M635 Prototype for sale?

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M6smitten
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M635 Prototype for sale?

Post by M6smitten »

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/bm ... 982/414759

Can anyone verify this?



"A sensation that we present to you: The "M" 635 CSi prototype & test car of the "M1" developer Georg THIELE

Prototype & test car of the BMW Motorsport GmbH with the engine from the BMW M1 - then private ownership of the M1 development engineer Georg THIELE.

We present a sensation: "M1" development engineer Georg THIELE's "M" 635 CSi prototype and test car"
2011 1 Series M
1974 2002 Turbo
1987 M6 (2/87) - Sold
1984 M635CSi (10/84) - Sold
2012 335 xi
2009 328 xi

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Pod
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Re: M635 Prototype for sale?

Post by Pod »

I've heard of it before. I guess if anybody would have been able to "acquire" a development car, it would be one of the engineers in the programme!
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Soperman
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Re: M635 Prototype for sale?

Post by Soperman »

This came up a couple of months back....

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=27782

In answer to M6Smitten's question, I suppose the only person who can really verify this is George Thiele himself.

As it has yet to sell (and assuming it is genuine) I ask myself who would want to buy a half-baked prototype M635CSi, as opposed to the fully developed article? Three candidate profiles spring to my mind.

1) Somebody with a personal involvement in, or connection with, the development project. George Thiele for example! Oh wait, he's the one getting rid of the car in the first place....

2) In this, the year of the marque's centenary and the E24's 40th birthday, and with a new museum to fill, how about BMW AG, Munchen? But if this was to be, they would have bought it already.

3) A genuine and serious collector and M635CSi enthusiast. Somebody with examples already, but with the space and means to acquire yet another car to complement and complete his/her existing collection.
Last edited by Soperman on Sun Dec 04, 2016 8:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
E24 M635CSi
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M6smitten
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Re: M635 Prototype for sale?

Post by M6smitten »

Great analysis. Hadn't thought about the car as a curiosity niche item as it is "half-baked".
2011 1 Series M
1974 2002 Turbo
1987 M6 (2/87) - Sold
1984 M635CSi (10/84) - Sold
2012 335 xi
2009 328 xi

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dwcains
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Re: M635 Prototype for sale?

Post by dwcains »

It's gotten to where anything unique is worth a premium, although I'd agree this one isn't for everyone. Interesting car, and story, though.
Dean
Lutz, FL

'85 635 CSi Euro #9402254
'87 Spider Veloce
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tschultz
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Re: M635 Prototype for sale?

Post by tschultz »

Very interesting for sure!
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'79 635CSi Revival
'80 635CSi
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Pod
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Re: M635 Prototype for sale?

Post by Pod »

Soperman wrote:This came up a couple of months back....

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=27782

In answer to M6Smitten's question, I suppose the only person who can really verify this is George Thiele himself.

As it has yet to sell (and assuming it is genuine) I ask myself who would want to buy a half-baked prototype M635CSi, as opposed to the fully developed article? Three candidate profiles spring to my mind.

1) Somebody with a personal involvement in, or connection with, the development project. George Thiele for example! Oh wait, he's the one getting rid of the car in the first place....

2) In this, the year of the marque's centenary and the E24's 40th birthday, and with a new museum to fill, how about BMW AG, Munchen? But if this was to be, they would have bought it already.

3) A genuine and serious collector and M635CSi enthusiast. Somebody with examples already, but with the space and means to acquire yet another car to complement and complete his/her existing collection.
Superman! You took me out :shock:. I saw the end of the original version of your post just before I started bidding on a very rare '67 Ram Air Pontiac GTO 'vert. I thought I'd post that I'd bought it rather than this car being discussed. I got outbid :cry: And no doubt the asking price for this Beemer is well North of £100k!
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Soperman
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Re: M635 Prototype for sale?

Post by Soperman »

I did indeed remove my suggestion that you should buy the car, Pod.
On reflection, I felt the nomination was a touch over-familiar.

Sorry you didn't get your GTO. I know nothing about US cars, but is sounds like fun.
E24 M635CSi
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Soperman
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Re: M635 Prototype for sale?

Post by Soperman »

So, I have been in touch with the vendor, who has been kind enough to send to me the certification required to get a prototype vehicle legally onto Austrian roads. I've also seen the original owners registration document, complete with George Thiele's name.

Now my German isn't up to much, but as far as I can tell, this is legitimate.

The story is the car was one of 10 prototypes, 8 of which were scrapped. The body was built by Karmann in 1982, but final assembly took place at "M" HQ in Munich, and not Dingolfing. It was used for testing at the Nurburgring before being registered firstly to Herr Thiele, and then his wife in 1985. Other than it was taken off the road for a period of time in 1989, I nothing of the car's subsequent history.

Oh, and the asking price?





129,000 Euros.
E24 M635CSi
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