Fast Coupes Of The Eighties And Nineties

[StescoG66]

Turbobanana said:

McGee_22 said:

Here's one of mine...

Normally I can't stand BMWs, but that's bloody gorgeous!

Like you, normally can’t stand BMWs. Agree that is gorgeous and would love one

[PomBstard]

McGee_22 said:

Turbobanana said:

McGee_22 said:

Here's one of mine...

Normally I can't stand BMWs, but that's bloody gorgeous!

I have this one too...

Oh fk off! They’re fantastic and I still want one #reallyjealous

For me, peak BMW is E24M6 and E28M5 - I’ve come close to 635CSi and M535i a couple of times, but never quite found the right one at the right time. The Ms are probably out of reach now.

In line with the thread, I did have this…



…and now have this…



…but have previously had one of these…



…which were on sale until about 1982. It’s a Datsun 160J SSS coupe based on the A10 Violet, but with a 1600 engine with a pair of SU carbs - put out around 90’ish bhp. Was also RWD, weighed v little, and had a 5-sp manual with dogleg first, because sports car

Was actually more fun than you might think, and way more reliable than any Ford I had from that era…

[blueg33]

This is my 1980’s coupe that I reluctantly sold a few years ago.

Edited by blueg33 on Tuesday 2nd July 10:11

[Turbobanana]

McGee_22 said:

I have this one too...

While that's nice, it works better in 1980s white for me.

It's interesting how the design evolved over time. I've seen a few very early ones through auctions recently and they look so basic.

[Stick Legs]

blueg33 said:

This is my 2980’s coupe that I reluctantly sold a few years ago.

Good freudian slip. 80’s futurism could be from the 2980’s.

[blueg33]

Stick Legs said:

blueg33 said:

This is my 2980’s coupe that I reluctantly sold a few years ago.

Good freudian slip. 80’s futurism could be from the 2980’s.

Just noticed the typo!

[McGee_22]

Turbobanana said:

McGee_22 said:

I have this one too...

While that's nice, it works better in 1980s white for me.

It's interesting how the design evolved over time. I've seen a few very early ones through auctions recently and they look so basic.

The external differences between the early E12 based cars (1976 to 1982) and the first E28 based cars (1982 to 1986) are actually pretty subtle;

Wrap around rear bumper to the rear wheel arch
Front fog lights integrated into the front spoiler
Black rain gutter extended by about 5cm

The 1982 onwards cars were obviously very different inside but externally there were two different front spoilers, an angled standard one and the deeper ///M version with the three ribs at the bottom and occasionally on a 628CSi no front spoiler at all. There was also a change from the full rubber rear boot spoilers to the part rubber and part body coloured ABS rear spoiler.

The bigger change came in 1986/87 when the Highline cars with the massive front and rear 'world' impact bumpers were introduced along with full leather interiors, and all cars having the body coloured wheel arch extensions that previously were previously reserved for the ///M6 and ///M635CSi.

My blue car is actually frocked up with the M635CSi spoilers, wheel arch extensions and ///M steering wheel.

[lowdrag]

Turbobanana said:

McGee_22 said:

I have this one too...

While that's nice, it works better in 1980s white for me.

It's interesting how the design evolved over time. I've seen a few very early ones through auctions recently and they look so basic.

Two things come into my mind when I look at an M6. Firstly is how it was damned dangerous on a wet road and now just how much those metric tyres will cost you.

[Stick Legs]

Since we are reminiscing:





My 635CSi.

Manual with LSD.
Blue recaro leather interior.
M635CSi brakes.
850ci alloys (so I could get off TRX’s and onto Yokohama 225/50/16).
Eibach springs & Bilstein B6 shocks.
Strut braced.
6 branch exhaust.
E34 535i ‘big valve’ head, Schrick cam to Alpina B9 spec & Alpina B9 3.5 ECU.

It went very well indeed & I never should have sold it.

Pretty sure it was immediately broken for parts by the bloke who bought it & was restoring his M535i…

[Turbobanana]

Of course they look best of all like this:

[PomBstard]

Turbobanana said:

Of course they look best of all like this:

You make an excellent point - I’ve seen this at a few local car meets/shows…

[McGee_22]

635CSi hill climb - just a beautiful sound...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0vVJB1iW7g

[5 In a Row]

PomBstard said:

Turbobanana said:

Of course they look best of all like this:

You make an excellent point - I’ve seen this at a few local car meets/shows…

Didn't that disappear off into the trees at Bathurst?

