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The late sixties and early seventies were a golden era for grand touring coupes. If, at the time, you were young, successful, single, and in the market for something with an equal amount of style and sporting cred, the market was overflowing with elegant, fast, luxurious, and exclusive two doors to choose from. This week, we present one of our all-time favorite GT coupes, a lovely E9 BMW, and pitch it against a less well-known but equally worthy Fiat 130—with a Lampredi-designed V6 and Pininfarina styling, it wasn’t miles off from being a Ferrari…
Starting with the Beemer, we really dig the blue-on-blue color combination. Paint is claimed to be in the original color, but was resprayed some years ago, while the blue velour interior is said to be all original—astonishing considering its condition. The seller says there is no rust, and that the car is in excellent cosmetic condition. Transmission is by four-speed manual, somewhat of a rarity as many have been upgraded to five-speeds from newer BMWs. Perhaps the best part of E9s is the cabin—a beautiful dash and an incredible feeling of light and space aided by the thinnest of pillars make every drive a pleasure. Roll down all the windows and, thanks to their pillarless design, you’ll swear you’re in a convertible, that sonorous straight six’s song flooding your and your passengers lucky ears.
And then there was the Fiat. The 130 coupe was introduced in 1971, its sharp-suited style on the very cutting edge, as designers were just starting to move away from the organically-inspired shapes of the preceding decades—typically, most would agree, not a great thing, but the 130 coupe looked utterly fantastic. Equipped with a 3.2 OHC V6 with lineage traceable back to Maranello, it made a healthy 165 HP and loved to rev, with a sound to relish. Suspension was all-independent, with an LSD at the back—indicative of the excellent handling 130s are known for. Where this particular car really wins, though, is with its five speed manual—actually an option over the standard, fun-sapping 3 speed auto. The gorgeous medium blue over Bordeaux hides is also incredibly alluring. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the driver-operated, remote passenger door opening mechanism, too! It may not be the obvious choice, but that’s why we love this car.
So, which one would you like to see in your garage?
1973 Fiat 130 Pininfarina Coupe
Click here for the Fiat details.
1972 BMW E9 CSi Coupe
There is no question the E9 is amazingly gorgeous, and yes, I’d love one. It’s the third best looking post-war BMW as far as I’m concerned. (503 & 507 beats it) However, the oddity and obscurity alone of the 130 makes it an interesting proposition. You would have something few others have. Even in Scandinavia you see a fair number of E9s in a summer, but practically never a 130.
I would lean towards the E9, but if a drive convinced me the Fiat was any good, I might go for it for exclusivity.. Big if we were to compare the saloons these cars are based on, I’d take the 130. I find it oddly attractive!
I think I’m going to have to break with popular opinion and go with the Fiat. The BMW is a great car, but compared to the Fiat, it’s just a bit… boring. Sure it looks good for a BMW, but sitting inside and driving it is going to feel pretty much the same as sitting in any 2002 or even E21. The Fiat on the other hand, just look at that interior! The wheel, the console, the gear selector etc. Love it!
It’s not that easy a pick… the E9 looks utterly gorgeous, and has a lusty straight-six to go with it. The 130 is the subtle one, whose charms are not touted to the world. As a good fan of a sleeper, that would make it my choice, especially if I can have the 5-speed manual. Not a lot of people know these cars, and most would not even guess it to be a Fiat on the street. The build quality is excellent (more than a match for the BMW), and the equipment levels are second to none. And the wail of that V6 on full tilt… ooooh….
BTW, the V6 in the 130 does not share anything other than its configuration with the Dino unit… it was a brand-new design from Lampredi, and actually inspired by the geometry he used on the SOHC engine designed for the 128, albeit obviously adapted to this new layout.
Well, the Internet certainly has a lot of opinions on nomenclature. This is from the BMW Wiki:
“The English slang terms Beemer, Bimmer and Bee-em are variously used for BMWs of all kinds,[42][43] cars and motorcycles.[44][45]
In the US, specialists have been at pains to prescribe that a distinction must be made between using Beemer exclusively to describe BMW motorcycles, and using Bimmer only to refer to BMW cars,[46][47][48] in the manner of a “true aficionado”[49] and avoid appearing to be “uninitiated.”[50][51] The Canadian Globe and Mail prefers Bimmer and calls Beemer a “yuppie abomination,”[52] while the Tacoma News Tribune says it is a distinction made by “auto snobs.”[53] Using the wrong slang risks offending BMW enthusiasts.[54][55][56] An editor of Business Week was satisfied in 2003 that the question was resolved in favor of Bimmer by noting that a Google search yielded 10 times as many hits compared to Beemer.[57]”
I also own a Fiat Spider, and also agree entirely. The 130 may have Pininfarina written on the side, but it was not designed by Sergio Pininfarina, like the spider – instead, it was designed by Paolo Martin (according to wikipedia), who – it looks like – was never taught how to use a set of french curves.
Shame, the fiat sounds promising, with the LSD, etc – probably could have been really great if the looks didn’t kill the whole thing.
BMW Wins.