The BMW 323i combined luxury and sportiness like no other model in the late 1970s and paved the way for the brand’s tremendous success with its 3 Series.
Now, Bilweb Auctions is offering a Swedish-sold 323i in original condition with only 35,000 km on the clock – with one owner since 1979.
The question is whether there’s another 323i in Sweden that can match it.
It was in July 1979 that the keys to FAS 180 were handed over at Rafab Motor in Trelleborg. The new owner had chosen Reseda Green Metallic, a sign of good taste – it was one of the most attractive BMW colors of the time.
And performance clearly mattered too. The 2.3-liter inline-six with 143 horsepower made the 323i a forerunner of later M3 models, beating both the Saab 99 Turbo and the Golf GTi.
The buyer and his wife used their 323i sparingly during the summers for five years, until 1984, after which it was parked – there were other cars in the family. It wasn’t until 2010 that it was brought out of the garage and gently revived. Since then, it has been driven about 5,000 km.
That’s why this car is a textbook example of what a BMW 323i sold in Sweden in 1979 looked like and how it was equipped. It features the four headlight wipers, rear mud flaps with BMW logos, original metal license plates, sports steering wheel, and Swedish-language decals under the hood.
Add to that a seat cover that was installed at the dealership and has never been removed. And maybe it should stay on – its slightly psychedelic green pattern is an unbeatable period detail.
To top it off: a Clarion cassette player connected to an equalizer/booster from the same brand – with sliding controls, of course. 1979 was the year Donna Summer topped the charts with “Hot Stuff.”
And in case anyone is wondering: yes, the car still has its original paint. The tires too, for that matter.
A BMW 323i in this condition really shouldn’t exist – but it does.
The 323i was the car that truly justified BMW’s slogan “The ultimate driving machine,” and with 0–100 km/h in just over 8 seconds, it was one of the fastest compact sedans of its time.
The auction takes place on May 29, and Bilweb Auctions has estimated the market value at between 480,000 and 550,000 SEK.
The same auction includes more Swedish-sold gems from Munich:
- M535i from 1986 with only 75,000 km on the clock. 330,000 – 360,000 SEK.
- 633 CSi from 1980 in nicely restored condition. 180,000 – 200,000 SEK.
