The rare 1964 electric BMW 700 CS converted in 2021 using Net Gain HyPer 9 motor, retaining four-speed transmission will be auctioned on Car & Classic.
The car is ULEZ compliant, MOT and tax exempt and auction runs 24-31 August and could fetch over £25,000.
The 700 was a small and nimble car produced by BMW from 1959-1965 at a time when the company was facing financial ruin. A lightweight monocoque structure (the first for a BMW car), high-revving 697cc flat twin engine, and rear-wheel drive layout came together to make the 700 a runaway financial success and an outstanding motorsport competitor – with wins in the 1960 German Hillclimb Championship and the Hockenheim 12-hour race in that same year.
188,000 models were sold, helping to save the Munich marque from acquisition by rival Daimler-Benz. Despite its popularity on the continent, 700s are a very rare sight in the UK with only three taxed in 2022, and this one is likely to be unique amongst them.
In 2021, this example underwent an extensive, ~£28,000 EV conversion, professionally carried out by eDub Services Ltd. of Yorkshire. The 700 has received a manual conversion, meaning it retains its original four-speed manual gearbox, and yet has no clutch. Instead, changing gears in this car is done once – prior to moving off – and therefore is more akin to selecting a driving ‘mode’. With first gear seldom used, second gear has a limited top speed, but perkier acceleration, while third presents an all-purpose driving mode. Hit the road in fourth, and the longer gear ratio means the car will be better suited to dual carriageways and the motorway.
10 LG Chem cells make up a 26kWh battery pack, good for up to 100 miles of range – and perfectly suitable for city driving or other short trips. A Type 2 charging socket feeds into the 6.6 kW TC charger – making for easy recharging while on the go. Drawing from this pack is the HyPer 9 motor from Net Gain. The brushless and power-dense unit drives the rear wheels, allowing the car to reach its 70mph top speed, while also facilitating regenerative braking for improved range.
In its life before the EV makeover, the BMW 700 was imported from South Africa in 2018 and bought by its current owner a year later. 2020 saw a no-expense-spared restoration, in which the car was stripped to bare metal, with any rust cut out and replaced with either new panels or repair sections. A fresh coat of Alpine White paint brought the car back to its original exterior glory while on the inside, its minimalist cabin has been treated with an equal level of care. Fully detailed and retrimmed with utmost authenticity in mind, the only noticeable modifications being the necessary dials and switches relating to the EV conversion, including a State of Charge (SOC) gauge.
The car comes with its original manuals and certificates, as well as thorough maintenance history from its five years in the UK. Being an electric car, it is ULEZ compliant and tax-exempt, and its ‘classic’ status makes it MOT exempt too. This, combined with electricity being more affordable than other fuels and the already extensive restoration work undertaken, makes this 700 likely one of the cheapest-to-run classics you can buy.
UK-registered BMW 700s are far from commonplace, and this example is unique amongst them – says Dale Vinten, Head of Editorial at Car & Classic. Small, nimble and emissions-free, this BMW represents a rare opportunity to own a very useable and unique vehicle.
Car & Classic’s auction of its 1964 BMW 700 CS EV Conversion will begin on 24 August and end on 31 August. It is expected to fetch between £25k and £30k.
Source: Car & Classic
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