Guide: BMW Art Car #5 - BMW 635 CSi 'Ernst Fuchs'
Background
BMW’s fifth Art Car was the first to be based on a production model and also the first to be painted by a European artist.
The blank canvas supplied to Austrian painter and sculptor, Ernst Fuchs, was a black 635 CSi.
BMW E24 635 CSi
BMW had introduced the E24 6-series in 1976 as a replacement for the E9 model. Styled by Paul Bracq, it was another elegant two-door Coupe and remained in production until 1989.
The E24 was initially based on the E12 5-series floorpan but, in 1982, BMW switched it to the new E28 5-series platform. Subtle changes to the styling and mechanics were made as a result; in addition to reworked suspension and a new long stroke engine, the E24 now came with a deep front spoiler and revised interior.
In the engine bay was a 3430cc straight six with single overhead camshaft that was good for 218bhp. Customers could choose from a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox.
In 1981 the 6-series won the first of its three European Touring Car Championship titles.
To give the revamped model some extra publicity BMW chose it as the basis for their fifth Art Car. It followed the 3.0 CSLs of Alexander Calder (1975) and Frank Stella (1977), the 320i of Roy Lichtenstein (1977) and the M1 Procar of Andy Warhol (1979).
Ernst Fuchs
For their latest creation BMW turned to Ernst Fuchs who had established himself as one of the best-known artists in the world.
Born in 1930, Fuchs originally studied sculpture and painting. In 1945 he entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna where he met Arik Brauer, Rudolf Hausner, Wolfgang Hutter, Anton Lehmden and Fritz Janschka. Together, they later established the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism inspired by the techniques of the Old Masters.
Fuchs was also a founding member of the Art-Club.
The Art-Club was formed with the intention of fighting for the autonomy of modern art which had been stained by the concept of Entartete Kunst (Degenerate Art) dictated by the Nazi party which saw many works of internationally renowned artists banned on the grounds they were an insult to German feeling.
Fuchs’ paintings, sculptures and prints typically addressed themes of religion and mysticism and were usually executed in luminous colours and textures.
Fuchs’ 635 CSi
Fuchs’ Art Car was called ’Fire Fox on a Hare Hunt’. In his own words, Fuchs described it thus: “I see a hare at night running across the autobahn and leaping over a burning car – a primeval fear and a bold dream of surmounting a dimension in which we live. It shows me its colours, I read them in its lines, in its contours, I hear its voice calling out emphatically and see that beautiful hare leaping through the flames of love, averting all fears."
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: BMW - https://www.bmw.com
