1
1973PolarisCS
Guest
COLOR: POLARIS SILVER. NAVY BLUE INTERIOR
ODOMETER: 64,179
MODEL E9 3.5 CS
YEAR 1973
VIN #: 2250553
Manufactured by Karman and designed by Bertone Girogetto Giuggaro, this E9 is 1 of only 779 E9s made in 1973, so it is truly rare.
ENGINE BMW M30B35 208 HP 3.5 litre engine from a BMW E-32 735i.
Installed by: Don Lawrence of Alameda, California
TRANSMISSION Getrag 265 5-speed transmission, cleaned inside and out, inspected and resealed by Pete’s Gear Shop of Hayward, CA.
Custom rebuilt driveshaft.
All installed by: Don Lawrence of Alameda, California
EXTERIOR: Metallic Polaris Silver
INTERIOR: Brand new PORSHE BLUE LEATHER seats from GAHH of California, installed by Pacific Auto Trim of Vancouver
BODY WORK: Engine bay restoration and repaint by Don Lawrence of Alameda, California.
Additional internal wax spray was applied in Vancouver in 2012.
Full body restoration and new undercoating by Neil McDonnell of Neil’s Wheels of Vancouver.
Additional mechanical detailing: Vancouver BMW (The BMW Store) Hayden Winter (Shop Foreman) and Dave Delmonte.
ALL ORIGINAL:
With the exception of of a new 3.5 litre (208 h.p.) engine, a Getrag 5 Speed transmission, and many new parts, this 1973 BMW 3.5 CS Coupe in Metallic Polaris Silver and Indigo Blue Leather is all original and true to 1973. Outwardly, the car looks like a period-correct stock 1973 E9, with the original Polaris Metallic exterior complimented by the original blue leather interior and new matching GAHH leather seats, which also match the cut and appearance of the original seats.
All the components work:
The air conditioning is powerful, highly effective. The original Blaupunkt AM/FM radio and speaker works beautifully. The speaker is sharp, clear, and surprisingly loud, with excellent high and low end response. And it’s original. I don’t think they were used much. Power windows work smoothly. It has a set of BC collector plates and still qualifies as a ‘modified collector’ (in B.C.) after the engine and transmission replacements.
TOOL KIT: The tool kit box is missing, but all the tools are all here, all in excellent condition.
Also present: the SPARE TIRE, JACK, JACK WEDGE and TIRE IRON, all in excellent condition.
An assortment of spare bulbs and parts comes with the car. Just in case!
RESTORATION NOTES:
This car has been in my life, on and off, for 46 years. It was purchased new, by my father, as a gift to my mother, in 1973. The dealer was Vancouver BMW, 2040 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC, which has been (and still is) in operation continuously since 1968. They sold the first BMWs in British Columbia.
This same dealership still works on and cares for the car under the watchful eye of Shop Foreman, Haydn Winter, who knows this car well.
Dad was a mechanical engineer who ran a helicopter company. He knew the importance of maintenance to aircraft safety. So he kept this car in a heated garage with constant airflow, using an ingenius system of his own design. The car was rarely driven in winter.
As most E9 afficianados are aware, front fender rust issues caused by a Karman Gia design flaw came to light in the early 1980’s. The flaw allowed dirt to accumulate in the wheel well, attracting moisture and creating a wave of warranty claims. So BMW did a recall of all 1973 E9s and paid for all the fenders to be replaced! Vancouver BMW had all its E9s enter this program. All front fenders on all BC E9s were replaced with brand new fenders, even if there was no rust problem yet. The re-designed fenders eliminated the dirt/moisture build up and were heavily coated with a thick oil/wax liner. Problem solved! The company that had the contract to do this work in BC was World Class Collision, owned – then and now - by Boris Korva, who oversaw all the work done on our car. And, just like Vancouver BMW (now called The BMW Store), Boris is still in business.
Mum traded the car in for a Mercedes in early March, 1992, with 49,000 miles on the odometer.
Within a day or two, the car was bought by Ivan B., on March 6, 1992, who knew the car well from a life of involvement in the Vancouver car industry. Ivan owned the car for 15 years, and he only sold it when someone he knew, who wanted an E9, called him up one day and offered to buy it for a tidy sum.
Thus did Alan C. buy the car on November 10, 2006, and the car was shipped to Florida with 56,000 miles on the odometer.
The installation of the M30B35 208 HP 3.5 litre engine completely transforms this car into one supercharged little hotrod that handles like dream, sprinting off the mark, turning on a dime, and coming into its own on the highway, where it likes to purr along quietly in 5th gear at about 1800 RPMs. Very relaxing.
BODY WORK: Engine bay restoration and repaint by Don Lawrence of Alameda, California.
Internal body wax spray was applied in Vancouver in 2012, as a preventive.
Additional body work by Neil McDonnell of Neil’s Wheels of Vancouver.
