Photo: European Auto Source
Few people know this but BMW’s M6 model came to life back in the 1980s. It was back then when the Bavarian company used the letter ‘M’ in front of numbers for the first time.
In Europe, the E24 model wore the M635CSi moniker, one that was a lot weirder than today’s M235i or M135i by our standards. Even so, overseas, in the US, the same car became known as the M6 and that’s when the history of this model started.
Over the years, the Munich-based brand decided to keep the 6 Series away from us and the model wasn’t built for 14 years straight, between 1989 and 2003 when it made a comeback under the E63 codename and wearing Chris Bangle’s design.
As for the high-performance coupe model, the M635CSi used an engine derived from the iconic M88/1 unit used on the M1, just like every other high-performance car of that day and age.
It used to make 286 HP and 333 Nm (246 lb-ft) of torque out of 3.5 liters and 6-cylinders, all lined-up one behind the other and naturally aspirated, of course. The power sent to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox and delivered to the road through a 25% limited slip differential.
Weighing 1,510 kg (3,300 lbs) the car was capable of reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.1 seconds, in the US, where the car that was sold under the M6 moniker had even less power, rated at 260 PS.
During the 5 years in which was built, BMW managed to sell just 4,088 M635CSi models and 1,767 M6 models in total, making it one of the rarest BMWs on the road today.
When one of them visited the European Auto Source headquarters cameras started popping out and a photo gallery was put together in no time. This particular model was done in Polaris Metallic and looked absolutely pristine, 30 years and 150,000 km (90,000 miles) later.
Over the years, the Munich-based brand decided to keep the 6 Series away from us and the model wasn’t built for 14 years straight, between 1989 and 2003 when it made a comeback under the E63 codename and wearing Chris Bangle’s design.
As for the high-performance coupe model, the M635CSi used an engine derived from the iconic M88/1 unit used on the M1, just like every other high-performance car of that day and age.
It used to make 286 HP and 333 Nm (246 lb-ft) of torque out of 3.5 liters and 6-cylinders, all lined-up one behind the other and naturally aspirated, of course. The power sent to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox and delivered to the road through a 25% limited slip differential.
Weighing 1,510 kg (3,300 lbs) the car was capable of reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.1 seconds, in the US, where the car that was sold under the M6 moniker had even less power, rated at 260 PS.
During the 5 years in which was built, BMW managed to sell just 4,088 M635CSi models and 1,767 M6 models in total, making it one of the rarest BMWs on the road today.
When one of them visited the European Auto Source headquarters cameras started popping out and a photo gallery was put together in no time. This particular model was done in Polaris Metallic and looked absolutely pristine, 30 years and 150,000 km (90,000 miles) later.
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