Representatives of this car’s next evolution, the almost universally-praised E9 six-cylinder coupes with its new front end design, are typically well kept and not that uncommon. But the four-cylinder 2000C and 2000CS are fairly rare birds, its front end styling undoubtedly playing a major role in that. It was somewhat controversial from the start, and when the revised front end arrived, the original ended up in the BMW dog-house: Blunt, bare, odd. And of course Corvair-like, but with quite a pronounced overbite. But the rear didn’t need changing…
jmg3rd shot this, in Colorado. But it looks like this coupe may be a recent import from Europe and not yet be sporting plates, or maybe they were taken off for the little gathering of old BMWs where it was found. So perhaps this one has a happy pampered life ahead of it yet after all. It does look a bit worse for wear.
The 2000C and CS arrived in 1965, in part to show off the latest evolution of BMW’s Neue Klasse four cylinder engine as well as to replace the out-going 3200 CS coupe (above), which donated its roof design to its successor. The V8 3200 CS was the last gasp for BMW’s post-war luxury assault, before it put all its eggs into the four cylinder Neue Klasse. But that wouldn’t last long, and before long BMW was making V8s again in its second assault on Mercedes, this time more successfully.
Beautiful,I don’t remember seeing these when they were new as there was still a lot of anti German feeling in 1965 England
Here too Gem fast touring cars came from Triumph not these guys one German immigrant family I knew had an mid 60s BMW they brought with them but it was already dead from gravel roads and was rotting on the lawn by 1970, and they drove a beetle which though slow and noisy hadnt fallen apart yet.
Also, the import duties combined with British purchase tax meant that a lot of German cars were really shockingly expensive. I don’t know what the 2000CS sold for in the UK at that point, but a Mercedes W108 250SE saloon was nearly three grand in 1965 and if you wanted automatic, power steering and a radio, it was close to £3,500 — enough for two Jaguar Mk 2 3.8s or three Ford Zephyrs and a used Anglia.
These pull off a relatively high beltline while keeping a light and airy feel to the cabin.
I have always found these to be very attractive cars. In the right circumstances, one of these could whisper in my ear and get me to take it home.
It’s certainly different from the type of cars I usually go for (giant V8 land yachts) but I like it a lot.
This one, from a car show in Kenosha last summer, is in a little better shape.
The CC effect strikes again!
Friday evening, I was driving on US 1 just south of Belfast, Maine on the way to dinner at The Wearthervane, when I spied one of these parked in the driveway of a coastal cottage. I wondered, “What a beautiful, older BMW coupe. I wonder exactly what it is?”
Leave it to Paul, and this site, to answer my question within 72 hours… 🙂
Perhaps you saw the much more common E9 six cylinder version, with the more handsome nose?
That picture hardly shows the difference; here’s a clearer one:
It’s difficult to say, Paul…the nose wasn’t very visible, as it was parked against a retaining wall, and I was zipping by at 40 mph or so. Actually, it was the elegant roofline that caught my eye. Unfortunately, it was dark by the time we drove back, after dinner.
But either way, I appreciate my curiosity being assuaged!
Hi Paul,
I just checked my archive and this is the best I can come up with to show the differences between the successive generations of BMW coupes from the 2000 CS to the 6-series. BTW: This was shot at a very cool old car rallye in Germany (where I participated in the last 2 editions). Check it out at http://www.classic-sprint.de.
Best wishes
Dang these are ugly with that overbite! And yet I can’t help but like them – a lot.
The later CSs are undoubtedly more conventionally attractive, but I like these early versions a lot. A friend of my dads had a dark blue one in a garage for years. I tried to get him to buy it, but no such luck; he was in the middle of getting his ’60 356 Roadster restored. The friend also had (and may still have) a Maserati Bora.