BMW 860 E31: The Iconic Luxury Grand Tourer
Few cars capture the essence of timeless automotive excellence like the BMW 860 E31 — a grand tourer that defined sophistication and power in the 1960s. This elegant masterpiece continues to inspire enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
A Legacy of Performance and Elegance
The BMW 860 E31, launched in 1968, was engineered as a high-performance grand tourer, combining a 4.0-liter inline-six engine with refined chassis dynamics. It offered effortless power delivery, precise handling, and luxurious interior comfort, setting a benchmark for luxury sports sedans of its era.
Design That Defined a Generation
With its sleek, aerodynamic body crafted by Pininfarina, the 860 E31 exuded timeless style. Its long wheelbase and low drag coefficient emphasized both comfort and speed, making it as much a statement of design as a machine of performance. Custom interiors featured hand-stitched leather and premium wood, catering to discerning tastes.
Collector’s Gem and Modern Revival
Though production ended decades ago, the 860 E31 remains highly sought after by collectors. Recent restoration projects and limited-edition reproductions have reignited interest, allowing new generations to experience its blend of heritage and craftsmanship while preserving a vital chapter in BMW’s storied legacy.
The BMW 860 E31 stands as a timeless icon — where engineering brilliance meets classic beauty. Whether admired in museums or restored to original glory, it remains a symbol of automotive excellence that continues to inspire.
Discover your own piece of automotive history with the enduring legacy of the BMW 860 E31.
The BMW E31 is the first generation of the BMW 8 Series. It is a grand tourer built by BMW from 1990 to 1999 as a 2-door coupé, powered by either a V8 or V12 engine. There are 18 BMW 8 Series.
BMW E31 8-Series The E31 8-Series debuted as a tech-laden pillarless grand tourer, offered with a 6-speed manual paired to a V12. They were an anomaly in the contemporary market and in retrospect, an eccentric but very cool outlier in BMWs history. BMW's E31 8 Series was a V-12-powered marvel when it hit the streets in 1990.
After enduring "used car" status, it's now a bonafide collectible. The E31 BMW 8-Series is one of the company's most iconic cars. Here's how to find the right one.
The original BMW E31 8 Series is still one of BMW's most stunning designs, it remains all the car you would ever need for long distance touring. The 1990s BMW E31 8 Series may have been introduced soon after the discontinuation of the E24 6 Series but it wasn't a direct replacement as its market positioning was even more aspirational; performance, pricing and technology levels all took a. Why you'd want a BMW 8 Series (E31) Unpretentious yet supremely elegant, the 850 was one of the most subtle super-GTs, with a remarkable 0.29 drag coefficient.
This ultimate autobahn-stormer could cruise all day at 150mph, delivering the driver relaxed to their destination thousands of miles later. Never really a sports car, even when BMW added a six-speed manual 'box and M. The BMW 850i was launched at the end of the 1980s, promising a high-technology and super-efficient push into the 1990s.
It was powered by the new V12 that had first seen the light of day in the 7-Series, helping establish BMW at the top of the automotive tree. It was considerably more expensive - more gandiose - than the 6-Series, and was clearly aimed at a more well. This generation of the BMW 8 Series (E31) was produced by the German manufacturer BMW between 1989 - 1999.
It's a front engined rear-wheel drive Coupé. There are four power levels available from either a 4 L V8 petrol engine or 5 L V12 petrol engine. It has macpherson strut front suspension and multi.
BMW purists bemoaned the heavy curb weight of the E31, saying it just wasn't a proper successor to the harder-edged E24 6-series, but the 8 was intended for a different buyer.