Dan Trent: BMW 1800 TI/SA ‑ homologation special done right

Until just recently I knew absolutely zip about them too. OK, I’d seen them racing at the Revival in amongst the Lotus Cortinas, Minis and Ford Falcons in the St Mary’s Trophy. In that company I’d always thought it a bit of a boxy oddity though, a token participant adding some flavour to the grid rather than a proper touring car with real racing pedigree. Research for a recent story uncovered how little I knew. And then in a fortuitous twist of fate, I got to drive one round Goodwood just last week. More on that in due course but with the typical zeal of any new convert let me share my new-found enthusiasm.

I’ll try and keep the history lesson as brief as possible but the 1500 ‘Neue Klasse’ saloon that launched in 1961 was a pivotal moment for BMW. The three-box styling had Italian glamour courtesy of Giovanni Michelotti, additions by BMW’s own stylist Wilhelm Hofmeister including the kinked C-pillar that’s become a brand signature. A feisty little four-cylinder engine, distinctly sporty set-up to the independently suspended chassis and a desire to make some noise about its new star meant BMW wasted no time souping it up, the 1800TI that followed in 1963 setting the sporting saloon template that’s underpinned the brand to this day.

The TI dabbled in racing with some domestic success but it was the TISA version that really tickles my fancy, this homologation special sold exclusively to privateer racers and its spec reading like a modding wishlist. Compression was raised, the Solex carbs were replaced with Webers, you could choose a four- or five-speed gearbox with a range of different axle ratios and driving through a limited-slip differential, the suspension was lowered and stiffened and there were bucket seats for driver and passenger. With a stock 128bhp, it had 20bhp more than the 1800TI and punched past the standard car’s 100mph top speed and on to 120mph. Problems? It cost a third as much again. And they only built 200 of them.

Seemingly most of those were converted into full race spec too, as was the intention. Appealing enough. But then I found this Bonhams ad for a stock version offered for auction back in 2011, complete with some very tantalising pictures. I’ve not found anything like this before or since but the image of this bone-stock TISA in its understated silver paint and on standard steel wheels is one I can’t get out of my head.

It is absolutely everything I love about a homologation special. This is perhaps one of the most significant, rarest and most influential cars BMW has ever built or sold. And a proper, red-blooded sporting saloon. And yet it would take a real spotter to pick it out. And even then they’d probably just think it was a TI dressed up to look the part. Compared with a Lotus Cortina most wouldn’t give it a second glance and while the Ford enjoyed greater success, and remains the more competitive car in historic racing to this day, there’s something really rather cool about the big BMW. Given this one was up for £85,000 six years ago and the way things are going in the classic market these days I shudder to think how much it would be worth today but I’m guessing it would be a scary sounding six-figure sum. In isolation, never mind for what it represents, I think it would be worth it though. A need-to-know classic of impeccable pedigree I’d have mine just like this, please.

Ad images courtesy of Bonhams