Wanderlust

Tag: MY1981

  • Reconstructing a Legend: 1981 BMW M1 E26 by Ronnie Fieg.

    Reconstructing a Legend: 1981 BMW M1 E26 by Ronnie Fieg.

    [source: BMW]

    Munich/Miami Beach. BMW and Kith are launching a new edition of their successful collaboration. The BMW XM* and its links to the legendary BMW M1 are the focus of the third collaboration between the premium car manufacturer and Ronnie Fieg’s world-renowned lifestyle brand, Kith. The high-performance plug-in hybrid will be available next year as the 2025 BMW XM by Kith, with exclusive exterior and interior designs.

    The 2025 BMW XM Kith Concept offers a first look at the car, which will be manufactured as a one-of-one vehicle and presented at Art Basel Miami 2024, taking place from December 6-8 at the Miami Beach Convention Center,  alongside another unique piece, Ronnie Fieg’s 1981 BMW M1 E26. A new Kith for BMW collection of apparel and lifestyle products will also be launched.

    Following the edition vehicles designed by Ronnie Fieg based on the BMW M4 Competition Coupé* from 2020 and the BMW i4 M50 xDrive* from 2022, BMW and Kith are once again dedicating the latest chapter of their partnership to an exceptional BMW M automobile. The BMW XM, which is also the first original BMW M automobile since the BMW M1 produced from 1978 to 1981, features the newly developed M HYBRID drive system for the first time. The BMW XM features striking details inspired by the design of the legendary mid-engined sports car, such as the side accent strips, the two BMW emblems at the rear and the louvre structure of the rear lights.

    Reconstructing a legend: 1981 BMW M1 E26 by Ronnie Fieg.
    To place both the concept car and the limited edition of 47 2025 BMW XM by Kith in a historical context, another unique model will be presented to the public for the first time in Miami Beach. The 1981 BMW M1 E26 by Ronnie Fieg is an extensively reconstructed one-of-one example of the sports car with specific details from the design repertoire of the Kith label.

    The car, which bears the model designation, year of manufacture and internal model series code as well as the name of the Kith founder was according to Ronnie Fieg’s ideas. A Techno Violet paint finish (technoviolett; metallic; 299; BMW), the combined M and Kith emblem on the tailgate and an interior with embossed Kith lettering create new design parallels between Ronnie Fieg’s 1981 BMW M1 E26 and the 2025 BMW XM Kith Concept, in addition to the similarities in the design of the production vehicles. Their joint appearance in Miami Beach thus forms a bridge between the first and the last model to be developed and produced exclusively as a BMW M in the more than 50 years of the company’s history.

  • European Market Find: 1981 BMW E23 735i Touring by Euler in Cypress Green

    European Market Find: 1981 BMW E23 735i Touring by Euler in Cypress Green

    What: 1981 BMW 735i Touring
    Color: Cypress Green Metallic (cypressgrün; metallic; 152; BMW)
    VIN: N/A
    Mileage: 15,400 km / 9,569 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: CHF 64,900
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Zurich, Switzerland
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    Though it appears to be painted the standard 1981 E23 7-Series color of Cypress Green Metallic, this well-kept early 7er is anything but ordinary. You see, BMW never built a station wagon version of the E23 7er, but a small firm called Euler did and now one of these rare cars has hit the market.

    Here’s what we know. Euler, a firm that had built a following personalizing the early 7 series and one of their creations was the station wagon you see here. The transformation required a complete reworking of the rear of a perfectly good E32 – no easy task.

    Changes included a unique hatch design, rear doors redesigned to match the more upright rear roof architecture, and side windows that lost their trademark Hoffmeister Kink design in the process. Roof rails from the car’s period rival from Mercedes-Benz, while an Alpina front bumper makes for a more aggressive look at the front.

    Though we’ve not found a final number of Euler 735i Touring builds, accounts suggest that only a few were built.

