Lot 434: 1980 BMW 320 Saloon

BMW revised its passenger car engine policy for the 1980s, introducing small-capacity sixes in preference to enlarged fours, having found that the latter could not be made to match the former for smoothness. There were other benefits too, the new 1,990cc six proving more flexible, more powerful and more economical than the superseded four of identical capacity. The chassis was upgraded to cope with the improved performance, gaining disc brakes all round and wider tyres, thus endowing the 320 six with an enhanced sporting ‘feel’ when compared to its four-cylinder predecessor. ‘With this new engine and gearing, the 320 has shaken off the former fussiness and impression of being a car with no top gear. It gains smoothness, refinement, performance and economy, all in one bound of improvement, which represents a very useful achievement,’ concluded Autocar magazine. Finished in beige with tan cloth interior, this right-hand drive 320 ‘six’ has the automatic transmission option, while power-assisted steering and alloy wheels are other noteworthy features. The car has covered a genuine 61,000-or-so miles from new and comes with BMW service history to 46,000 miles, four expired MoTs confirming mileage, Swansea V5 registration document and MoT to July 2007.