Mark
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Thanks for the positive comments guys. I can't wait to fire it up for the first time! Interest in E21's is definately on the increase and they're probably the cheapest of the proper sharknose BMW's - for now anyway. Hopefully, I can get across to Essex and check any progress once this bloody snow has gone! I am having most of the labour done by Dave at M-tech in Billericay. He helped me get my orange daily driver e21 sorted and he takes real pride in his work. If anyone wants an e21 for themselves I know of a couple.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Mark
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Last Edit: May 18, 2011 11:44:25 GMT by HARDCORE
BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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In 1981, TWR were probably still based at their small place at Berinsfield (not Dorchester On Thames!), on the right hand side of the Oxford to Reading road just after the roundabout. It became MSC (Motor Sport Centre and an Alfa dealer), a little chef and a motorbike dealership. No idea if it's still there. The pics of the M1's shows what is almost certainly the Kidlington premises which they moved inti in around 1982. A guy I know who lived on the Berinsfield estate used to make a good living repairing damaged county race cars, fixing about 4 or 5 after every race. One such car belongs to a guy I know in Norfolk, having been bought for a derisory sum from Tim Hignett around 6-7 years ago.
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Last Edit: Dec 2, 2010 16:17:05 GMT by maxi1750
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Mark
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I don't suppose you could get any photos of it? I'm trying to research as much TWR / Alpina / BMW stuff as I can and my car was actually supplied and converted at The Motorsport Centre. I spoke with the then Sales Manager, Ken Hosken, and he recalls my actual car. Mind you, they only built 3 anyway. The original car, as tested by Tiff Needell, still exists but is being subjected to a nut & bolt restoration. It's been 6 years and it's still a bare shell. Chassis number 2 was destroyed in a fire and mine is number 3. I still have most of the service history and the DVLA are returning the original registration after it was changed when a private plate was removed. My car was originally supplied as a 323 but specced up with most of the Alpina C1 parts. The chap who bought it had a go in TWR's domonstrator and when they wouldn't sell it to him, he requested his car be converted instead. It was only a matter of weeks old and the conversion was another £8000 which was a lot considering the car had cost him £9000! The invoice shows that he requested they delete the Alpina spoiler on the rear and swap the 13'' Alpina rims for the 15's instead. The seats were also re-trimmed in black. I've been able to trace nearly all the previous keepers although the car hasn't been on the road for nearly 20 years. I think a few of the most recent keepers underestimated just how much it was likely to cost to get it back in one piece.
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Last Edit: Dec 3, 2010 1:35:58 GMT by Mark
BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Pics of the county car or the TWR building?
Easy to find though. From Oxford on the A4074, through Nuneham Courtenay and down to the roundabout, left for Berinsfield or right which is the A415 to Abingdon. Just as you go across the roundabout, the old TWR building/Little Thief in on the right. Look on Google maps, it should show what is there.
The 323i county car was dark brown. There was an article in TBMW mag about the L&C Collection and there's a pic of it in there. It's not sporting any decals afaik.
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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Yes, it was the County Car I was interested in.
I do know someone who has a County spoiler set although he's having problems finding them. He bought most of TWR's old stock when they threw in the towel with BMW/Alpina. He's hunting to see exactly what he has left. Its a shame not more of the old County Cars survived.
Once my TWR is back on the road I might take it for a photo opportunity near the old showroom.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Many of them survived and were converted back into road cars (apparently) and sold off. Once the County series was finshed they were useless as race cars as there was no real series for them. You would probably have found one 15-20 years ago when 323i's were still around in some numbers. I had a Fjord blue one on a V plate with the Recaro seats, Bilstein suspension and LSD - would have been around 1988 ish and I bought it for £1300 from Witney car auctions. I put a five speed box from a 320 into it. That was capable of the most lurid tail slides and it was an absolute curse word in the wet on the Michelin XWX rubber. It was good fun though and really 'raw'. I think it was FAM934V.
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What a find!!! Great history lesson as well. Did you know what it was when you bought it, or did you buy it and then get a mega surprise?
