1984 BMW 635 CSi

BMW introduced its 'shark-nosed' 6-Series E24 in August of 1976, representing the first generation of 6 Series grand touring coupes which remained in production through April of 1989. It served as a replacement for the E9 coupes, and they were, after a 16-year hiatus, succeeded by the E63 6 Series in 2004. The sole body style of the E24 was a two-door coupe. It came equipped with a 3210cc engine that offered 175 PS. The E24 M635 CSi, introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1983, employed a 3453cc SOHC 218 PS engine that gave the car a top speed of 222 km/h, and zero-to-sixty was accomplished in 7.4 seconds (In the North American Market, they were badged simply M6). The M635CSi was the second BMW M car and the first of the BMW M6 model line. Produced from 1983 through 1989, BMW produced 4,088 examples of the M635 CSi of which 1,767 were for the North American market.

In 1987, BMW introduced a luxury version, known as the L6, which added a leather headliner and trim plus other accouterments.

BMW used the M88/3 (a modified version of the M88/1) from the BMW M1, in 1983, and installed it in the E24 chassis, creating the M635CSi, also known as the M6. This version had a DOHC 24-valve 3453cc which offered 286 PS. In this guise, the vehicle had a top speed of 255 km/h and could race from zero-to-sixty in 6.2 seconds. Other improvements to the car included an updated suspension, brakes, and a close-ratio manual gearbox.

The 635CSi Group A was a DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) racecar. It was equipped with a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder inline engine offering 280 horsepower. BMW produced 90 examples of the BMW CSI Group A racer between 1983 and 1986.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016