1986 BMW 635CSi 'Manual' Coupe

BMW's E24 6-series is regarded as one of the best German high-performance coupes of the late Twentieth Century, an elegantly styled, extremely rapid grand tourer powered by the Bavarian marque's superb range of straight sixes. Initially launched in 1976 in either carburetted 630CS form or with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection (as the 633CSi), the definitive E24 for many pundits was the 635CSi announced two years later, with an appreciable power boost from its 3.5-litre engine. Sporting a discreet front air dam and bootlid spoiler, the 635 CSi was available with a five-speed gearbox for the first time, although most customers opted for the refined ZF automatic transmission, making manual cars something of a rarity today. The beautifully appointed cabin could accommodate four adults in genuine comfort while the cockpit-style dashboard layout and instrument panel set the standard for generations of future BMWs to come. A new feature was the Check Control System, monitoring light bulbs, fluid levels and brake pads - commonplace on today's luxury cars but a genuine innovation at the time. The 6-series, engineered to cruise the autobahns of Germany at high speeds in comfort and safety, also enjoyed a long and successful competition career. Competing in Group A events across Europe and here in Australia, where the likes of Jim Richards steered the sinister looking 'John Player Special' liveried BMWs to several fine results. Refined, fast and discreetly luxurious, the 6-series has aged well and remains an extremely rewarding driving experience today.