10k: The Full Baur Targa: 1980 BMW 320 E21 Baur TC1
The Baur Targa was a Lancia Beta Zagato lookalike that featured a folding soft top in the back and a targa-style soft roof above the driver/passenger. The result is convertible fun in the sun while retaining chassis rigidity and safety by keeping an intact B-pillar roll hoop. The Baur Targa cars came from a time when BMW didn’t offer the 3 Series in drop top and the modifications were done by Karosserie Baur when new, maintaining a factory BMW warranty. Find this 1980 BMW 320 E21 Baur TC1 offered for $12,900 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist. Tip from Kaibeezy.
The Baur Targa version of the E21 3 Series uses the same M20 inline-6 cylinder engine as the standard 3er; in fact the 4500 E21 Baurs all started life as simple 3 Series before they were modified. The seller on this one is being a bit optimistic on the price, but it isn’t like you see these very often and a perfect one would demand a premium.
This is a good time as any to admit that we here at the Daily Turismo fell afoul of a most loathsome and vile hoax. The hoax of the open top that keeps rain out even when the car is stationary…and really if I’d spent the time to read the little details about “monsoon or moderate hail” and “To Miss April Wurst” more carefully…I probably would have been more cheeky about posting this! Thankfully, I was shown into the light by Tom from Baurspotting who sent a nice email about this very subject and now we can all have a good laugh together.
See another Baur Targa? tips@dailyturismo.com
I dunno about all that aerodynamic argle-bargle in the ad, but my caveman-simple 1973 Delta 88 convertible kept you dry in the rain too as long as you were moving. The airflow blows the rain over your head. Duh.
This Baur has been for sale for at least 8 months. It has a Salvage title for reasons unknown, and that may be affecting the sale.
The 'aerodynamic argle-bargle", (I like that term, btw 🙂 ) as mentioned in the article is part of BMW's April Fool hoax ad tradition. This ad offers to let you test drive the 'air duct system' while stationary in a car wash! Too funny! More on that here: hoaxes.org/af_database/display/category/bmw
US e21s had a 1.8L or 2.0L M10 four-banger, depending on the year. A Baur is likely from a Euro-spec e21, usually the top-of-the-line 323i, which has the 2.3L M20 inline-six. Not sure whether this is a 320 or 323i from the pic, but thought it would be good to clarify that this probably has an engine that's actually rare in the US.