好みの自動車デザイン：第48回ーー2ドア・クーペの系譜： 第28回【ドイツ車編②】 BMW M635CSi、1987 (ダーク・メタリックブルー) 『異端のドイツ型クーペ』BMW M635CSi、1984『The Edgy German Coupe』

*Mazda Cosmo, 1991

(Thanks to the front-mid placement of the three rotors, which made this otherworldly low profile possible—revealing glimpses of ——> classic 10-head-height proportions)

As expected, “big-headed” seems to be the keyword

for the 635CSi,

but as for the exterior design,

I’d like to highlight the following five features.

1: The exquisite contrast between the slender, elegant curves of the greenhouse—inherited from the previous-generation [3.0CS]—and the sharp, linear lower body ——> A beauty imbued with a “edginess” unlike anything else!

2: The pinnacle of European cars! The sense of substance created by the top view, sculpturally tapered sharply at both ends—> An incredibly distinctive, solid presence

3: The extremely reverse-slanted shark-head-style front section + the reverse-slanted cross-section that extends into the body’s side sections—> Ultimately, the entire body forms a three-dimensional shape resembling a diamond.

4: A forward-leaning stance that exudes an indescribable sense of unease, created by the long, pointed front overhang—much like that of a front-wheel-drive car—> Combined with the quite short wheelbase, this brews a sense of “edginess.”

5: The elegance of the three-dimensional surfaces that sweep dramatically from front to back along the body sides—> As you pass by, reflections flow slowly along them.

Now then,

let’s take a closer look.

1: The exquisite contrast between the slender, elegantly arched greenhouse—inherited from the previous-generation [3.0CS]—and the sharp, linear lower body.

(Although the pillars have become slightly thicker compared to the 3.0CS due to the push for enhanced crash safety, their overall size remains virtually unchanged, so the impression of a large greenhouse remains intact.)

――> A beauty imbued with a “edginess” unlike any other!

2: The pinnacle of European cars! A sense of substance derived from the top view, which is sculpturally tapered significantly at both ends.

(A three-dimensional form where a solid, hard texture—as if carved from a large block of plaster—coexists with a sense of expansiveness.)

――> An incredibly distinctive sense of solidity

3: An extremely reverse-slanted shark-head-style front section + a reverse-slanted cross-section that extends into the body’s side sections

――> Ultimately, the entire body forms a three-dimensional diamond shape.

4: A forward-leaning stance that exudes an indescribable sense of unease, created by the long, pointed front overhang—much like that of a front-wheel-drive car

(This may sound slightly negative, but I’m certain that it’s precisely this blend of peculiarities that gives this car its unique charm.)

――> Combined with the quite short wheelbase, it brews an indescribable, fully fermented “edginess.”

5: The elegance of the three-dimensional surfaces that sweep dramatically from front to back along the body sides

――＞ As you pass by, the reflections flow slowly past.

*“Me” and the BMW M635CSi

Toward the end of the supercar boom,

I believe it was featured in the manga *Circuit no Ookami*—

I was captivated by the coolness of the

race-spec [BMW E9 3.0CSL Gr.2],

so naturally, I became interested

in the “street-spec 3.0CS”

that served as its inspiration.

I used to devour test drive articles in *Motor Magazine*, which was a favorite read of my younger brother and me back then.

Later, when I was in high school,

I remember picking up the BMW 635CSi model kit released by Tamiya and examining it closely.

I’m pretty sure I didn’t buy that one,

but instead bought the standard version,

the Hartge version, and the Alpina version

of Fujimi Models’

“Enthusiast Series M635CSi,”

which was released a little later.

#Personal Model-Building Experience

* Tamiya Models, 1/24 Plastic Kit BMW M635CSi

(I just looked it up and realized for the first time that only the M specification was available. The standard Tamiya body, aside from being slightly wider at the top and bottom, has minimal stylization and looks good. The greenhouse is a bit large, though, so when I saw the Fujimi version, it felt a little off… (laughs)

－－→ The Fujimi version is a bit too cool—it’s styled with a touch less “edge.”)

* Fujimi Models, Enthusiast Series Vol. 12 1/24 Scale Assembly Kit, BMW M635CSi

(This is a masterpiece from the mid-period of the famous Enthusiast Series. Unfortunately, a stock 635CSI was never released. Unlike the Tamiya version, the greenhouse is narrower, giving it a slightly too handsome look.

――> The parts were scattered, so I couldn’t get a full view of the entire body, but…)

* Same series, Enthusiast Series, BMW M635 Variations

(Schneider

Race Spec)

(Hartge Spec)

(Alpina Spec)

(Here’s the engine blueprint that showcases just how incredible this series is.

—>It’s so detailed you could easily mistake it for a 1/12 scale blueprint!)

This is a rare kit of the standard “635CSI” model.

*Level, 1/24 scale assembly kit, BMW 635CSi (red molded parts)

(This is a very rare standard specification model. I’ve never actually held one myself, but it looks like it was made using a Monogram-style one-piece molding process.

—> This is a kit I’d love to get my hands on someday.)

Next, let’s take a look at some die-cast models.

