In the early 1960s BMW has unveiled the 3200CS - a coupe developed in cooperation with Carrozzeria Bertone. But Giorgetto Giugiaro wanted to prove he can do even more than that. The result of this desire was the "Spicup" concept. The concept was unveiled at the 1969 Geneva Salon and in the same year was exhibited at the Concorso d’Eleganza in Allassio in June and finally at that year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
After that it is believed that the concept was sold to a private owner and in the mid-1970 it has been spotted at the German mega-dealer Auto Becker in Düsseldorf.
After that the car has been registered in the Netherlands and used as a ’daily driver’. Now the concept has been restored to concurs condition and has been auction at the Bonhams auction for an impressive €460,000 or about $600,000 at the current exchange rates.
Hit the jump to read more about the BMW Spicup Convertible Coupe.
After that the car has been registered in the Netherlands and used as a ’daily driver’. Now the concept has been restored to concurs condition and has been auction at the Bonhams auction for an impressive €460,000 or about $600,000 at the current exchange rates.
Hit the jump to read more about the BMW Spicup Convertible Coupe.
Standard concept
The concept unveiled in the 1969 was powered by a 2.8-litre version of the SOHC straight-six engine and came with a chassis numbered ’V.0010’ – the V standing for Versuchswagen (experimental car).
One of the most impressive feature of the concept was its novel roof, which consisted of stainless steel panels that retracted into the hefty roll bar.
The concept’s design has been started by Giorgetto Giugiaro and finished by Marcello Gandini who has added his signature front end with its part-concealed headlamps.
The concept unveiled in the 1969 was powered by a 2.8-litre version of the SOHC straight-six engine and came with a chassis numbered ’V.0010’ – the V standing for Versuchswagen (experimental car).
One of the most impressive feature of the concept was its novel roof, which consisted of stainless steel panels that retracted into the hefty roll bar.
The concept’s design has been started by Giorgetto Giugiaro and finished by Marcello Gandini who has added his signature front end with its part-concealed headlamps.
Restoration process
The Dutch client who bought it use the Spicup as a daily car, reason why it had on the odometer a total of 100,000 kilometers, which makes it probably the most-used one-off show car in the world! However, in the 1980s the concept was put away in a storage and remained there for about 20 years.
In 2008 the Spicup has been purchased by current vendor, a noted collector of coachbuilt exotica. But the car was in a very bad situation: tired, incomplete, scratched and dented and with some serious signs of corrosion.
So he transported the car to Carrozzeria Granturismo in Milan for a complete restoration. After they have managed to find the original color and materials, Carrozzeria started the restoration process.
They had to replace the floorpan, the sills and the doors, while parts like the steering wheel, Spicup emblems, interior trim and rear bumper have been remade to the exact original specifications. After that the concept was repainted in its original green metallic livery with silver grey accents.
The engine cover has been once again fixed to the air filter - its original position, and the final work has been done to the special roof mechanism.
The Dutch client who bought it use the Spicup as a daily car, reason why it had on the odometer a total of 100,000 kilometers, which makes it probably the most-used one-off show car in the world! However, in the 1980s the concept was put away in a storage and remained there for about 20 years.
In 2008 the Spicup has been purchased by current vendor, a noted collector of coachbuilt exotica. But the car was in a very bad situation: tired, incomplete, scratched and dented and with some serious signs of corrosion.
So he transported the car to Carrozzeria Granturismo in Milan for a complete restoration. After they have managed to find the original color and materials, Carrozzeria started the restoration process.
They had to replace the floorpan, the sills and the doors, while parts like the steering wheel, Spicup emblems, interior trim and rear bumper have been remade to the exact original specifications. After that the concept was repainted in its original green metallic livery with silver grey accents.
The engine cover has been once again fixed to the air filter - its original position, and the final work has been done to the special roof mechanism.
Auction result
After the restoration process the Spicup was first shown again to the public at the Villa d’Este concours d’élégance in 2009, and subsequently at the BMW Museum during the summer of 2010. At this year’s Bonhams auction the car was sold for an impressive €460,000 or about $600,000 at the current exchange rates.
After the restoration process the Spicup was first shown again to the public at the Villa d’Este concours d’élégance in 2009, and subsequently at the BMW Museum during the summer of 2010. At this year’s Bonhams auction the car was sold for an impressive €460,000 or about $600,000 at the current exchange rates.
“Tata Nano Gold” is the 80kg gold-plated cars
