1964 BMW 700 CS [EV conversion]

Highlights

Fully restored at a cost of over £44,000
CD with multiple photos of the full restoration by Southern Classics
Professional electric motor conversion at an additional cost of over £28,000
ULEZ exempt
MOT exempt
Tax exempt

The Appeal

The BMW 700 has always been a pioneering and plucky model. Back when it launched in 1959, it essentially saved the company, proving to be a runaway sales success when BMW was facing financial ruin. The 700 was also highly successful in motorsport, which helped drive the Bavarian marque’s sporting direction. By the time production ended in 1965, over 188,000 had been sold.

In modern Britain, however, the 700 is a real rarity. Beyond rare, in fact, as only twenty examples are currently registered on UK roads. And the 700 CS we have here is unique: a right-hand-drive car imported from South Africa in 2018, it’s had over £44,000 spent on a painstaking restoration by Southern Classics in Twickenham, and a further £28,000+ on a full conversion to electric propulsion by eDub Services Ltd in North Yorkshire. It’s correctly registered as an EV, it’s ULEZ exempt, it’s beautifully presented, and it’s genuinely entertaining to drive. The perfect city car for 2023? It might just be…

The History and Paperwork

V5 (correctly showing vehicle as electric)
BMW Classic certificate
2020 – invoice for £44,547 – full bare-metal body restoration
2021 – invoice for £18,000 – parts for EV conversion
2021 – invoice for £861 – further parts for EV conversion
2021 – invoice for £8,812 – labour for EV conversion
2021 – invoice for £411 – LED light upgrades
2023 – invoice for £517 – rear wheel bearings, gearbox top-up, etc
Sheaf of invoices for parts sourced from Germany
South African motor vehicle licence (2018)

The Interior

Fully retrimmed
Domestic and public charging cables

The interior of the 700 is simple but effective, making full use of the diminutive proportions to ensure there’s ample passenger space. The seats have been tastefully retrimmed, with the fronts tilting to allow access to the rear bench; the base of the rear bench is removable with storage cubbies beneath. The dash and dials are all tidy, and the telltale of the EV conversion is the Orion BMS power meter in the centre of the dashboard, showing the remaining range in 10% increments. The carpets and headlining have been replaced, and everything is very neatly presented.

The car comes complete with a matching spare wheel, jack, domestic and public charging cables, all four of which are in separate storage bags. Looking in the front boot, we find the space carefully planned out to incorporate the batteries and associated EV tech.

The Exterior

Full body restoration
LED light conversion

The sheer cost of the restoration tells us that the bodywork has been fastidiously restored, and this is evident in the beautiful finish. Painted in crisp Alpine White, the body has been taken back to bare metal, all corrosion cut out and new panels/repair sections fabricated, the bonnet and rear valance replaced with items sourced from Germany, and the finish is frankly stunning.

There’s endless beauty in the details too: the door handles pop out with a delightful delicacy, the lights have been converted to LEDs, and the chromework gleams. The wheels wear tidy hubcaps with period-correct logos as well as a set of matching Nankang tyres with plenty of tread.

The Mechanicals

Full EV conversion
Original manual transmission

The electric conversion is very interesting. Where the rear-mounted engine once resided, we now find a NetGain Hyper 9 motor, apparently good for a 100-mile range and 70mph. The battery and associated EV technology is mounted in the front boot, and perhaps the most intriguing part of the swap is that the BMW still has its original four-speed gearbox… but no clutch. So you don’t change gear on the move, instead you select a gear before pulling away, and stick with it – fourth is good for motorway journeys, third is your all-purpose gear for around town, and second gives you perkier acceleration. (You probably won’t be needing first!)

The car accelerates smartly with a pleasingly sci-fi soundtrack, it rides well, and the brakes are effective. It comes with two charging cables, so that you can use public chargers or plug it into a three-pin outlet at home. And for a car that arguably didn’t have a very interesting engine from the factory, this makes a perfect conversion – the 700 is now fully set up for modern urban life; ULEZ exempt, compact, agile, nimble. It’s ingenious!

Summary

This really is a clever base for an EV conversion, and the day-to-day benefits speak for themselves: being tax exempt, MOT exempt and ULEZ exempt, the running costs are pretty minimal – and speaking of saving the pennies, the previous owner has spent an absolutely eye-watering amount of money getting the car into the spec and condition it’s in today, and their sizable financial hit is your gain. This BMW is so rare that many enthusiasts don’t even know what it is; it looks brilliant, it’s tastefully presented, and it’s intelligently engineered. Be sure to bid well, as we’re anticipating a lot of interest in this unique and beguiling machine.

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.

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Vehicle specification

Year 1964
Make BMW
Model 700 CS
Colour White
Odometer 62,000 Miles
Engine size

Auction Details

Seller Type Trade
Location London
Country United Kingdom

Bidding history

13 bids from 6 bidders

jdmimpo•••• £27,000 29/08/23
jdmimpo•••• £26,000 29/08/23
daniel.•••• £23,000 29/08/23
jdmimpo•••• £21,000 29/08/23
jdmimpo•••• £18,000 29/08/23
daniel.•••• £16,500 29/08/23
jdmimpo•••• £14,500 27/08/23
shaunme•••• £12,000 26/08/23
GETPARK•••• £8,888 26/08/23
shaunme•••• £8,000 26/08/23
GETPARK•••• £3,333 24/08/23
Gary Co•••• £2,100 24/08/23
dean mo•••• £2,000 24/08/23

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