In many parts of the world, a new line of BMW’s luxury sedans and coupes introduced in 1968 were known as the New Six. BMW engineers chose the M30 straight-six for these capable models designed to expand the room and comfort available in BMW’s existing product line.
The few Americans who remember these Bimmers knew them as the Bavaria. A beautiful 1974 example was recently offered on eBay.
The Bavaria remains the only BMW to get a non-numeric name.
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Like a Bigger Six-Cylinder 2002
The Bavaria had a solid run in the US. The 1974 car for sale on eBay was bought new in Santa Barbara, Calif. Five California buyers traded ownership of the vehicle since then—all in the Golden State until the early 2000s. That’s when a new owner moved the attractive black sedan up to Bellevue, Wash.
The car on eBay comes with the car’s original owner’s manual—plus a service booklet, a radio instruction book, and a shop manual. Mileage is given as 48,626 for the 53-year-old BMW.
This ’74 Bavaria is the last year before fuel injection appeared, and the nameplate was replaced by the 530i (E12). For 1974, buying a Bavaria meant a three-liter engine with twin Zenith carburetors, independent rear suspension, and the new federally mandated five-mile-per-hour bumpers.
But the car has sportier body-colored bumpers and a front air dam from a 3.0 CSL. In addition, there’s a deck lid spoiler and a quad tailpipe treatment in the back. The chrome-free blackout treatment, over Monaco Blue paint, shouts “performance car.”
A Roomy and Comfortable ’74 Bimmer
There are many other departures from stock, including:
- CSL aero aids
The interior is in Black Watch tartan cloth (matched in the door panels). BMW tuner Alpina - opens in new window or tab. provided both the Momo steering wheel - opens in new window or tab. and the aluminum pedals. And there’s a sunroof.
The vendor says:
This Bavaria is a great example of the quintessential German sports sedan that has been well cared for and carefully refurbished to add to both visual presence and driving enjoyment.
The 1974 Bavaria is a rare beast, with only 948 produced. It’s a roomy, comfortable sedan with room for five. It keeps up with modern traffic, even with the automatic transmission in this one. Disc brakes are provided all around. These cars were prone to rust, but this example doesn’t suffer from the tin worm.
Many of these Bavarias now sport Weber carbs - opens in new window or tab.. The six generated 178 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque in stock form—not bad for the period.
Earlier, Bavarias were more plentiful on American roads. For example, BMW produced some 13,200 in 1969. But they’re rare now and seen much less often than the contemporary 2002—which has a devoted cult.
The 1974 BMW Bavaria was upgraded and is in great shape. But eBay has an abundant supply of parts for the Bavaria - opens in new window or tab.. So the work to make the cool ’74 Bimmer even cooler never stops.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.