    Given there aren’t many of these cars around, we’re fairly certain this is the same car listed on Facebook and subsequently shared by The Truth About Cars (TTAC). The spec is identical, and the mileage at the time was 11,000 km so suggests it may be. If so, TTAC shared that the car was previously imported to the USA and federalized (note the U.S. side markers in the most recent photos) where the car was reportedly put into storage and where its condition degraded. It would eventually sold at an estate sale in 2010, then exported at some point back to Europe where it landed in Switzerland. In 2016, AutoWeek Magazine drove the car and reported on the experience, and in those photos it still appears to wear American plates.

    From the looks of the photos, it appears the car is now in very presentable condition.

    If you’re a North American and interested in this car, we’d suggest checking out its importation history. If it’s the same car that came to the U.S.A. (and we believe it is given the U.S. side markers), then it likely doesn’t need import duties paid a second time. That would create some savings from the usual importation process.

  • European Market Find: Incredible Spec / Condition Tax Dodge Maserati Merak 2000 GT

    European Market Find: Incredible Spec / Condition Tax Dodge Maserati Merak 2000 GT

    We’re pushing the boundaries with this particular market find. We suspect it’s a specification straight out of the 1981 order book. We can’t confirm the color name or code. And, it’s in Europe, meaning our primarily North American audience would have to import it. Luckily enough, its 1981 model year makes it an easy import. Its excellent specification and remarkably preserved condition also makes it easy on the eyes.

    For those not familiar with the Maserati Merak, it’s a mid-engine Italian sportscar from the 1970s and into the 1980s, a halcyon era of that genre. Penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, it has all of the exotic feel of more known 70s/80s mid-engine Italian offerings from Ferrari or Lamborghini, but we’d argue it’s just as exotic a look… especially when built to an exquisite specification.

    Regarding specification, drivetrain may be arguably not exotic in 2000 GT form. Maserati launched the 2000 GT in 1977 almost exclusively for the Italian market. The Merak 2000 GT was built to avoid Italian customers from being penalized with a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 19% for any cars over 2-liters of displacement. That tax was deflating enough to Italian car manufacturer sales that brands began to specially make 2-liter examples of their entry-level models. Ferrari launched its 208 GTB, Lamborghini introduced the Urraco P200 and Maserati added the Merak 2000 GT.

    Unlike today where Maserati and Ferrari can largely pull from the same corporate parts bin, the brand was owned by Citroën at that time. In as much, Maserati developers turned to the French manufacturer to source a workable engine, and for this it replaced the Merak SS’s 2.9-liter V6 derived from Citroën SM’s 2.7-liter V6 with a smaller 2.0-liter V6 also from the SM.

    Visually, the 2000 GT is most easily identified for its black side stripes that run horizontally down the mid-section of the body. Over time, a lot of 2000 GTs had their stripes removed to look higher dollar, though its likely that cars still sporting the original stripes as this one does are probably worth more today.

    The Merak 2000 GT was offered in just two colors, a metallic blue or this other metallic that is often referred to as “gold”, though we’d argue is a bit more of a light brown. We’re not 100% sure of the name though as we were unable to dig up any confirmation of the paint colors or codes, despite ample searching and the dealer’s own detailed listing. If you know the color or code, drop us a note in the comments below.

    Whatever the case of the name, the look of the color is very unique. Browns were popular in that time period though typically fell out of vogue, and certainly weren’t the more usual reds or blues the mass market tends to prefer. In our eyes, that makes it more unique, and it also makes it incredibly paired with the particular highly preserved tartan interior of this car.

    Inside, brown leather helps elevate the feel of quality of an era of dashboard and center console that’s not always the most robust. Here, it looks well-kept and well-paired with tan fabric seats and brown and tan tartan seat centers. Whereas the 2000 GT may not be the most preferable drivetrain, this interior makes this car incredibly attractive despite its power deficiencies.

    This Merak 200 GT is listed for sale at Gallery Aaldering in Brummen, NL. Yes, that means you’ll have to import it if you want it. It’s logged just 14,925 km (9,273 miles), so it’s practically new by that count.

    If you’re interested in seeing more of the car, you can check it out HERE.