Neil McDonnell is a true car craftsman who takes no short-cuts. He has worked on a number of E9 projects in the lower mainland area, and has a reputation of doing careful, detail-oriented work. He stripped the body of the car, inside and out, to seek out corrosion (if any) and eliminate it. The photographs illustrate his work fully, and prove what is underneath all that paint and undercoating. The entire underside of the car was stripped down to the metal, both inside and out, from stem to stern, and then repaired and triple-coated as per the accompanying sequence of photographs.
Additional mechanical detailing: Vancouver BMW, Hayden Winter (Shop Foreman).
NEW COMPONENTS:
Too many to count, but off the top of my head let me give it a try:
New Electrical harness
New Headlight re-wiring and relays, for safety and brighter headlights.
(Note: The original CS wiring left the lights dim and yellow. Don Lawrence corrected this electrical design flaw, so the headlights, though conventional and period-correct, are now considerably brighter.
New Gas pump
New Fuel lines and fuel pump assembly, wiring, plugs, hoses.
New fuel injection kit
New Windshield washer pump motor, assembly, water bottle and hosing.
Invisible, multi-level anti-theft technology.
New Rotors and Calipers
New center drag link
New rear sway bar end links
New Rear sub frame cross beam
New Differential bushing
New Rear control arm bushings.
New Door, trunk and engine hood seals
New engine hood insulation
New muffler and tailpipe (2013)
New AC compressor
New AC coolant, July/2018
New triple-cored radiator (never overheats)
New radiator fan and fanbelts
ADDITIONAL HISTORY:
To be honest, folks, my goal was to do a perfect restoration, as a kind of homage, I suppose, to the craftsmanship, perfectionism and accomplishment of my parents. The goal being to make this car into something that people would want to take care of, so that it would last a long time. A legacy project.
FLAWS:
There are 4 tiny flaws to the exterior of the car that give it a unique fingerprint. (see photos). I left them there on purpose, for sentimental reasons, and as identifiers. You have to look hard to find them.
WARNING TO PROSPECTIVE OWNER-DRIVERS:
Use of this vehicle may result in excessive unwarranted attention. It’s a bit like driving around with a movie star in the passenger seat. You will meet many people who you never intended to meet. They will want to take a picture. It’s a very social experience. Leave extra time when running errands.
Single, looking to meeting people? Looking for a life partner? This car could seriously change your life. I repeat: this car is not only a good investment, it’s a great way to meet people.
But if you are shy and retiring and don’t enjoy the undeserved adulation of complete strangers on a regular basis, then this is definitely not the car for you.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions:
1973PolarisCS(the Seller)
Vancouver, BC, Canada
[email protected]
ODOMETER: 64,179
MODEL E9 3.5 CS
YEAR 1973
VIN #: 2250553
Manufactured by Karman and designed by Bertone Girogetto Giuggaro, this E9 is 1 of only 779 E9s made in 1973, so it is truly rare.
ENGINE BMW M30B35 208 HP 3.5 litre engine from a BMW E-32 735i.
Installed by: Don Lawrence of Alameda, California
TRANSMISSION Getrag 265 5-speed transmission, cleaned inside and out, inspected and resealed by Pete’s Gear Shop of Hayward, CA.
Custom rebuilt driveshaft.
All installed by: Don Lawrence of Alameda, California
EXTERIOR: Metallic Polaris Silver
INTERIOR: Brand new PORSHE BLUE LEATHER seats from GAHH of California, installed by Pacific Auto Trim of Vancouver
BODY WORK: Engine bay restoration and repaint by Don Lawrence of Alameda, California.
Additional internal wax spray was applied in Vancouver in 2012.
Full body restoration and new undercoating by Neil McDonnell of Neil’s Wheels of Vancouver.
Additional mechanical detailing: Vancouver BMW (The BMW Store) Hayden Winter (Shop Foreman) and Dave Delmonte.
ALL ORIGINAL:
With the exception of of a new 3.5 litre (208 h.p.) engine, a Getrag 5 Speed transmission, and many new parts, this 1973 BMW 3.5 CS Coupe in Metallic Polaris Silver and Indigo Blue Leather is all original and true to 1973. Outwardly, the car looks like a period-correct stock 1973 E9, with the original Polaris Metallic exterior complimented by the original blue leather interior and new matching GAHH leather seats, which also match the cut and appearance of the original seats.
All the components work:
The air conditioning is powerful, highly effective. The original Blaupunkt AM/FM radio and speaker works beautifully. The speaker is sharp, clear, and surprisingly loud, with excellent high and low end response. And it’s original. I don’t think they were used much. Power windows work smoothly. It has a set of BC collector plates and still qualifies as a ‘modified collector’ (in B.C.) after the engine and transmission replacements.
TOOL KIT: The tool kit box is missing, but all the tools are all here, all in excellent condition.
Also present: the SPARE TIRE, JACK, JACK WEDGE and TIRE IRON, all in excellent condition.
An assortment of spare bulbs and parts comes with the car. Just in case!
