Ask any BMW fan and he'll tell you that the E24 6-Series coupes were special. BMW tried to re-create the magic with the 8-Series a few years later, and perhaps even with the Z8 and cars like the current 6-Series, but somehow they can't quite capture the E24's balanced performance. So when you have a chance to own a clean 635csi like this 1979 example, you will never regret making the purchase.To some, it's the most elegant BMW ever created, the perfect combination of sport and luxury, a seamless integration that starts with the almost ideal proportions. It's not built like a sports car, but it is long, low, and sleek with lots of glass area and that traditional "kink" in the C-pillar that has defined BMWs for decades. The silver paint is probably original, and though it shows some signs of age, it also shows you how good BMW's quality was, even in the late 1970s. Experts will note this is a Euro-spec car, with slender bumpers, a deeper front spoiler, and a subtle black spoiler on the trunk lid, all of which only enhance the already clean look. The chrome is excellent, the rubber components don't look like they're 35 years old, and even the weather-stripping is supple and seals up nicely. You also get clear lenses, including the distinctive taillights, and even the chin spoiler hasn't been beaten up by steep driveways and parking lot curbs. Someone has truly loved this car.Black upholstery works rather well with the silver paint, and you'll note that BMW used cloth inserts on their bucket seats, cloth that helps hold you in place during spirited driving. It's got some wear to it, but it's also the kind of wear that you can show off as a badge of honor. The rest of the interior is quite good, with nice carpets and great soft parts, including the dash pad. Full instrumentation is, of course, part of the BMW package, as is the fat leather-wrapped steering wheel. And if you love driving, this is a great choice because it has an Alpina-spec 5-speed manual gearbox that's just about the best-shifting transmission we've ever experienced. It does have a few options, but you have to remember that even high-end cars in 1979 didn't necessarily come loaded up, so there are power windows and cruise control, plus an AM/FM/cassette stereo, so it's still easy to drive. You also get a nicely appointed trunk with a spare and jack assembly neatly stowed underneath.BMW's 3.5 liter inline-six really needs no introduction. A mainstay of their larger cars for nearly two decades, it's turbine smooth and torquey enough to make it feel like a muscle car around town. As a German-spec car, it has oversized valves and no bulky emissions control hardware, so it sings itself to redline and purrs along at any speed with the most joyous soundtrack from the center-mounted exhaust system. The engine bay is a little scruffy but it runs beautifully and the transmission, which was rebuilt when the car was about 10 years old, still shifts beautifully. A limited slip differential plants the power very effectively and the all-independent suspension is athletic without being too firm for daily driving. And, as a BMW, the brakes are powerful. Those lovely BBS wheels were also part of the special edition package and wear 225/50/16 Goodyear radials, which were quite substantial for the time.A rare find in this condition, it's only a matter of time before these BMWs become A-list collectables. Remember when the 2002 was a $5000 throw-away? This 635CSI is next. Call today!