1986 BMW 635CSi Group A Schnitzer works (chassis E24-RA2-79)

Group A touring cars succeed or fail on paperwork and results, not nostalgia. Among roughly 80 BMW 635CSi examples prepared in period for Group A, very few carry the weight of chassis E24-RA2-79. Public RM Sotheby’s catalogue materials place it among a reported ten Works machines built and campaigned by Schnitzer Motorsport — Path C without special pleading.

The headline result is concrete: victory in the 1986 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps with Dieter Quester, Thierry Tassin, and Altfrid Heger, climbing from ninth on the grid. That season’s ETCC program is unusually well documented for a Live candidate: Schnitzer archive timing sheets, engineering notes, and setup pages travel with the car. Period drivers also include Roberto Ravaglia, Emanuele Pirro, Gerhard Berger, and Otto Rensing. After nine ETCC appearances in 1986, Works affiliation ended following a DNF at the Bathurst 1000; privateer Yvan Tapy followed, then the consigning owner from June 2017.

Recent work is also on the paper trail. Graber Sportgarage (Toffen) restored, maintained, and race-prepared the car 2017–2024; Pastrolli Classic Cars (Maranello) completed an engine rebuild and new clutch in late 2025. Combined invoices on file exceed €250,000. Diligence flag, stated plainly by the venue: the car is currently fitted with a correct-type replacement engine; the original unit accompanies the sale. Presentation is the period “Genuine BMW Parts” livery; recent historic outings include Spa Classic and Monza Revival. An FIA Historic Technical Passport valid through the end of 2026 is offered with the lot.

Score 88 — Rare-enough (Curator 2026-11-05). Path C: Works Schnitzer, one of c.10. Spa win plus Schnitzer archive and FIA HTP push provenance and documentation (+3 vs CEO est 85); the replacement-engine note caps Condition and keeps the car out of Ultra. Estimate €500–700k, The Munich Auction, 20 November 2026.

Watcher’s checklist

1. Confirm chassis E24-RA2-79 against FIA HTP and Schnitzer identity documents.
2. Verify which engine is fitted today vs the original unit included — matching-numbers claims must be stated carefully.
3. Cross-check Spa 24h and ETCC results against Schnitzer archive timing sheets, not brochure reprints.
4. Budget historics prep honestly; HTP validity through end-2026 is a clock, not a guarantee of entry.
5. Outbound only to the RM Sotheby’s lot URL above — never mirror listing photography.
6. Rare Machines is editorial — we do not inspect, authenticate, or broker; confirm everything with the venue and your own diligence.