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#1
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Can anyone identify this model BMW?
I recently saw a BMW that I had never seen before. I talked to the owner and
he said it was an original European import model. It was a 1986 325i semi-convertible. The best way to describe it is to saw the roof looked like a Lancia Zagata's roof. Kind of a combo targa top/convertible. It was really odd looking. |
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#2
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(ErikMcComber) haute in die Tasten:
> It was a 1986 325i > semi-convertible. The best way to describe it is to saw the roof > looked like a Lancia Zagata's roof. Kind of a combo targa > top/convertible. It was really odd looking. > Maybe you saw a BMW Baur Topcabrio http://membres.lycos.fr/photos6enligne/photos/baur3.jpg Baur is a german coachbuilder with a long reputation in building customized bodies. Since pre-war times Baur used to deliver bodies for certain BMW chassis, many of them convertibles. In the 60's all Euro car makers were quite uncertain about the future of convertibles and roadsters. Most of them lacked a rollover protection, and guys like Ralph Nader claimed travelling in a convertible as being terribly unsafe. Many european manufacturers expected that the USA soon would abolish conventional convertibles (the USA were the main market for these cars in these days). In 1965 Porsche showed a reaction and introduced the first 911 Targa with big rollover protection bar. When BMW introduced the '02 series, Baur soon started to make convertibles out of it. However being very beautiful, the early '02 full convertibles suffered from body torsion. Then Baur introduced the Topcabrio system: A combination between a fold-down rear roof sector and a detachable roof part over the front seats. Baur made Topcabrios from the '02 models, from the E21 and from the E30. BMW showed a lot of cooperation, they delivered pre-assembled basic cars, ready for the conversion. The cars sold quite well, because they were the only way to buy an open BMW from the BMW dealer and with full BMW factory warranty. In 1986 BMW introduced the E30 convertible, which affected Baur Topcabrio sales figures dramatically. Later Baur tried to come into business with BMW again and secretly developed a 2+2 sports coupé based on the E30, but BMW introduced the Z1 and declined to cooperate with Baur on this project. When BMW introduced the E36, Baur made a 4 door topcabrio based on the E36, but they did not sell much of them. Baur went bancrupt in the late 90's, just a few months ago the Baur facility in Stuttgart was torn down by some caterpillars. Baur made some very famous bodies. They made the bodies for the Porsche 917 as well as for the BMW M1, but now they are history. Topcabrio owners claim that their cars show less body torsion than usual BMW cabrios, that they are safer in case of an accident and that you have several choices to control the degree of openness. Besides that you could have the Baur with all options, which were available with the E30 two door sedan, but not with the E30 . I have seen several Topcabrios based on 325iX AWD cars. Having experienced a ride in a beautiful 2002 topcabrio, I have to admit: Compared to a real convertible, a Baur Topcabrio feels like sex with a condom: Sort of a similar feeling, but - let's stay honest - it is not the same. Frank -- please replace spam-muelleimer with fk-newsgroups for e-mail contact Citroën Xantia - Made in Trance |
#3
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>Maybe you saw a BMW Baur Topcabrio
> >http://membres.lycos.fr/photos6enligne/photos/baur3.jpg > That is exactly what I saw. Thanks !!! Milo- "If you can dilute it, shoot it" |
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