Latest news with #Car&Classic
The Drive
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
BMW Supposedly Built 2 of These Little Pickups 60 Years Ago. One Is for Sale
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The sight of any BMW pickup is unusual enough to capture an enthusiast's attention, but how about this Neue Klasse rendition decked out in an M livery? The story goes that it was one of a pair that BMW actually built itself, and one's up for auction right now over at Car & Classic. Specifically, this is a 1965 BMW 1800 TI—one of the sportier models, whose M10 four-cylinder engine benefited from Alpina's tender care. Thanks to dual Solex PHH carburetors and higher compression pistons, it produced 110 horsepower, 20 more than the standard sedan. As the seller puts it, one creative dealership decided that was the perfect foundation for a service vehicle, so it specially ordered two TIs from BMW in pickup form. The listing doesn't name this dealer or its location, though the car on sale today is a left-hand drive vehicle out of France. If you look closely at one of the interior shots, you'll notice a badge on the glovebox door belonging to a BMW garage in Clermont-Ferrand. Car & Classic As far as pickups go, this one is pretty odd, even for its day. It still has the sedan's rear doors, but they open to a midsection of the bed. And the entirety of that bed is covered, accessible through a conventional trunk lid that lifts to allow access to the back half. Looking deeper in, it appears there's a removable partition that separates those two parts of the cargo area. The result is either a single-cab truck or a coupe with a really long trunk, depending on how you look at it. The dealer would've been able to load everything up in there, and then fix additional cargo to the racks that sit atop the bed, finished appropriately in a signature shade of BMW blue. Removing the false floor in the trunk reveals a spare tire, and there's also a hitch on the back, supporting the vehicle's purported dealership duties. Car & Classic Was this 1800 TI really converted to a truck at the factory in Munich? Without a peek at supporting documentation, it's hard to say. It does seem to be as 'official' as such a project would've looked 60 years ago, and the passage of time has surely taken its toll with tears in the seat upholstery, tattered carpets, cracked and inconsistent rubber trim around the rear glass, and a bit of underbody corrosion. It's safe to say this ute's work days are behind it, but there's no denying it would be the perfect conversation starter at a BMW or vintage car dealer today. No estimated price or reserve is listed, and bidding is set to end on June 22. Car & Classic Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
Telegraph
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Ask the Expert: Which modern convertible can replace our classic MGB?
Dear Alex, We are thinking of changing our 1971 MGB Roadster, which we've owned for 31 years, for a car that's easier to enter and exit. While it has not had a full rebuild, the MG has an uprated engine and drives well. It is well maintained, has a current MOT and a guaranteed write-off value of £15,000. We fancy a slightly sporty convertible, possibly based on a four-seater saloon. What do you recommend for £15,000? And what's the best way to sell the MG? – CE Dear CE, I don't imagine you'll have much of a problem selling your MGB, as it's a classic with a huge following. Normally I'd say to try selling privately via a classic car classifieds site – Car & Classic is probably the best known and most popular in the UK. However, given the huge following for MGs, you might have better luck using an MG owners' club. If you belong to one of the many such groups, place an advert in the club magazine, or contact the club to see whether you can circulate your car's details to fellow members. You never know; they may have someone looking for a car just like yours. What to replace it with? Nothing modern will offer the charm, simplicity or connection of something much older like the B, so be prepared for that. The closest you'll get will be with a Mini Convertible. For your £15,000 budget you can get an early F56 (third-generation) example introduced in 2014. This should offer as much character as a modern car can muster along with the sporty feel you seek, with its zippy handling and perky engines, along with a retro interior that looks and feels more interesting than most. And while earlier Minis had a poor reputation for reliability, these later models seem to have fared much better – indeed, Mini beat Lexus, Suzuki, Honda and Toyota to first place out of the 31 manufacturers in the What Car? Reliability Survey last year, with the Mini Hatch achieving an excellent score of 97.9 per cent. A Cooper with the 1.5-litre petrol engine makes a great little all-rounder thanks to a slightly more forgiving suspension set-up than other versions. A 2020 example in well-equipped Exclusive form, with a low 26,000 miles and a full history, can be yours for £14,990. However a Cooper S, with the punchy 2.0-litre engine and grippier handling, will be more exciting to drive – I found a 2020 Cooper S Classic, with less equipment but again with a full history, for the same price. If a Mini feels a bit too gaudy, look at an Audi A3 Cabriolet instead. It's larger and therefore roomier, but also pricier. It'll be less of a hoot than the Mini, and potentially less reliable too, but this is still a satisfying car to drive, with crisp handling and responsive engines. The consensus is that the 1.4-litre engine is nicer to drive than the slightly blander 1.5 that replaced it and more reliable than the 1.8, making it the one to go for. I found a 2017 1.4 S-Line with 44,000 miles and a full history for £14,500.
