The BMW Bavaria is perhaps the most misunderstood car of the BMW contingent. Unrecognized by the unknowing "beamer" brigade and denounced by most BMW aficionados with a roll of the eyes and a shake of the head, the Bavaria is mainly recognized as the lowly 4 door relative of the E9 Coupe. Ironically, the sedan is only a few pounds over the coupe's weight and shares the same drivetrain (the smoothest 6 cylinder around).

It is arguably one of the most stylish BMW sedans ever made. The front quarter view rivals any of the later 5 and 7 series of the 70s and 80s. Yes, it rusts and yes, it has a propensity to overheat, but with a few modifications, the BMW E3 sedan, imported into the US from 1968-1976, is one of the best bargains today. Rare enough to catch your eye and with a subtle style and beauty that belies its price on the used market, the BMW E3 sedan makes the plastic Hondas and Toyotas look positively generic.