Selling a 1974 BMW E9

 

Good work had been the consistent product coming out of BMW since 1961 when, in the latter half of 1973, the outside world made itself known to the Bavarian automobile manufacturer. No matter how well a given car was designed—the 1974 BMW E9 for example—they all still ran on gasoline and needed oil for proper engine function. So it was that when OPEC, or the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, hit the developed world with a strategically planned oil embargo, the automobile industry (both in Europe and elsewhere) took notice. By the time the 1974 BMW E9 was being presented to once delighted markets, the oil shock had sent fuel prices soaring by 400%. And for all its merits, the E9 was by no means a fuel efficient bucket of bolts. Ever responsive to both marketplace pressures and consumer input, BMW was also pragmatic when it came to geopolitics impinged upon production plans. After all, the E9’s M30 SOHC straight-six producing nearly 200 horsepower was everything a gutsy driver could hope for…provided they had cash for petrol. Driving can be an exhilarating and rewarding experience, as BMW loyalists knew well; but if it’s a choice between foot on the pedal or food on the table…

What should be recognized and understood by modern sellers is that the 1974 BMW E9, was a brilliant, well-made, and high-performing automobile. That it was brought to market while fuel prices were soaring skyward is essential to the vehicle’s history, but incidental to its quality. It handled to a racecar’s standards, was tightly torqued, and was powered by perhaps the finest motor—the M30—BMW would produce during this chapter of its long story. Furthermore, the 1974 E9 was coming to the scene during a time when BMW was necessarily looking to the future, as its New Class sedans and the coupé offshoots spoke of an era which would eventually be bygone. Sellers might emphasize this iteration of the E9 as BMW’s “oil crisis coupé” if only for the novelty factor. That aside, there is much to recommend the remarkable machine from an objective performance standpoint.

1974 BMW E9 Seller’s Guide

 

The oil crisis notwithstanding, 1974 was not one of the E9’s higher production years. Positioning the classic BMW as one of the less common of its kind might make sense in appealing to the right buyer. Alex Manos has a well-developed sense of how best to position one’s classic car for a fair and stress-free sale. Visit the Alex Manos website for a look at what he has on offer, whether suggestion wise or in terms of his own inventory. It will be a good start towards effectively listing your vehicle.

If you’re near the Los Angeles area, make a trip out to our lot and see what cars compare to your Classic BMW. We work with buyers everywhere in the US, so even if you live remotely we want to talk about selling your classic car. I’m Alex Manos, and I love buying classic cars!

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