Boom! Thanks to our friend and fellow Baur owner Eric B. out in LA for alerting me to the final gavel price on Baur #2175 on Bring a Trailer: $15,250! Woo hoo! ;)
Text in red is from Bring a Trailer :
This 1981 BMW 323i is a Baur-converted car with a two-component top featuring a folding rear section and a removable targa center top. The 323i was never sold in the United States, and this car was imported in the mid 1980s. The previous owner had the car for about nine years and swapped the automatic for a 4-speed manual transmission. He also converted the tan interior to grey and added Bilstein shocks, H&R springs, polyurethane bushings, upgraded swaybars, and an aluminum radiator. This E21 is offered with a clean Georgia title in the seller’s name.
Per a conversation with the previous owner, this E21 wears original paint apart from the rear valence and filler panel. A few minor scratches and defects are shown. The distinctive Baur top comes in two pieces. The removable targa panel is original, though the folding rear portion has been replaced. The latter is well fitted and has a clear plastic rear window, and the former is in good condition, though the inner liner is said to be somewhat threadbare at the edges.
The suspension has been modified with numerous new parts including Bilstein HD shocks and H&R springs, which lower the car about half an inch. The car also features upgraded swaybars and new polyurethane bushings, which the seller has pictured in the gallery during the installation process with the subframes and other components out of the car.
The battery has been relocated to the trunk, and the tool kit is nearly complete.
The seller swapped out the original dash and center console for uncracked examples from a donor car. The donor center stack is from a non-A/C car, and this car is no longer equipped with A/C. An aftermarket stereo is fitted in the stock location. An Alpina steering wheel is shown in some of the interior photos, though the stock E21 steering wheel pictured above will be sold with the car. All of the instrumentation is working, though the end of the speedometer needle has broken off and is resting inside the bottom of the cluster. The 62,500 miles indicated are not believed accurate.
The previous owner had the driver’s seat professionally widened by an upholstery shop. The seller notes a slight twist to the driver’s seatback, though the seat is said to remain comfortable.
The drivetrain is said to be close to standard for a manual gearbox car, and includes a 2.3L straight-six backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. The 323i produced the most horsepower and torque of the E21 family, with 141 horsepower and 140 ft-lb of torque. An aluminum radiator and a strut tower bar have been fitted.
Numerous photos of the underside of the car are provided in the gallery link below, along with photos of the suspension components removed to add the polyurethane bushings.
Lots more pics here:
http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1981-bmw-323i-baur-tc/?remind=1&blm=4
Congratulations to both the buyer and seller! And thank you to Eric B. for alerting us to the Finale!
All's Well That Ends Well!
