Those of us in America may be familiar with the 318ti and its unique “California Top.” A cross between a convertible top and a traditional roof, the California Edition 318ti offered a fabric top that stretched over both the front and rear seats – perfect for sunny days, but perhaps not ideal for rainy environments. While these top California cars are extremely rare, we found something similar but even more unusual. You are looking at pictures of the BMW 328i Baur Top Cabriolet.
What is the BMW 328i Baur Top Cabriolet?
Dyed wool lovers may know the name Baur. The coachbuilder made a name for himself in the period before and after the Second World War by producing convertible tops for car manufacturers such as Mercedes and of course BMW. When BMW and others began making convertibles themselves, Baur instead looked for a new niche. Essentially, the company started out making convertible versions of sedans. One such car was the E36 generation BMW 3 Series. It was actually also the company’s last BMW convertible project. Given that only 311 vehicles were produced, we’re not too shocked that Baur was looking for new avenues for the future.
Anyway, the BMW 328i Baur top convertible is exactly what it sounds like. It is a BMW 3 Series E36 generation with a Baur soft top that replaces the traditional roof. What makes this car unique – er, more unique – is its engine. Unlike the regular Baur 3 Series of the time, which was available as a 318i, 320i or 325i, this one features the hottest engine you could get in a non-M3 3 Series of that vintage. The powerful 2.8 liter M52B28 engine produced up to 190 hp (142 kW), only about 30 hp less than the US M3. Of course, these were never officially available in the US, which makes this comparison a bit silly. This one is painted Montreal Blue, a slightly unusual metallic blue finish.
There are some interesting anecdotes and asides that we must point out. For one thing, we’re not sure why BMW is introducing the BMW 328i Baur Topcabriolet as such, although it seems clear that the car was actually called the Baur TC4 or TC4 Landaulet. Maybe the engine? Second, our brief look at Baur’s history adds little to the brand’s influence on automotive history. Bodywork Baur was also responsible for the final assembly of the legendary BMW M1. The even more remarkable Porsche 959 was also assembled at Baur. Today, cars like the BMW 328i Baur top convertible are a reminder of the past.
