the movie “Pretty in Pink” to the E24 635 CSi Cybill Shepherd wheeled on the TV show “Moonlighting,” BMWs were ‘80s shorthand for aspiration and success.
Some forty years later, those same cars remain as desirable as ever now that they’re classics. That’s because - if you’ll forgive the reference to Reaganomics - they’ve finally trickled down to the collector car middle class, becoming relatively affordable and utterly respectable entry points to the world of vintage car ownership.
It’s easy to understand their appeal, too. This family of cars - encompassing 3, 5, 6, and 7 Series models - had a cohesive design language that originated in the ‘70s but blossomed in the ‘80s. They were all endowed with engaging driving dynamics, powered primarily the company’s smooth, torqueyM20 six-cylinder engines. This was the age of The Ultimate Driving Machine as much as it was the “Yuppiemobile.”
The commonality of drivetrains among these models makes them relatively easy to maintain today. There are numerous parts sources in the aftermarket for most mechanical items. Popular factory options like sport seats and upgraded wheels can often be switched between models as well, allowing for period-correct personalizations.
The market is still full of available cars from this era, though getting into a decent affordable example is becoming more difficult. Drivable project cars still pop up for less than $5k, and even well-maintained examples of most non-M models rarely go for more than the high teens. And if you don’t want to show up in the same 325is coupe as everyone else, you can always go with a personal import models never sold here, like an E30 3 Series wagon.
If you have a bigger budget, however, the original M cars are truly collectible, particularly the E30 M3. Rarer and more powerful, albeit less desirable than their smaller box-flared brethren are the E28 M5 and E24 M6. All are magnificent driver’s cars that rightfully command respect.
Interest in ‘80s-era Bimmers isn’t just limited to Gen Xers who can recite any line of a John Hughes film on demand. Millennials and even younger enthusiasts are drawn to them as well, based on their popularity at RadWood events.
Maybe this universal appeal just comes down to the fact that for so many people, this generation of BMWs is the definitive one. A dash of style, a hint of prestige, and a whole of fun to drive. Made even better by the passing of time.
Goods & Gear
BMW in the 20th Century by Jackie Jouret
Many authors have published books on BMW vehicles over the years, but few are as intimate with the company’s history as Jackie Jouret. For nearly two decades she covered the brand in depth as Editor in Chief at Bimmer magazine. That chapter closed in 2017, but her mission lives in BMW Club of America’s biannual mag, Bimmer Life.
The slower production pace of the club magazine has given Jackie the opportunity to publish several books on Munich’s iconic carmaker. A perennial favorite is BMW in the 20th Century, published in 2020, in which she surfaces a collection of previously untold stories about people and projects.
True to her nature, she has gone straight to the sources whenever possible, gathering firsthand accounts and conducting thorough research. Keep in mind, this is the same person who connected the dots to unearth Elvis Presley’s BMW 507 sitting in a pumpkin barn In California.
The book features 372 pages and includes more than 500 archival images. Within its pages, she covers the engineers and designers that made company legendary as well as the cars and motorcycles it would be known for.
This book and Jackie’s other recent titles including Max Hoffman and BMW, Finding Elvis’s 507, and others are available directly from her Amazon author page in paperback or Kindle form.
BMW in the 20th Century
Classics & Cocktails
Black Forest Manhattan
Southern Germany has two large federal states: Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The former is famous as the home of BMW, while the latter is home to the Black Forest region. Over the years, however, many motoring journalists have conflated the two regions as one, often crediting the challenging Black Forest roads for influencing BMW’s legendary handling and performance.
Black Forest Cake, however, is an authentic creation of its namesake region. It combines chocolate, cherries (and kirsch liqueur), and whipped cream (black, red, and white representing the state colors) into a decadent dessert. This Black Forest Manhattan cocktail steals the chocolate (in the form of bitters) and the cherries from the cake to add a rich second layer to the traditional Manhattan cocktail.
Ingredients
2 ounces rye whiskey
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
4 dashes chocolate bitters
Luxardo or similar cured cherries (plus 1/2 ounce cherry syrup)
Orange peel
Preparation
Combine whiskey, vermouth, bitters and cherry syrup in a mixing glass filled with ice
Stir for several seconds and strain into a chilled coupe
Garnish with 2 cherries and orange peel