The BMW E3, or New Six, as it was known, was a step in the right direction for BMW in the late 1960s. This, along with the 2002 “New Class†helped better define the vehicle lineup and began to cement the company’s position as a manufacturer of sporty, efficient sedans. Unlike its predecessor we featured earlier in the week, the 3200CS, the New Six had a more advanced overhead cam engine and unit body construction.
It was famous vehicle importer Max Hoffman that goaded BMW into making a special model for the US market, called the Bavaria. This car had less luxury features that the 2800 model featured, but did feature the larger, 2.8 liter inline six. The Bavaria gained a bit of notoriety over the years, as former First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis was known for piloting her Bavaria around Manhattan in the years following her marriage to Aristotle Onassis and subsequent relocation to New York.
This Bavaria for sale in California, while not the most mint example out there, is a great example of a practical classic that you could not only use, but keep up with modern day traffic.
Year: 1972
Model: Bavaria
Engine: 2.8 liter inline six
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: N/A
Price: No reserve auction
1972 BMW Bavaria on eBay
This is a super nice 1972 BMW Bavaria that has been owned and restored by a true BMW enthusiast. It has the great color combination of alpine white with blue vinyl interior. The vinyl is the original herringbone and the carpets are the original wool and I’ve added new custom floor mats. The paint and chrome are in really good condition and the car is 99% rust free. Over $8,000 in recent receipts that include a rebuilt 3.5 liter big six motor, new triple side draft Weber carburetors, a Gertrag 5 speed transmission, Stahl header and all new suspension. Suspension components include new Bilstein sport shocks, Ireland Engineering lowering springs, new urethane bushings, larger sway bars and control arms. The wheels are vintage staggered Alpinas that include the rare matching center caps and performance tires. I’ve added a vintage style digital stereo with new speakers and an Ipod hookup in the glove box as well. This car was built to run and is very fast, sounds amazing and handles extremely well. Although it might not be concours condition, this Bavaria is one of the best in the country and it is sure to turn heads at any BMW event.
I have the car for sale locally and I reserve the right to remove the listing if I accept a local offer.
The aftermarket Alpina wheels don’t do a lot for this car, in my opinion. Hopefully the seller has the original wheels, or ones that are sized more appropriately for this car. While receipts for recent upgrades and work are available, it would be nice to know a little more about the history of this car, along with the mileage figure that is on this particular chassis. Naturally, E3 sedans don’t bring as much as their two-door counterparts, and at $13,000, we’re probably a bit overpriced. Given the state of this car and the information provided, I’d say we’re probably somewhere around the $8,000 to $10,000 mark.
-Paul