*Kyosho, 1/64 die-cast ready-to-display model, BMW M635CSi (Metallic Blue)

(Although this car was designed quite some time ago, it sharply captures the vehicle’s sculptural features, and the reproduction of the details is still quite impressive even by today’s standards.

－－→The headlight clusters seem to be mounted a bit low, though…)

Well then, it’s finally

time for the “Three-Theme Story”!

* The Three Themes: Innovation, Masato Sakai, Paul Black

Once again, here are the challenging topics we received from the audience:

these three themes.

* Innovation

* Masato Sakai

* Paul Black

Well then,

together with “Gemini-kun,”

I’ll get right to it.”

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Performance: The World’s Most Beautiful “Razor”

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[Setting: A cutlery workshop in Solingen, Germany, in the late 18th century. A conversation between a stubborn master craftsman and Hans, a quick-witted young apprentice.]

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Master: “Hey, Hans! What have you been fiddling with all this time? That knife you’re sharpening—isn’t it strangely thin, and isn’t the tip way too sharp? Take a cue from our traditional ‘Johan Heavy Industries-style Meat Cleaver’! Solid and sturdy, capable of cleaving through even a giant tree—that overwhelming sense of intimidation is what truly matters!”

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Hans: “Wow, Boss. You’re still as stubborn as ever. Those heavy, boxy knives that look like a ‘Mercedes-Benz 560SEC’ and strut around like, ‘Look at me—I’m a chunk of iron!’ are so last century. From now on, it’s the age of ‘innovation.’ What I’m aiming for isn’t a knife that cuts solely by its weight. It’s a beautiful ‘razor’—one that cuts through the wind and trims away all the excess!”

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Master: “Hmph, a razor, you say? A blade, you see, is like a Mercedes… no, like the tradition of my workshop—it’s meant to put customers at ease with a sturdy frame and thick steel. That thing you made is slim and sleek—it just doesn’t seem very reliable, does it?”

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ーーーーーーーーー＞From here on, this is Hans’s daydream! (lol)

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Hans: “That’s exactly the amateur’s perspective, Master. Just look at this exterior design. This reverse-slanted (forward-leaning) nose! It’s just like a shark stalking its prey. And the flowing roofline when viewed from the side… This is the golden ratio of a coupe, carrying on the aesthetic legacy of that great craftsman, Paul Black! The Mercedes-Benz 560SEC is bulky all over—it’s like a moving castle made of luxurious marble. But this M635 is different. It has large glass panels and surprisingly slender pillars. When you look at it from the outside, it has a taut sense of tension, as if a craftsman had hammered and forged the steel to its absolute limit.”

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Master: “Hmm… It’s certainly a beauty that captivates the eye. But, Hans, a blade is useless if you can’t use it. What about the insides? What’s inside?!”

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Hans: “I’m glad you asked! The mechanism is the true essence of this masterpiece. Mr. Benz just puts a big, rough-and-tumble 5.6-liter V8 engine—like a cannon—in his car and cruises elegantly down the Autobahn. But what I’ve installed in this one is the inline-6, DOHC, 24-valve (M88-type) engine inherited from that legendary race car, the ‘M1’!”

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Master: “What!? Are you saying you went out of your way to install a racing heart into an elegant kitchen knife meant for city driving?”

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Hans: “Exactly! It’s an engine that’s a true work of art, with each port (air passage) hand-polished and finished by craftsmen one by one. The more you rev it, the sharper it gets—just like a top-quality violin resonating with high notes. If a Mercedes cuts with a ‘thud,’ this one has a razor-sharp response—like slicing off a single layer of skin with a razor.”

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Master: “Whoa, whoa—can an amateur really handle something that sharp? Ease of use and safety should be the top priorities.”

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Hans: “That’s exactly where it gets tricky. This car’s personality isn’t that of a mere straight-A student. To give you an analogy, it’s like that famous Japanese actor, Masato Sakai.”

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Foreman: “Masato Sakai? Never heard of that Asian guy. What’s he like?”

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Hans: “At first glance, he seems cool and collected, always wearing a gentle, cheerful smile. This M635 is the same—it has an elegant presence, like a gentleman in a well-tailored suit. But once it gets serious and flips the switch, its eyes gleam with a maniacal intensity, it rattles off words at a rapid-fire pace, and it completely dominates its surroundings with overwhelming power! Behind that cheerful facade, it hides intense venom and a fierce determination… It has this duality—a unique personality that’s anything but straightforward.”

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Master: “I see… A gentleman in everyday life, but madness when pushed to the limit. If the Mercedes-Benz 560SEC embodies the ‘unwavering dignity of a champion,’ then this M635CSi is a ‘wild wolf cloaked in intelligence,’ I suppose. It’s true—that approach to a Mercedes of the same era is incredibly innovative.”

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Hans: “Don’t you think so? The era of overpowering with sheer weight is over. From now on, it’s the era of razor-sharp agility and masterful handling—where the driver and the car become one!”

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Boss: “All right, I get it, Hans! I like your ‘innovative razor’ (M635CSi), too. Let’s go pitch it to the big shot in town tomorrow. I wonder what kind of face he’ll make when he sees the beauty of this new era—he’s so used to that ‘moving castle’ called the Mercedes 560SEC?”

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