£20,776 (Est: £13,609 - £18,145)
1982 BMW 635CSi "The Observer Coupe
Bonhams • US • 13 Aug 2026
Market Position:
Highest 20% of Past Sales
Track live values and receive listing alerts
Track live values and receive listing alerts
£20,776 (Est: £13,609 - £18,145)
1982 BMW 635CSi "The Observer Coupe
US • 13 Aug 2026 • Lot 37
Vehicle Details
AI Listing Summary
This is a unique, one-off 1982 BMW 635CSi "The Observer Coupe" coachbuilt by MGA Developments, featuring a custom retractable glass roof system. It has been extensively restored and documented, with low mileage, making it a special piece of automotive innovation.
Condition
8
The car has undergone a comprehensive restoration and refurbishment in 2017, with documented service records dating back to 1989. It has low mileage (19,315 miles) and is described as remarkably well-preserved, indicating excellent overall condition.
/ 10
19,315 miles
WBAEC7209C8175000
LHD
United States
Automatic
TBL 522Y
1982
Auction
£20,776 (Est: £13,609 - £18,145)
1982 BMW 635CSi "The Observer Coupe
Bonhams • US • 13 Aug 2026
Market Position:
Highest 20% of Past Sales
Track live values and receive listing alerts
Description
3,430cc SOHC Inline 6 Bosch Motronic Fuel Injection 182bhp at 5,400rpm 4-Wheel Independent Suspension 4-Wheel Disc Brakes * A unique, coachbuilt machine *
Originally developed with a retractable glass roof * Well documented * A special, one-off BMW Grand Tourer THE CAR OFFERED Conceived as a technological showcase and design statement, this remarkable one-off BMW 635 CSi stands among the most intriguing British coachbuilt projects of the 1980s.
Internally designated "Special Project M3" by Coventry-based MGA Developments Ltd., the car was created to demonstrate the company's full spectrum of engineering, styling, and prototype-development capabilities.
Established in 1979 by Mike Gibbs, MGA provided design-to-production services for major automotive manufacturers, and this ambitious project served as its ultimate calling card.
Supplied new by BMW Great Britain in 1982 and financially supported by The Observer newspaper, the donor 635 CSi was transformed into what was envisioned as ...
Price Analysis vs Other 6 Series (E24) 635CSis
£1,662
Lowest Price (Since 2020)
£15,154
Median Price (Since 2020)
£55,125
Highest Price (Since 2020)
World Record
If this vehicle sells at the mid-point of its estimate it will set a new world record for the [enter model]
Highest 20% of Past Sales
Compared to previous sales, the sale price placed this vehicle in the highest 20% of past sales for the 6 Series (E24) 635CSi.
Lowest Price
If this vehicle sells at the mid-point of its estimate it will be the lowest price we've seen for the [enter model]
Average Price
The mid-point of the vehicle's estimate places it near the average price we see for the [enter model]
Rare Sale
This vehicle comes to market rarely. In auction records we've only seen [enter number] sold before
Icon
This vehicle is an icon of the game. Any collection would benefit from having one
Previous 6 Series (E24) 635CSi Sales
MOT Information
Expired
Expired on 17th Feb 2026
Latest MOT mileage:
19,282 miles
MOT History
Passed
On 18th Feb 2025, 19,282 miles
Passed
On 6th Jul 2023, 19,116 miles
Passed
On 22nd Jun 2022, 18,889 miles
Passed
On 30th May 2019, 18,631 miles
There were 3 defects noted.
Advisory:
- Offside Front Lower Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))
- heavy under seal to sill lowers and floor area
- Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))
MOT Mileage Trend
Gallery
People Also Viewed - For Sale
People Also Viewed - Historic
Auction House Headquarters
Bonhams
101 New Bond Street, London, Greater London, W1S 1SR, England
Operating from London, Bonhams is a physical auction house handling classic, historic competition, and collector cars. They conduct live auctions globally, offering vehicle consignment, appraisal, and valuation services.
Insurance