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1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 Mazda 929 Coupé 1986 Mazda 929 Wagon 1979 Mazda 929 Hardtop 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 1989 Subaru 1800 Wagon 1982 Hyundai Pony 1200TL 2-dr 1985 Hyundai Pony 1200 GL 1986 Maserati 425 Biturbo 1992 Rover 214 SEi 5-dr 2000 Rover 45 V6 Club 1994 Peugeot 205 'Junior' Diesel 1988 Volvo 760 Turbodiesel Saloon 1992 Talbot Express Autosleeper Rambler 2003 Renault Laguna SPEARS OR REAPERS
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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The guy selling gave a clue as to what it was but I've done a Miss Marple and traced all the history and confirmed its provenance. My orange daily has a 2.7 and LSD and is a proper handful in the wet. There's enough torque to go sideways as and when required. The TWR car is a seriously quick piece of kit. Even with old style rubber and an open diff they managed 60mph in 5.4secs. I've got an LSD and some Toyo888's waiting in the wings!
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Given the history of the car have you contacted the original owner ?
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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I'm in touch with all the previous owners including the guy who bought it new and paid the extra £8K for the conversion on top of the £9K price of the car. I've even spoken with the TWR sales manager that sold it to him!
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,834
Club RR Member Number: 174
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TWR / Alpina e21 - ''take 2''stealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
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Excellent car and brilliant research into the history. I'd imagine this is one of those cars where a bit of money invested in making it mint now will show a huge return if you ever sell it in future.
Matt
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Mark
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I guess so, but the truth is I'm just really chuffed to own it and have no intention of parting with it. In fact, were I ever to sell, I promised the chap who sold it to me first dibs on it.
It's costing me a fair few quid getting it up and running again but it's great to think that I'll be the first person in 20 years to rag it up the road. I can't wait!
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Dec 12, 2010 21:23:31 GMT
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I'm in touch with all the previous owners including the guy who bought it new and paid the extra £8K for the conversion on top of the £9K price of the car. I've even spoken with the TWR sales manager that sold it to him! That's £53720 in todays money! - he probably has a latest M3 now ?
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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Dec 12, 2010 23:42:15 GMT
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I'm in touch with all the previous owners including the guy who bought it new and paid the extra £8K for the conversion on top of the £9K price of the car. I've even spoken with the TWR sales manager that sold it to him! That's £53720 in todays money! - he probably has a latest M3 now ? You're not too far off. He's actually just bought his son a brand new 335 as a birthday gift. I curse word ye not. Sad to learn of Tom Walkinshaw losing his battle with cancer today. A very sad loss to motor-racing. RIP.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Ether
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Posts: 4,450
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Dec 13, 2010 12:46:05 GMT
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That XJS video - wow.
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Mark
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Posts: 3,818
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Jan 10, 2011 23:09:53 GMT
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The good fellows at www.zeroexhausts.co.uk finished the exhaust this week. The manifold actually came via Fritz Bits but, despite being supplied for an m30/e21 conversion, needed modification to stop it fouling on the steering. Anyway, the system itself is a dual 50mm with twin free flow silencers. It should sound lovely and it looks pretty sweet too! The car should be back at the workshop on Wednesday and then the head can come back off and go to have the flow work done. As I may have mentioned before, we are also fitting the slightly larger inlet valves from an e34 to combine with the Cat Camshaft. Obviously there will be all new followers etc and I'm told there's a way of incorporating dual oil spray bars but that needs some more research. Thanks to Tony BMW I now have a replacement for the missing oil cooler. It comes from an E12 M535i so I'm 99% certain it will be exactly the same as the original. Anyway, a few piccies...
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Last Edit: Jan 10, 2011 23:31:25 GMT by Mark
BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Mark
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Posts: 3,818
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Jan 19, 2011 14:07:49 GMT
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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dbdb
Part of things
Posts: 821
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Last Edit: Feb 6, 2011 19:30:14 GMT by dbdb
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