1979 BMW 633 CSi (E24)

There is more to BMW design than the kidney grille. Particularly these days, when some of them appear large enough to have planning permission. For a proper lesson in Bavarian design, look to the E24-generation 6 Series.

Long bonnet. Low roofline. Shark nose.

And that wonderfully subtle little flourish at the base of the C-pillar, known as the Hofmeister Kink, named after former BMW design chief Wilhelm Hofmeister.

It is a detail that has endured for decades, and tells you everything about the philosophy of the era. Get the proportions right, and the rest is history – or perhaps, destined for the history books, like this 633 CSi.

Of all the BMWs ever to wear the roundel, we'd argue the E24 is among the most definitive. This is the grand tourer in its purest form, as it’s not one to shout about what makes it so good – the driving experience will do the talking for itself.

And then there's the colour.

Amazon Green Metallic; a shade that belongs on something with an interior sourced from a field of top-notch cows and a bulletproof GT engine. If a 1970s crime thriller required a gentleman of questionable morals and impeccable tailoring to arrive for a private meeting, this would be a very convincing choice of transport. And it’d do just fine on the Autobahn for the getaway sequence.

Our Example

This 1979 BMW 633 CSi, available through Duke's Quality Motors, has been cherished by its current owner for four years. During that time, more than £14,000 has been invested in improving and refining the car, predominantly with respected BMW specialists GCR Central. The focus has been on making an already handsome classic mechanically accomplished, with supporting invoices available for inspection.

Before the current ownership, the car underwent a comprehensive bare-metal restoration during the COVID period, carried out by Philip Leech of PL Car Bodies.

Philip restored it for his own personal use. There is a distinction between restoring a car to sell and restoring one you intend to keep – when it's your own blood, sweat, tears (and money) going into the job, the motivation tends to be all the more passionate.

The body was refinished in its original factory colour, Amazon Green Metallic, and the engine was refreshed as part of the restoration, incorporating numerous new components.

The rear silencer was professionally fabricated and fitted in early October 2026, at a cost of £800. The result is a wonderful note from the straight six: it’s now delivering a sound smoother than a Barry White “Midnight Special.”

The Rare Bit

According to UK vehicle registration figures supplied by the owner, just 72 examples of the BMW 633 CSi remain recorded, with only 22 currently taxed for road use.

That's a vanishingly uncommon sight on British roads, especially in its original colour. And while rarity alone doesn't make a car desirable, it certainly helps when the underlying design is this good.

The E24 represents an era when BMW understood that a grand tourer should be capable of crossing a continent in comfort, arriving at The Monte-Carlo Casino in Monaco in style, and still putting a smile on your face when the mountain road gets bendy. It is a beautifully proportioned classic BMW, substantially restored, carefully maintained and refined by an owner who has put serious money into getting it right.
The next custodian gets to enjoy the result.

If you got this far, you’ve got excellent taste. Interested?

It is the sort of car that attracts appreciative glances from people who know what they're looking at, and starts conversations with people who just want to know what on earth that shade of green is. The comprehensive file of invoices provides supporting documentation for the work undertaken during current ownership.

Available to view by appointment at Duke of London's West London showroom.
We suspect you'll want to see this one in the metal. Get in touch to arrange a viewing.