1963 BMW 700 Cabriolet

Following World War II, there was widespread devastation to German industry. This led to shortages for all kinds of products, including automobiles. BMW began filling the void in the market for small, efficient cars with the Isetta microcar in 1956. Later that decade, BMW introduced a larger car, the 700, powered by a two cylinder, rear mounted engine. There were three body styles, a two door saloon, two door coupe and a convertible, which is what we see here for sale.

1963 BMW 700 Cabriolet on eBay

THE 700 IS A SMALL REAR-ENGINED CAR PRODUCED BY BMW IN VARIOUS BODY STYLES FROM AUGUST 1959 TO NOVEMBER 1965. THIS WAS THE FIRST BMW AUTOMOBILE WITH A MONOCOQUE STRUCTURE. THE COUPE MODELS WERE POWERED BY A 696 CC, 2 CYLINDER, 4-STROKE ENGINE THAT PRODUCED 30HP. THE CONVERTIBLE MODELS WERE EQUIPPED WITH TWIN SOLEX CARBURETORS GENERATING 40HP. THERE WERE ONLY 2985 CONVERTIBLE CARS WERE PRODUCED BETWEEN SEPT. 1961-NOV. 1964.

THIS BMW SPENT MOST OF ITS LIFE IN CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE A CALIFORNIA PINK SLIP DATED BACK TO 1975 (SEE PHOTO). IT WAS SOLD TO A COLLECTOR IN GEORGIA IN MARCH OF 2002. WE ACQUIRED THIS RARE BMW COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THIS CAR CAN BE DRIVEN WITH ITS EXISTING CONDITION. HOWEVER, IT WILL NEED A FULL COSMETIC RESTORATION.

THIS RARE BMW 700 IS BY FAR ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL AND RUST-FREE ONES IN EXISTENCE. THE PAINT APPEARS TO BE ORIGINAL. IT IS VERY DULL AND CHALKY AT PLACES. IF THE CAR WAS RESTORED AT SOMETIMES IN THE LAST 48 YEARS, THEY MOST HAVE TAKEN IT COMPLETELY APART AS WE CAN NOT FIND ANY PAINT LINES. THE SEAT COVERS AND DOOR PANELS ARE ORIGINAL. WE HAVE A FEW OLD BROCHURES, MAINT. BOOKLETS, AND OTHER COOL PHOTOS FOR THE CAR. ONE OF THE PHOTOS SHOWS THE PICTURE OF THE CAR BACK WHEN IT WAS IN CALIFORNIA WITH A BLACK PLATE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD A NOTE IN THE PORTFOLIO THAT INDICATED THE MOST RECENT WORK IN 2002 AS FOLLOWS:

* NEW TOP
* FRESH TOP END ON MOTOR
* RARE STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST
* KONI SHOCKS
* 5 NEW TIRES

WHEN WE ACQUIRED THE CAR, IT HAD NOT RUN FOR AT LEAST 9 YEARS. WE DRAINED THE FUEL TANK AND LINES, INSTALLED NEW SPARK PLUGS, INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY, CHECKED THE OIL AND ALL FLUIDS, TURNED THE FUEL VALVE ON, TURN THE IGNITION ON TO ACTIVATE THE DYNO,IT CRANKED RIGHT UP. THE CAR RUNS BEAUTIFUL.

EXTERIOR:

THE BODY PANELS LINE UP WELL. THE PAINT APPEARS TO BE ORIGINAL BUT WE ARE NOT SURE. IT IS OLD AND DULL. THERE ARE A FEW SMALL DINGS ON THE BODY. THE FLOORS ARE SOLID. WE HAVE TRIED TO SHOW THE FLOORS IN THE PHOTOS WITHOUT HAVING ACCESS TO A LIFT. THE FRONT FLOOR PANS ARE NEAR PERFECT. THE REAR FLOOR PANS HAVE SOME DENTS IN THEM DUE TO THE LOW CLEARANCE OF THE CAR OR IMPROPER LIFTING. THE AREAS AROUND THE DOOR, TRUNK, AND ENGINE COMPARTMENTS ARE NEAR PERFECT. IN SOME AREAS, THE PAINT HAS CHIPPED AND THE BODY PART WAS TARNISHED. ITS ONLY ON THE SURFACE. THE BUMPERS NEED TO BE PLATED AND THE SS TRIM NEED TO BE POLISHED. ALL GLASS AND LIGHT LENSES ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE BOTH CRACKED. THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED AND RE-PLATED OR REPLACED. THEY ARE MADE OUT OF POT METAL AND HARD TO REPAIR. THIS CAR GIVES A NEW MEANING TO A 48 YEAR OLD “RUST-FREE” CAR.

INTERIOR:

THE SEAT COVERS AND DOOR PANELS ARE ORIGINAL AND IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION. THE ORIGINAL CARS CAME WITH RUBBER FLOOR MATS BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER INSTALLED CARPET. THE TOP IS ABOUT 9 YEARS OLD. IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION. HOWEVER, IT HAS SOME TINY PINCHES AT SOME PLACES. THE BOOT COVER IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THE STEERING HAS A COVER. WE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE IT APART. THE DASH BEZEL AND MISC. TRIM HAVE SOME LIGHT PITTING.

MECHANICAL:

THE CAR CRANKS UP WITH COUPLE OF TRIALS. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE FUEL VALVE ON AND TURN THE IGNITION TO ACTIVATE THE SILENT DYNO. IT THEN CRANKS. IT TAKES A LITTLE GETTING USED TO. THE ENGINE RUNS VERY SMOOTH. IT DOES NOT SMOKE OR LEAK. THE 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFTS GOOD AND THE CLUTCH IS STRONG. WHEN WE GOT THE CAR, THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS VERY LOW. WE ADDED SOME FLUID BUT STILL NO PEDAL. IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY LEAKS MEANING THAT EITHER THE SYSTEM NEEDS BLEEDING OR THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REBUILT. THE HAND BRAKE WORKS. WE HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR JUST A FEW FEET USING THE HANDBRAKE. THE CAR HAS THE ABARTH STYLE STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST THAT SOUNDS GOOD. THE TIRES ARE 9 YEARS OLD BUT LOOK LIKE NEW.

ELECTRICAL:

THE HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, AND DASH LIGHTS WORK. THE TURN SIGNALS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WORK BUT NOT THE LEFT SIDE. IT PROBABLY A FUSES OR BAD CONTACTS.

ENGINE COMPARTMENT:

THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT LOOKS GREAT FOR AN OLD CAR. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF CORROSION ANYWHERE NOT EVEN AT HINGE AREAS OR EDGES OF THE LID.

FRONT COMPARTMENT:

THE AREA BELOW THE MAT, UNDER THE SPARE TIRE, UNDER-DASH, GAS TANK, ETC. LOOK GREAT. THIS CAR IS SO HONEST IN EVERY ASPECT. WE HAVE ALL THE TOOLS. THE JACK AND THE POUCH IS NOT ORIGINAL BUT FUNCTIONAL. ITS THERE IN CASE SOMEONE HAS A FLAT TIRE.

These 700s are neat little cars that helped in the postwar comeback of BMW and got the ball rolling again with BMW Motorsport. A 700 won the Nüburgring six hour touring car race in 1960 and was raced in other events by famous drivers such as Hans Stuck and Jacky Ickx. The seller has presented this 700 in an honest fashion and with some freshening, this 700 would make a practical, usable classic.

-Paul