We sometimes discuss on these pages the importance of a collector vehicle featuring a rare or limited-offering paint scheme. The reasons are obvious; rarity in collector car circles is a cherished quality, if only to be able to say you own the one of a handful of a certain color produced. But on occasion, the colors aren’t necessarily attractive – just rare – and the classic combinations, even if seemingly overproduced, are the most iconic. In the case of the BMW E9 coupe, Fjord Blue is one of the all-time greats, and it looks wonderful on this 1973 3.0CS listed here on craigslist for $90,000.
There’s sometimes a discount associated with more standard colors, but not in this case. When it comes to BMW’s E9, it’s all about originality and lack of rust for collectors of this pillar-less coupe, and the seller claims his example possesses both of these key qualities. Fjord Blue over black is not going to win any obscurity contests, but it’s a color almost every enthusiast can appreciate who follows old-school BMWs. When I first got my 1987 325is coupe many years ago, I thought Alpine White was a ho-hum color – until I realized it’s one of those shades that is synonymous with classic BMW colors. The interior on this 3.0 appears to be in excellent condition, and praise the Lord, it’s a manual.
Those shock towers are among the most vulnerable spots on an E9, so seeing what looks like absolutely rot-free metal under the hood is a very good sign. Now, this E9 sports the 3.5L M30 engine, likely from a donor car such as the E24, and it’s a popular upgrade over the standard 3.0L. Plus, it’s from the same engine family, so it’s an OEM+ upgrade in many ways. Still, it always bothers me just a bit that the numbers-matching engine isn’t present, especially for $90,000. I understand this isn’t a mortal sin to have swapped in this engine, but I’d at least like to see that it comes with the factory-installed mill on a pallet.
But many prospective E9 owners will not be bothered by this upgrade, as the bigger story is the lack of rust. Rust repair on an E9 is one of the costliest jobs out there, and it can quickly overtake the value of a driver-quality coupe. The E9 is one of those cars that is expensive to buy when in excellent condition, but there’s a ceiling – I typically associate $60,000 – $75,000 with a no-needs, turnkey car – and rusty projects can quickly eclipse that value in bodywork costs alone. This example checks many boxes, from the classic color scheme to the more powerful engine swap, but getting a buyer at nearly $100,000 may prove challenging. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.
Since the car is advertised on Canadian craigslist the asking price is $90000 in Canadian dollars. That converts to US$66,500 which seems to be a much fairer asking price, especially for a rust free car. I’ve always loved these E9 coupes since I first saw them in the 70s. The thin A and B pillars and proportions of this car are perfect to me.
Always loved these cars. This one looks cherry. The string back driving gloves are a nice touch.
Love these, have never owned one. But for that price I’d get an E Type roadster.
Very nice! I remember looking at one, same color, in the swap field at Auburn roughly 25 years ago. It was a more affordable stretch then than now.