Vehicle Description
Motorcar Studio is pleased to offer this stunning 1970 BMW 2800CS
E9 coupe. We have owned and brokered many E9s over the years, but
none have been as well documented, well preserved or so highly
regarded within the vintage BMW community as this one. This coupe
is one of only 641 manual transmission 2800s built for the US
market over the course of the model's three-year run before the
3.0CS debut in 1971. It was imported through Hoffman Motors before
being transferred to Ocean Motors in Santa Monica where it was sold
to its first owner. It was optioned with air conditioning, leather
upholstery, power windows, metallic paint, tinted glass and velour
floor mats. A copy of the original window sticker is included, and
it carried a price of $9,381 when new.
The first owner kept the car for 16 years and 116,000 miles - it
was dealer or specialist serviced and garaged at his home in
Pacific Palisades. At 111k miles this E9 had a clutch and flywheel
and at 115k miles it received a top-end engine rebuild. The second
owner, based in Oakland, purchased the car in 1986 and he kept it
garaged over the course of his 31 years and 13,000 miles of
ownership. He was an active BMWCCA member and showed the car
extensively in concours events taking several podium finishes
(these trophies are included with the sale). All service was kept
up to date and well documented.
In 2017 the second owner sold it to a fellow CCA member based in
Newport Beach who also happened to be the BMWCCA national concours
chairman and a member of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
executive committee. This very knowledgeable third owner embarked
on a mild "preservation refurbishment" over the course of a year
that included new OEM exhaust, front seat restoration in correct
leather, full brake system rebuild, restoration of the original
Zenith 35/40 carburetors, fluids, major service, ignition
components, and a light cosmetic restoration of engine
compartment.
When this coupe was offered for sale on behalf of the third owner
by a respected dealer we know in California in 2018, we brought it
to the attention of a local friend and enthusiast collector who had
been on the hunt for a really nice E9 - our commentary at the time
was, "it's expensive, but you won't find a better one." So the
fourth owner purchased the car and shipped it from California to
his home in Georgia; he has added approximately 3,000 miles over
the last six years mostly participating in vintage touring events.
All service has been kept up to date and Vredestein tires (with
2022 date codes) were recently installed on BMW 14-inch alloy
wheels.
Thanks to a lifetime of careful and caring owners and the mild
California climate, this E9 presents beautifully throughout - it
had one high-quality repaint in 1997 in the correct color that
still looks fantastic. Original glass and trim are excellent, body
gaps are very good, and the undercarriage is dry, rust free and
original with no known previous repairs (aside from a few paint
touchups underneath to prevent surface corrosion). The interior is
all original, except for the aforementioned front seats, and a true
time capsule. Dash, wood, door cards and headliner are all in
exquisite original condition. The dealer-installed Clasonic AM/FM
stereo and power antenna function properly. The engine bay is
nicely detailed and correct with original labels. It runs and
drives as good as it looks - the original, numbers-matching M30 is
smooth and pulls strong and the clutch and ZF four-speed gearbox
feel great. This is a fun car to drive spiritedly but also a lovely
car for highway touring. The original A/C system is fully intact
but not blowing cold. Remarkably, the original "unobtanium" front
under tray has been retained and is wrapped in bubble wrap for
storage to be installed for concours events.
Included with the sale are service records to new, owner's books
including stamped service book, copy of original window sticker,
complete original tool kit, original sales literature, California
blue plate, show trophies and photographs, factory service manuals,
under tray and the original wood steering wheel. An E9 this well
preserved and so highly documented is hard, if not nearly
impossible, to come by and this one is ready for its next owner to
enjoy for shows or touring. For more information about this 1970
BMW 2800CS for sale at Motorcar Studio in Savannah, please call
912-235-0435.