[PomBstard]

5 In a Row said:

PomBstard said:

Turbobanana said:

Of course they look best of all like this:

You make an excellent point - I’ve seen this at a few local car meets/shows…

Didn't that disappear off into the trees at Bathurst?

I think a couple have found their way into some of the big sand traps at Bathurst during the 80s.

[Dapster]

PomBstard said:

You make an excellent point - I’ve seen this at a few local car meets/shows…

Is that a road car with decals? Looks like RHD and no cage. Race cars were all lefties


[img]

[Turbobanana]

Dapster said:

PomBstard said:

You make an excellent point - I’ve seen this at a few local car meets/shows…

Is that a road car with decals? Looks like RHD and no cage. Race cars were all lefties

The back seats and number plates rather give the game away. In fairness, PomBstard never claimed it was a racer, just that he'd seen it at shows.

Everything looks better in JPS livery.

[5 In a Row]

PomBstard said:

5 In a Row said:

PomBstard said:

Turbobanana said:

Of course they look best of all like this:

You make an excellent point - I’ve seen this at a few local car meets/shows…

Didn't that disappear off into the trees at Bathurst?

I think a couple have found their way into some of the big sand traps at Bathurst during the 80s.

I'm sure I remember some brief coverage on Grandstand years ago of it.
Or maybe it was the Camaro that went tree felling?

[CKY]

lowdrag said:

Turbobanana said:

McGee_22 said:

I have this one too...

While that's nice, it works better in 1980s white for me.

It's interesting how the design evolved over time. I've seen a few very early ones through auctions recently and they look so basic.

Two things come into my mind when I look at an M6. Firstly is how it was damned dangerous on a wet road and now just how much those metric tyres will cost you.

By the time the M635csi/M5 came along BMW had reasonably got their game together with regards to vehicle handling, the properly 'lairy' models were the early E12-based 635csi and (to a lesser extent) the E12 M535i; more forward weight-bias, more road-biased suspension and narrower wheels/tyres, you had to be on the ball to make progress. 'Plying my trade' in that sort of stuff is probably why 99% of cars from the last 10 years do absolutely nothing for me. I loved the E28 M5 and E24 M635csi for the engines and the overtaking ability they afford on real-world roads of the late-80s, but I can't say I ever got to enjoy them in the same way as the earlier cars - possibly a byproduct of my having grown up a bit by that point, possibly due to the cars being more inclined to going straight and fast rather than sideways and slower.

[Coatesy351]

5 In a Row said:

PomBstard said:

5 In a Row said:

PomBstard said:

Turbobanana said:

Of course they look best of all like this:

You make an excellent point - I’ve seen this at a few local car meets/shows…

Didn't that disappear off into the trees at Bathurst?

I think a couple have found their way into some of the big sand traps at Bathurst during the 80s.

I'm sure I remember some brief coverage on Grandstand years ago of it.
Or maybe it was the Camaro that went tree felling?

That JPS 635csi is a tribute to the Aussie Group C touring car from the early 80's



Dick Johnson in the greens tuf XE Falcon ended up in the trees Bathurst 83



Kevin Bartlett rolled the 9 Camaro Bathurst 82



And both Group A JPS BMW 635s ended up in the sandtrap Bathurst 85

[AC43]

CKY said:

lowdrag said:

Turbobanana said:

McGee_22 said:

I have this one too...

While that's nice, it works better in 1980s white for me.

It's interesting how the design evolved over time. I've seen a few very early ones through auctions recently and they look so basic.

Two things come into my mind when I look at an M6. Firstly is how it was damned dangerous on a wet road and now just how much those metric tyres will cost you.

By the time the M635csi/M5 came along BMW had reasonably got their game together with regards to vehicle handling, the properly 'lairy' models were the early E12-based 635csi and (to a lesser extent) the E12 M535i; more forward weight-bias, more road-biased suspension and narrower wheels/tyres, you had to be on the ball to make progress. 'Plying my trade' in that sort of stuff is probably why 99% of cars from the last 10 years do absolutely nothing for me. I loved the E28 M5 and E24 M635csi for the engines and the overtaking ability they afford on real-world roads of the late-80s, but I can't say I ever got to enjoy them in the same way as the earlier cars - possibly a byproduct of my having grown up a bit by that point, possibly due to the cars being more inclined to going straight and fast rather than sideways and slower.

It was the semi-trailing arms that gave them the death wish. Not the "I will definitely kill you if you change your mind in a corner" swinging arms of the Beetle, true. Just the "I might well wipe you out if you back off at any point" thing.