RESTORATION NOTES:
This car has been in my life, on and off, for 46 years. It was purchased new, by my father, as a gift to my mother, in 1973. The dealer was Vancouver BMW, 2040 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC, which has been (and still is) in operation continuously since 1968. They sold the first BMWs in British Columbia.
This same dealership still works on and cares for the car under the watchful eye of Shop Foreman, Haydn Winter, who knows this car well.
Dad was a mechanical engineer who ran a helicopter company. He knew the importance of maintenance to aircraft safety. So he kept this car in a heated garage with constant airflow, using an ingenius system of his own design. The car was rarely driven in winter.
As most E9 afficianados are aware, front fender rust issues caused by a Karman Gia design flaw came to light in the early 1980’s. The flaw allowed dirt to accumulate in the wheel well, attracting moisture and creating a wave of warranty claims. So BMW did a recall of all 1973 E9s and paid for all the fenders to be replaced! Vancouver BMW had all its E9s enter this program. All front fenders on all BC E9s were replaced with brand new fenders, even if there was no rust problem yet. The re-designed fenders eliminated the dirt/moisture build up and were heavily coated with a thick oil/wax liner. Problem solved! The company that had the contract to do this work in BC was World Class Collision, owned – then and now - by Boris Korva, who oversaw all the work done on our car. And, just like Vancouver BMW (now called The BMW Store), Boris is still in business.
Mum traded the car in for a Mercedes in early March, 1992, with 49,000 miles on the odometer.
Within a day or two, the car was bought by Ivan B., on March 6, 1992, who knew the car well from a life of involvement in the Vancouver car industry. Ivan owned the car for 15 years, and he only sold it when someone he knew, who wanted an E9, called him up one day and offered to buy it for a tidy sum.
Thus did Alan C. buy the car on November 10, 2006, and the car was shipped to Florida with 56,000 miles on the odometer.
The installation of the M30B35 208 HP 3.5 litre engine completely transforms this car into one supercharged little hotrod that handles like dream, sprinting off the mark, turning on a dime, and coming into its own on the highway, where it likes to purr along quietly in 5th gear at about 1800 RPMs. Very relaxing.
BODY WORK: Engine bay restoration and repaint by Don Lawrence of Alameda, California.
Internal body wax spray was applied in Vancouver in 2012, as a preventive.
Additional body work by Neil McDonnell of Neil’s Wheels of Vancouver.
Neil McDonnell is a true car craftsman who takes no short-cuts. He has worked on a number of E9 projects in the lower mainland area, and has a reputation of doing careful, detail-oriented work. He stripped the body of the car, inside and out, to seek out corrosion (if any) and eliminate it. The photographs illustrate his work fully, and prove what is underneath all that paint and undercoating. The entire underside of the car was stripped down to the metal, both inside and out, from stem to stern, and then repaired and triple-coated as per the accompanying sequence of photographs.
Additional mechanical detailing: Vancouver BMW, Hayden Winter (Shop Foreman).
NEW COMPONENTS:
Too many to count, but off the top of my head let me give it a try:
New Electrical harness
New Headlight re-wiring and relays, for safety and brighter headlights.
(Note: The original CS wiring left the lights dim and yellow. Don Lawrence corrected this electrical design flaw, so the headlights, though conventional and period-correct, are now considerably brighter.
New Gas pump
New Fuel lines and fuel pump assembly, wiring, plugs, hoses.
New fuel injection kit
New Windshield washer pump motor, assembly, water bottle and hosing.
Invisible, multi-level anti-theft technology.
New Rotors and Calipers
New center drag link
New rear sway bar end links
New Rear sub frame cross beam
New Differential bushing
New Rear control arm bushings.
New Door, trunk and engine hood seals
New engine hood insulation
New muffler and tailpipe (2013)
New AC compressor
New AC coolant, July/2018
New triple-cored radiator (never overheats)
New radiator fan and fanbelts
ADDITIONAL HISTORY:
To be honest, folks, my goal was to do a perfect restoration, as a kind of homage, I suppose, to the craftsmanship, perfectionism and accomplishment of my parents. The goal being to make this car into something that people would want to take care of, so that it would last a long time. A legacy project.
FLAWS:
There are 4 tiny flaws to the exterior of the car that give it a unique fingerprint. (see photos). I left them there on purpose, for sentimental reasons, and as identifiers. You have to look hard to find them.
WARNING TO PROSPECTIVE OWNER-DRIVERS:
Use of this vehicle may result in excessive unwarranted attention. It’s a bit like driving around with a movie star in the passenger seat. You will meet many people who you never intended to meet. They will want to take a picture. It’s a very social experience. Leave extra time when running errands.
Single, looking to meeting people? Looking for a life partner? This car could seriously change your life. I repeat: this car is not only a good investment, it’s a great way to meet people.
But if you are shy and retiring and don’t enjoy the undeserved adulation of complete strangers on a regular basis, then this is definitely not the car for you.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions:
1973PolarisCS(the Seller)
Vancouver, BC, Canada
[email protected]
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Sharp car - GLWS - and hope this isn't (too much of) a hijack of the thread. 
