Hooniverse Weekend Edition – A Pair of BMW Art Cars on Craigslist

Jim Brennan
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Well, we just had a listing for a tasteful BMW 5-series, so to be “Fair and Balanced” as the Fox News of Automotive Journalism (Tim, I Kid, I Kid) here I present you the other side of the BMW Spectrum. This is not one but TWO BMW Art Cars. Are they worth the money?


From the land of Fruit and Nuts, these two BMW Art Cars are from San Carlos, California. Billed as His and Her BMWs, they are rather desirable BMWs in their own right. But (and you knew a big but was coming), Who in their right mond would own either of these two cars in their current condition? According to the listing:

Hello all. I have TWO…ONR PAIR of his and hers or his and his or hers and hers or whatever BMW “ART CARS”. Each is a one-of a kind creation that is a driveable classic. Buy either one or the pair together. Here are the details. AND…purchase includes free delivery anywhere in California or Nevada! $3,884 each or $6,988 for the pair.

CAR NUMBER ONE: 1984 BMW 733i sedan! Rust-free, low miles, cold air, excellent tires, sunroof, electric windows, electric leather seats and stereo. This is an absolutely one-of-a-kind automobile. Even I, Evan the artist could not duplicate this car! Priced at $3,884.

CAR NUMBER TWO IS: 1987 BMW 535is This is absolutely one of a kind driveable piece of art painted by award-winning industrial designer EGE. High miles, chrome wheels, power windows and sunroof, cd stereo, anti-lock brakes and more! VERY DEPENDABLE TOO! $3,888 !


Well, what are you waiting for? Go out and buy them. See the listing here.

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Jim Brennan

Jim Brennan

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  1. RWB Avatar
    RWB

    I like 'em, or at least the fiver.
    Don't suspect I'll have much company.

    Reply
    1. Jennings R. Scroggs, Jr. Avatar
      Jennings R. Scroggs, Jr.

      I'll second that on the 5 series.

      Reply
    2. wunno sev Avatar
      wunno sev

      Me too. There are two reasons I wouldn't want to own them:
      1. They're BMWs, and BMW already has an art car program. So these would seem like imitations, replicas. I'd rather have a ripoff than a fake.
      2. I didn't paint them. I'm no artist, but if something is going to retain a handpainted look, the artist needs to be either famous or me.
      Still, I think they're cool.

      Reply
  2. Van Sarockin Avatar
    Van Sarockin

    I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that these are not official BMW art cars. These are BMWs that someone has attempted to paint artistically. At best they are pale imitations of what BMW commissioned from others. But if you like the cars, they're a great deal: who knows, maybe someday, 'Evan' or 'EGE' (one and the same?) might get some critical recognition. A real art car would add a few (maybe three) zeroes onto these asking prices.
    The cars look well maintained, with worn interiors. The paint jobs might come off easily with some rubbing compound. If you're lucky there's a solvent for the acrylic paint that's innocuous to the original enamel, but doubtful. One great thing about these cars is that you'll always be able to find yours in the BMW infested parking lots of California. Matching clown suit sold separately.

    Reply
  3. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    As they say in Antiques Roadshow, provenance is everything. Who really are the artists? Can these cars be verified? Have these cars ever been notable in art circles or are they the equivalent of someone sticking Smurf dolls all over their old Tercel? Without any provenance, old BMW prices apply. Fortunately, the seller isn't asking all that much for the pair.

    Reply
  4. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
    Rust-MyEnemy

    Hmm.
    I've always liked the BMW art cars despite their paintjobs, not because of them. And, I'm afraid, without the benefit of any historical significance these two have to belong in the "I'm sorry, you've ruined your Bimmer" category.
    Having said that, none of them are any worse than Chris Bangle might have dreamt up.

    Reply
  5. skitter Avatar
    skitter

    Aside from the automatic transmissions, I would have absolutely no problem rocking either of those.

    Reply
  6. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    I like the 5-series. Hmm… the Alfa is due for paint, which I've decided to take on myself. I'll bet that motif could hide a lot of beginner mistakes. I'm not sure it's suitable for a daily driver, though.

    Reply
    1. texlenin Avatar
      texlenin

      Had the same problem (although waaaay down the list of issues) with my 74. Decided
      that since it was already white, the best thing to do would be go with WW1 "dazzle"
      camouflage, adding black & gray rectilinear designs. Sketched three studies out-
      you want them?

      Reply
  7. Joe Dunlap Avatar
    Joe Dunlap

    The only way to view these cars in a favorable light would be from the inside in the full gangsta position. At least the interiors havent been badly molested. Ugh.

    Reply
  8. yellofury Avatar
    yellofury

    Hello my friends!! I have missed most of you folks from the old Jalop days!! I am glad someone pointed me to this place..
    The question is did anyone really love the harlequin VWs of olde?? Art is subjective and in this case it the same
    These to me do not seem like the more popular art cars of the past (i.e. the M1, or the graphic laden see through 6 series)

    Reply
  9. CptSevere Avatar
    CptSevere

    If Evan, the Artist, wants to get rid of car number one that badly, what does that say about his opinion of his own art? Yes, I know, an artiste needs to sell his art to eat, but I get the feeling that he's not too proud of this work of his. However, if he admits that it's a tribute to Furthur and to the Prankster's Studebaker pickup, then I'd have more respect for the work, but he won't admit it, so I'll leave it at that.

    Reply
  10. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    Let's keep art work on freight trains, where it belongs.
    <img src="http://static.flickr.com/37/93469456_27f4e85938_o.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

    Reply
  11. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    It appears that several comments relate to future value potential.
    Never buy a car because you expect it to go up in value. Buy what you like, and if it happens to appreciate, consider that a bonus. If it goes down in value, at least you have a car you like.
    Never buy art because you expect it to go up in value. Buy what you like, and if it happens to appreciate, consider that a bonus. If it goes down in value, at least you have art you like.
    That being said, BMW has been known to try to acquire better-executed BMW-based art cars that were not commissioned by BMW, at value that could bring a tidy profit compared to the asking prices of these.

    Reply
    1. RWB Avatar
      RWB

      Nailed it.
      Provenance is irrelevant here. Some guy painted them, and there's nothing wrong with liking the result.

      Reply
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