1982 BMW 323i Baur

1982 BMW 323i Baur
Memorial Day 2010 First Drive 1982 323i BMW Baur Lapisblau M20 5 speed #4154 of 4595 made. The car was imported to California by Dietel Enterprises. I have since changed the wheels, installed the clear turn signal lenses, and I am in the process of installing a new cabriolet roof. I have to do something about those bumpers, too. :) I love this car! To see one of the reasons why, check my post "Score One For the Good Guys" on 6/26/2011.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Non-BMW Baur-Type Roof: Lancia Zagato!


This started out as a pic of a two tone BMW 2002 in regard to a previous discussion in Facebook.  However, I happened to notice an unusual car, inadvertently captured in the background of the pic.







I love this stuff!  Great little '02 in foreground, but ..... what is that red car behind it!  Notice the Baur-type soft rear convertible top?
It appears to be a Lancia Zagato, which we have mentioned many times as a Baur-type two piece convertible top:  hard top over the driver, soft top over the rear seat.  Check it out!

 Also notice the built-in roll bar in the center of the vehicle, another Baur-type feature.

That Lancia Zagato, like the BMW baur, is an historical artifact:  it's unusual design is a classic form-follows-function!  At the time this car was designed, there was a very serious concern in the automotive industry that governments were moving to BAN convertibles altogether, because of a perceived danger in a rollover accident.  That is why this Lancia Zagato, like the BMW Baurs, has a built-in roll bar as a feature of its design!  It may make for a rather ungainly appearance, but...... that is missing the point!  Its design derives from 'form follows function':  the built-in roll bar is there to address the 'unsafe in a rollover' issue that had many governments seeking to ban convertibles altogether!

Is that roll bar structurally sound?  You decide:





:)

 I love this pic!


http://annunci.ebay.it/annunci/auto/treviso-annunci-roncade/bmw-1600-2-anno-1968/64657093?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=vip

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