Goodwin Business

The Observer Coupe was one of the stars of the 1982 British Motor Show and was the result of a three-way collaboration between Coventry-based design company MGA Developments, BMW (UK) and The Observer Colour Magazine.

MGA Developments Ltd was formed by Mike Gibbs in 1978 as a Master Modelling and Prototype resource to the European Motor Industry. To showcase MGAD’s capabilities Gibb’s wanted to produce an electric convertible roof system composed of two glass panels that could slide into a concealed compartment in a boot lid. The concept was known internally as ‘Special Project M3’ and as the company had already worked with BMW the new car was based on a 635 CSi.

BMW (GB) and The Observer Magazine agreed to promote the car at the 1982 British Motor Show. MGAD bore the development costs, BMW (GB) Ltd supplied a new (red) E24 635 CSi and with The Observer Magazine co-financed the Motor Show stand. The Observer Magazine also supported the venture with press articles and in return the new car was named ‘The Observer Coupe’.

Gibbs’s talented team of ex Ford design engineer Alistair Millar, ex Porsche stylist Stephen Ferrada and ex BAe electrical systems engineer Stanley Daniel worked to a very tight schedule of only eighteen weeks to ensure the car was ready.

On arrival from BMW, the roof section was removed, and the restyled rear was built up from clay to form a template for a mould to shape the new panels. Two special 5mm thick, tinted and laminated glass panels were secured from Triplex which also featured heating elements and a screen-printed pattern designed to overcome any greenhouse effect. Whilst the sliding roof mechanism was being developed work took place redesigning a new front spoiler and roll-over bar.

In total more than 120 panels were modified or redesigned from the standard car and over 150 new parts were made. After a lengthy search for suitable wheels stylist Ferrada settled on the dramatic Centra Type 6 by Autosport Design Ltd.

At the push of a button the glass roof and rear panel slid into a new decklid with a depth of only 110mm which meant luggage space was virtually unimpaired. Wind tunnel testing showed the subtle styling changes also achieved an improvement in aerodynamic efficiency with a 16.3% reduction in drag coefficient over the standard car.

Finished in two-tone grey the car the car also received a bespoke body kit. The black leather seats were unchanged from standard but the roof, roof lining and rear parcel shelf were retrimmed. As a BMW E24 635 CSi the car was already equipped with power assisted steering, electric windows, seats and mirrors, trip computer, central locking and Blaupunkt tape player.

The car was completed on schedule and had its own stand at the NEC, displayed with a price tag of £100,000. MGAD proposed up to fifty copies could be built but this was the only example produced.

Following the Motor Show, The Observer Coupe was loaned to BMW (GB) and embarked on a six-month promotional tour of shows and BMW dealers.

Mike Gibbs stated that around 1990 MGA removed the moving roof mechanism thus creating a ‘solid’ hardtop for Mike’s own use as his company car.

Gibbs sold the car in 1993 and had two further keepers before being acquired by the current owner in 2017 who sympathetically restored the car to its former glory.

The body of the car was found to be fundamentally sound, with only one small section of floor needing attention. In addition, both inner and outer sills were replaced along with new jacking points. Repairs were also made to the A, B, and C pillars and chassis braces. The wheelarches and wing bottoms were also repaired and the subframe removed for the installation of newly fabricated mounts. All metal repairs were then dressed and zinc primed.

New parts included battery, fuel pump, viscous fan coupling, horns, headlamp washer motor, rear shock absorbers, suspension bump stops, front suspension top mounts and exhaust rubbers. In addition, all four electric window lift motor assemblies were serviced along with the heater blower and windscreen wiper motors. High-quality paintwork in the original Motor Show colour scheme was applied before final detailing and a protective ceramic coating. The restoration invoices total over £26,000.

The car also comes with the largest history file I have ever encountered which extends to three bulging ring-binders, over 8 inches thick. Hundreds of original documents on file describe the whole design and production processes, including minutes of meetings, annotated photographs, draughtsman’s drawings, design sketches, briefings for Motor Show stand personnel, VIP lists and press releases.

As confirmation of the car’s status, The Observer Coupe is also the subject of a nine-page feature in the edition 237 of Octane magazine, March 2023.

Having covered just over 19,000 miles from new and having undergone recent restoration, the Observer Coupe is in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition inside and out.

In summary, this car is both a fascinating episode in British automotive design and a manual BMW 635 CSi with just 19,100 miles and in time-warp condition, a very rare find indeed. A must for any serious BMW collection.

Finally, vehicles over 40 years old can achieve Historic Vehicle status in the UK and benefit from exemption from road tax and ULEZ charges.

Photographs reproduced with kind permission of Octane.

Photography credits: GF Williams, Simon Clay, Alex Babington.

Recorded history:

26/06/1989, 3,322 miles, MOT
23/11/1990, 8,849 miles, MOT
08/07/1993, 9,666 miles, MOT
13/08/1993, 9,835 miles, Invoice (Evans Halshaw BMW)
21/09/1993, 9,900 miles, Invoice (Evans Halshaw BMW)
11/11/1996, 15,954 miles, MOT
04/02/1998, 16,205 miles, MOT
16/03/1999, 16,705 miles, MOT
01/06/2000, 16,788 miles, MOT
25/07/2001, 17,087 miles, MOT
09/07/2003, 17,542 miles, MOT
25/08/2004, 17,978 miles, MOT
25/08/2005, 18,156 miles, MOT
29/04/2014, 18,202 miles, MOT
20/02/2017, 18,272 miles, Invoice (LCA Road Track Store)
04/10/2017, 18,366 miles, MOT
18/10/2017, 18,367 miles, Invoice (Lee Shannon BMW Specialists)
06/03/2018, 18,407 miles, Invoice (Hart Motor Company)
30/05/2019, 18,631 miles, MOT
31/05/2019, 18,631 miles, Invoice (Crowthorne Service Centre)
03/07/2019, 18,636 miles, Invoice (Vulcan Motors)
06/12/2019, 18,690 miles, Invoice (Vulcan Motors)
22/06/2022, 18,889 miles, MOT