BMW’s reluctance towards pickups is comprehensible. Luxurious vans are primarily restricted to the U.S. market, and because the Munich-based automaker doesn’t have a devoted platform for a workhorse, creating a pickup from scratch to serve primarily one area wouldn’t make monetary sense. Let’s not overlook the Mercedes X-Class, primarily based on the Nissan Navara, which turned out to be a business flop.
That stated, BMW has experimented with factory-built pickups over time. Its most up-to-date effort was an X7-based idea unveiled in 2019, although it remained a one-off. In 2011, engineers secretly constructed an M3 E92 pickup as an April Fools’ prank. Return even additional, and also you’ll discover the M3 E30 truck created in 1986, which was used in-house till 2012. Now, a brand new public sale hosted by Automotive & Basic brings to mild a pickup that predates all of those oddball creations.
It’s a 1965 1800 TI from the unique Neue Klasse period. Reportedly, solely two have been ever made for a BMW dealership to make use of as service autos. Whereas the vans have been commissioned by the vendor, the conversion was doubtless carried out externally. After we requested BMW to examine its archives, the corporate informed us it has no document of manufacturing these vans.
This sedan-turned-pickup mashup underwent a full transformation and stays in good situation even after 60 years. The BMW truck that by no means was options M stripes on its white physique and a hitch with a hard and fast tow bar. Even the picket dashboard has held up properly, regardless of the 1800 TI’s age. Some put on and tear is seen, however that’s hardly stunning for a car constructed when most of us weren’t even born.
The VIN confirms it’s primarily based on the 1800 TI, so it packs a 1.8-liter inline-four engine modified by ALPINA. In its day, the engine produced a decent 110 horsepower, despatched to the rear wheels via a four-speed guide gearbox. High pace? 106 mph (170 km/h). In accordance with the itemizing, all the things works, and the truck even comes with a small set of instruments, simply in case.
Even when it wasn’t constructed by BMW itself, this 1800 TI pickup actually seems to be like a manufacturing unit product. It has solely 62,613 kilometers (38,905 miles) on the odometer and is now searching for a brand new proprietor. Should you’re feeling adventurous, Automotive & Basic is opening the bidding immediately and can proceed via subsequent Sunday. Given its rarity, it’s troublesome to find out its promoting worth. If BMW had confirmed it was an in-house construct, the worth would doubtless skyrocket. Even so, it’s an intriguing piece of automotive historical past, a “what if” Neue Klasse truck.
You possibly can see the pictures right here: Automotive & Basic
