• Fresh from a cosmetic renovation

• Precisely and meticulously engineered in the best German fashion

• Rare original TRX wheels, including brand-new tyres and spare

• Full original toolkit

It is often the case that national stereotypes are extended to a country’s car output, and German cars are no exception. They have a reputation for precision and efficiency, and an unfaltering attention to technical details. And yet, people do not tend to think of German cars as stylish, which is quite a considerable mistake. 

The executive coupé is a particular German speciality, as typified by the BMW 635CSi, and it manages to be exceptionally stylish in its own way. With its long bonnet tapering into a sharknose and its crisply defined edges, it presents a sharp, neat and slightly menacing image.

On its launch in 1976, BMW’s 6-Series line of executive coupés really possessed quite a presence on the roads. Good-looking, well-engineered and luxurious, the first generation (E24) was built until 1989. A number of different models with different engines were offered, and the 635CSi was the flagship of the fleet, which in 1984 used the M30B34 overhead-cam straight-six. Equipped with Bosch electronic fuel injection, this was a refined engine good for 215bhp.

Designed by the legendary Paul Bracq, the 635CSi’s combination of style and engineering ensured that sold well, hence its long production run. It was given an extra lease of life in 1982, when the E24 line was revamped on a new platform, so that it benefitted from updated styling and new engines. The 635CSi was made available with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox, so it could be a car for the enthusiastic weekend driver or the working city professional.

Sadly, the previous owner misplaced this car’s history file, so the only clue we have as to its past is the Castlecroft Mitsubishi dealer sticker in the rear window, which appears to date from the 1980s or 1990s, and which reveals it was in the Wolverhampton area around that time.

The vendor has just treated the car to a cosmetic refresh, which has repainted it and renovated the interior.

Sadly, all the paper history was misplaced by the previous owner, so the only document is the V5. 

There will be some invoices for recent work, although the vendor has not received these yet.

Having been re-connolised as part of its cosmetic renovation, the 635CSi has a wonderful interior in which the full leather in Pacific Blue upholstery appears new, the seats themselves being desirable Recaro sports seats. 

The carpets are outstandingly clean and the dash and centre console are very well preserved. The interior plastic is showing its age in a few places, though, with some scratches in evidence on the door trim and the lid of the glovebox. Luxury items include the electric windows and electric sliding sunroof, all of which are in full working order. 

Bidders will be pleased to note that, in the boot, the full original tool kit is present.

Tastefully presented in Polaris Silver with a metallic finish, this 635CSi attractively blends 1980s aesthetic trends with German automotive tradition. Having just been repainted, it goes without saying that the exterior of the car is fantastic, with nothing to fault in the paintwork as far as we could tell. 

Closer examination shows that all the glass and the plastic grille and bumpers are also in excellent condition. The exterior chrome is not concours-standard, but it is certainly extremely good. 

The vendor went to great pains to source the hard-to-find original TRX wheels and tyres, which look exceptional and will make it stand out among other BMWs which have lost their original wheels in favour of BBSs.

While any record of mechanical work undertaken on this car would have been lost with its history file, we can say with confidence that it is unlikely to need any mechanical attention for a long time to come. 

The six-cylinder engine runs with an even, deep burble. Mated to the four-speed automatic gearbox, the car seems to glide along effortlessly to start with, but when you get onto the road, the engine really kicks into life with a growl, and one gets a feel for the power at one’s disposal without driving fast. 

With efficient brakes and power-steering which is light as a feather, this appears to be a very well sorted car which will make town traffic tolerable and open-road driving a real pleasure.

There could scarcely be a car better suited to the discriminating owner-driver, the sort of serious-minded enthusiast who appreciates engineering quality and tasteful restraint. With its long, sharp lines, the 635CSi is a brilliantly handsome car but still sensible and sober, like its sartorial counterpart, the Hugo Boss suit. It has a playful side, though, and das Autobahn is where it will cast off its Germanic inhibitions and reward the input of the astute driver.

Subtly stylish, this is a car which, during the week, takes you one step further in cultivating a professional appearance, and it is modern enough to be a practical everyday car. Then, on weekends, the roads are yours to explore and enjoy as you please. Simply put, this car is the perfect all-rounder for the executive professional and discerning enthusiast.